Integrative and Comparative Biology Advance Access originally published online on July 19, 2008
Integrative and Comparative Biology 2008 48(4):541-543; doi:10.1093/icb/icn074
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Book Review |
Cockroaches: Ecology, Behavior, and Natural History. William J. Bell, Louis M. Roth, and Christine A. Nalepa.
Department of Entomology
Kansas State University
Correspondence: E-mail: srini{at}ksu.edu
Cockroaches: Ecology, Behavior, and Natural History. William J. Bell, Louis M. Roth, and Christine A. Nalepa.
Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2007. 248 pp. ISBN-0-8018-8616-3 (hardcover), $100.00.
Mention cockroaches and there is a near universal negative reaction, usually associated with unhygienic conditions, disease, and general disgust. This is understandable because most people (including many biologists who do not study cockroaches) are generally familiar with just a handful of "pest" cockroach species that have become associated with human habitation. Few people realize the extent of cockroach diversity in life history, habitat, behavior, and morphology. Few books exist on the ecology, life history, and biology of cockroaches other than those that are closely associated with humans. This book attempts to summarize the large amount of information that has accumulated in disparate scientific journals on a wide variety of cockroach species. The emphasis of the book in general is on the less familiar species, many of which live in forests, and therefore, are rarely encountered by humans.
The book consists of 10 chapters and begins with a general description of cockroach morphology. Although cockroaches vary widely in their physical appearance, they share a number of morphological features in common. A number of fascinating features have evolved over the millennia: horn-like protrusions on the pronotum, exquisite mimicry of a variety of beetle species, bright coloration, and sexual dimorphism. The second chapter deals with locomotion. Cockroaches, especially the peridomestic species, are best known for their fast running. However, there is a great deal of variability in cockroach locomotion including swimming and flying. Although many cockroach species are wingless, some species are strong fliers and sexual dimorphism in presence/absence of wings is not uncommon. This chapter includes detailed information on the ecological correlates of wing condition, life history trade-offs, population structure, correlation between wings and habitat, as well as other evolutionary aspects.
Cockroaches occupy a wide variety of habitats (Chapter 3) including tropical and temperate forests, deserts, grasslands, and salt marshes. Similarly, they have a wide vertical distribution ranging from tropical rain forest canopies to deep in the soil. The broad habitat is reflected in a number of features such as diet and foraging (Chapter 4), morphology, physiology, reproduction, diet, circadian rhythms, and seasonal activity.
One of the more fascinating aspects of cockroach biology is their association with microbial symbionts (Chapter 5). Cockroaches harbor a wide variety of symbionts in their gut as well as fat bodies. It is widely believed that the association with microbes has played a large role in the adaptation and evolution of cockroaches, as it has in many other organisms. The hindguts of all cockroaches that have been examined harbor a wide variety of microbes, including ciliates, amoebae, flagellates, and various prokaryotes. These are believed to play a major role in digestion. With the exception of one genus (Nocticola) all cockroaches examined to date also harbor endosymbiotic bacteria in the genus Blattabacterium, which are believed to have an essential role in uric acid metabolism. In addition, some cockroaches (e.g., Cryptocercus) also harbor specialized microbes such as those involved in the breakdown of lignocellulose.
Cockroaches exhibit a wide variety of fascinating mating strategies and behaviors (Chapter 6), although only a few species have been studied in detail. Like most other insects, cockroaches communicate using chemicals; however, a number of other signals such as visual, tactile, and acoustic may be involved in courtship and mate finding.
Chapter 7 is a detailed description of the wide variety of reproductive strategies exhibited by cockroaches. Cockroaches produce and deposit oothecae, which are egg cases containing multiple embryos. Cockroaches also exhibit a range of reproductive modes, including oviparity ovoviviparity, viviparity, and parthenogenesis.
Another fascinating aspect of cockroach biology is their social behavior (Chapter 8). A majority of cockroach species are solitary; however, a number of them are gregarious or subsocial. It is widely believed that eusocial termites evolved from subsocial cockroaches (Chapter 9), a finding that is important to the understanding of termite evolution. Parental care is also often exhibited by cockroaches and is reflected to some extent by ovoviviparity and viviparity. Chapter 9 examines the similarities between termites and cockroaches and attempts to make the case that the former evolved from the latter.
The final chapter is an examination of the ecological impact of cockroaches. This is perhaps one of the more under-investigated aspects of cockroaches. Cockroaches are an important source of food for a number of organisms, including arthropods, birds, and mammals. As such, they are an important part of the food chain. Cockroaches also play an extremely important role in nutrient cycling. A majority of cockroaches are detritus feeders and with the help of endogenous cellulases play an important role in degrading plant material. Some species, such as Cryptocercus, feed directly on wood and play a major role in lignocellulose digestion in temperate forests. This book concludes with an appendix of taxonomic designations of genera discussed in the book and a glossary of terms.
Overall, this is a well-written book that is also visually attractive. The figures (line drawings and black and white photographs) are clear and relevant. It is indeed tragic that two of the authors and foremost experts on cockroaches (Roth and Bell) passed away before the completion of the book and did not have an opportunity to see the end product. This book is much needed to educate biologists about the fascinating biology and diversity of cockroaches. It is perhaps a little too technical for the general public, but anyone with a background in science is likely to comprehend most of the information here. My one criticism is that a number of recent and relevant references have been left out. Beyond that I think this book should be read by anyone interested in cockroach diversity and evolution. I especially recommend this book to graduate students so they can perhaps realize the myriad opportunities and unanswered questions that exist in the study of cockroach biology and evolution.
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