background the brown-banded cockroach supella longipalpa (f.) as a mechanical vector of pathogens and source of allergens has recently become widespread in the city of ahvaz, southwestern iran. objectives this research was done to evaluate the efficacy of a dust-formulation of metarhizium anisopliae isolate iran 437c, as a common entomopathogenous fungus, against s. longipalpa. materials and me...

Cockroach infestations have been indicated as a major contributor to asthma throughout the world. Several studies have shown that large numbers of asthmatic patients are sensitized to cockroach allergens. Eliminating this pest from homes, schools, and public buildings involves a long-term commitment to a rational extermination process. This article covers the characteristics of the major cockro...

Hunger component is introduced to the existing cockroach swarm optimization (CSO) algorithm to improve its searching ability and population diversity. The original CSO was modelled with three components: chase-swarming, dispersion, and ruthless; additional hunger component which is modelled using partial differential equation (PDE) method is included in this paper. An improved cockroach swarm o...

Pigment-dispersing factor-immunoreactive circadian pacemaker cells, which arborize in the accessory medulla, control circadian locomotor activity rhythms in Drosophila as well as in the cockroach Leucophaea maderae via unknown mechanisms. Here, we show that circadian pacemaker candidates of the accessory medulla of the cockroach produce regular interspike intervals. Therefore, the membrane pote...

Control of adult roaches is usually not problematic as those life cycle stages are actively exploring the habitat for food sources. Nymphs are less mobile and therefore less likely to access a bait spot directly. Natural occurring populations of German cockroach (Blattella germanica L.) show a relatively constant ratio of nymphs in the total population of 0.6, which is largely unaffected by the...

BACKGROUND As a major source of indoor allergens, cockroach causes perennial rhinitis and asthma. Recently, cockroach feces were reported to contain TLR2 agonist, which could directly activate neutrophils to release cytokines. CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN), a Toll-like receptor (TLR)9 activator was also found to induce proinflammatory cytokine release from mast cells. However, influence of spe...

A benzoylphenyl urea insect growth regulator with the common name noviflumuron was evaluated for efficacy and residual activity on the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.). In laboratory studies evaluating residual activity, 0.05% noviflumuron suspension concentrate produced 100% nymphal mortality 120 d after application to steel and masonite substrates. Residual activity of noviflumuron ...

Adaptation controls the gain of the input-function of the cockroach's cold cell during slowly oscillating changes in temperature. When the oscillation period is long, the cold cell improves its gain for the rate of temperature change at the expense of its ability to code instantaneous temperature. When the oscillation period is brief, however, the cold cell reduces this gain and improves its se...

The fumigant toxicity of various essential oils and selected monoterpenoid components were tested against the adult German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.) (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae). Responses varied according to plant material, concentration, and exposure time. High insecticidal activity against adult B. germanica specimens was achieved with allyl isothiocyanate (component of horseradish)...