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Title: The Asian cockroach Blattella asahinai Mizukubo (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae): A new predator of lepidopteran eggs in south Texas soybean

Author
item Pfannenstiel, Robert
item BOOTH, WARREN - N.CAROLINA STATE UNIV.
item VARGO, EDWARD - N.CAROLINA STATE UNIV.
item SCHAL, COBY - N.CAROLINA STATE UNIV.

Submitted to: Annals of the Entomological Society of America
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2008
Publication Date: 5/1/2008
Citation: Pfannenstiel, R.S., Booth, W., Vargo, E.L., Schal, C. 2008. The Asian cockroach Blattella asahinai Mizukubo (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae): A new predator of lepidopteran eggs in south Texas soybean. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 101:763-768.

Interpretive Summary: Large numbers of a cockroach that resembled the German cockroach were first observed during the winter of 2005-2006 in home turf settings in Weslaco, TX, 11 km from the United States border with northeastern Mexico. Subsequently, during nocturnal observations of insects in soybean (cv. “Vernal”) in June and July of 2006, this cockroach was observed on the foliage in large numbers (in some cases exceeding 50 per m row). Using a combination of physical characters, surface chemicals and gene sequences, we now identify this cockroach as the Asian cockroach.

Technical Abstract: Large numbers of a cockroach that resembled the German cockroach Blattella germanica (L.) were first observed during the winter of 2005-2006 in home turf settings in Weslaco, TX, 11 km from the United States border with northeastern Mexico. Subsequently, during nocturnal observations of arthropods in soybean (cv. “Vernal”) in June and July of 2006, this cockroach was observed on the foliage in large numbers (in some cases exceeding 50 per m row). Using a combination of morphological characters, cuticular hydrocarbons and sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase II gene, we now identify this cockroach as Blattella asahinai Mizukubo, the Asian cockroach.