Zephyr Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 Well it was 34ºF when I got home from work today and I thought, eh, what the heck, time for a trek into the woods. I grabbed my little shovel and a vial and in I went. Long story short I spent an hour without seeing a single living organism until I happened across an old uprooted tree. The bark had started peeling and I pulled some away...nothing. I spent the next ten minutes pulling frozen bits of bark away from the side until I got underneath of the trunk and tugged off a hunk. With this I found a sub-adult Parcoblatta pennsylvanica (at least I am guessing, I can't ID differentiate between the Parcoblatta species before adulthood). I checked further but only found one. So far this is the coldest temperature I've ever found a roach in and I would imagine he was frozen nearly solid when I found him. It took five minutes at room temperature for the little guy to rouse and move about the vial. I added him to my little colony. Now I also had a question for those of you that keep Parcoblatta species, especially pennsylvanica. Have you had yours over a year and if yes, did you allow them to chill during the winter months and warm them back up in the spring? I have been talking with professor Joseph Kunkel of UMASS and he stated "Parcoblatta go through some sort of diapause during the winter that needs to be broken in some way by an environmental cue that spring has come." I would imagine he knows his stuff but I am curious if anyone has noted this as a need for their development or if they still molt at a regular cycle without the winter chill? I'm raising several species of parcoblatta currently and it seems like the babies from the species I collected around here are growing and doing just fine without any sort of wintering cycle. A few I got from a friend down south, though, seem to be "stuck" on their last instar. These were collected around the middle of the fall. So I guess it depends on whether or not yours are captive bred. Maybe they will need a bit of a wintering cycle. You could split the group in two and see if the ones you keep indoors complete their life cycle as usual or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfox Posted December 23, 2010 Author Share Posted December 23, 2010 I'm raising several species of parcoblatta currently and it seems like the babies from the species I collected around here are growing and doing just fine without any sort of wintering cycle. A few I got from a friend down south, though, seem to be "stuck" on their last instar. These were collected around the middle of the fall. So I guess it depends on whether or not yours are captive bred. Maybe they will need a bit of a wintering cycle. You could split the group in two and see if the ones you keep indoors complete their life cycle as usual or not. I separated about 10-15 nymphs and put them in my enclosed back porch. It ranges in temperature from ~25-60 F throughout the winter because although enclosed it's not heated. I still have water gel, rotten wood, dog food, and an orange slice in with them but I doubt they will eat. Professor Kunkel worked with Blattella germanica and said that they stop molting around 59 F and that I should expect a similar effect in Parcoblatta. He also speculated about wild roaches overwintering by producing glycerol in their blood to keep them from freezing solid. I would imagine this is likely true because of the one I found yesterday at about 34 F under some bark. It was not frozen but really cold, though the log was frozen. It's now active and just as mobile as the others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulgaris Posted December 23, 2010 Share Posted December 23, 2010 Mine seem to be spending a while in the 3rd instar stage. None of them have really matured into the 4th or 5th yet, and it has been about a month Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfox Posted December 23, 2010 Author Share Posted December 23, 2010 Mine seem to be spending a while in the 3rd instar stage. None of them have really matured into the 4th or 5th yet, and it has been about a month Professor Kunkel said "Parcoblatta go through some sort of diapause during the winter that needs to be broken in some way by an environmental cue that spring has come. In some species, giant silk moths such as Cecropia, that is a long cold event followed by a long-day switch. Each species has some natural way to signal that winter is over. In Parcoblatta the winter is spent with no molting even if you keep them in a incubator at 30 C. If they do not get the proper signal they never come out of that torpor. " I would imagine that they need a period of pseudohibernation to give them the proper signals. Perhaps putting them in the fridge for a few weeks might do it. I'm just using my porch and will see what happens but if none of my warmed ones molt by march I will toss them in the fridge for a while. It does seem odd though because Parcoblatta extend well past the winter freeze regions, I wonder what happens in the south? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulgaris Posted December 23, 2010 Share Posted December 23, 2010 That's bothersome! hhahahah. I can't fit my cage in my fridge. Maybe putting them in the basement might do it. It is 58 F down there, and completely dark. As compared to their environment right now in my living room next to the heater Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfox Posted January 7, 2011 Author Share Posted January 7, 2011 Okay so last night one of my Parcoblatta molted into what looks like an adult female. But looking again I think it's still a sub-adult Parcoblatta pennsylvanica. I'm fairly certain of the species now because of the lateral lines along the pronotum. I don't think other local Parcoblatta have that marking if I'm correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulgaris Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Looks like a 4th instar male to me. But you would have to check the ventral side of the last abdominal segment to be sure of gender. It is still a nymph for certain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 Perhaps it's P. divisa? If it's not P. pennsylvanica it's probably P. divisa. Apparently the two have similar adult males. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfox Posted January 7, 2011 Author Share Posted January 7, 2011 Perhaps it's P. divisa? If it's not P. pennsylvanica it's probably P. divisa. Apparently the two have similar adult males. Yeah I just was reading that actually. I'll find out soon I guess lol. As for a period of cold to induce molting, doesnt seem to be needed afterall huh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulgaris Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 what about P. lata? I was recently informed that one of my above average in size nymphs may be P. lata, if it doesnt turn out to be pennsylvanica http://bugguide.net/node/view/482939 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 I think what we really need to do/ find is a key to the Parcoblatta species. I know Orin knows some distinguishing female characteristics. Any one else have some extra info? Coincidentally, I have several very large Parcoblatta nymphs that were collected in Tennessee. Maybe out of the forum members we have here rearing Parcoblatta sp. we can get a good idea of what each species looks like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfox Posted January 7, 2011 Author Share Posted January 7, 2011 I think what we really need to do/ find is a key to the Parcoblatta species. I know Orin knows some distinguishing female characteristics. Any one else have some extra info? Coincidentally, I have several very large Parcoblatta nymphs that were collected in Tennessee. Maybe out of the forum members we have here rearing Parcoblatta sp. we can get a good idea of what each species looks like. I think that would be quite beneficial. I've searched for information about Parcoblatta species and how to differentiate between them; so far I've had limited success. It seems like there really isn't much in the way of images either. We should try and compile a photographic identification and information guide for our native dwellers. If I'm supplied with correct identification images I'd be happy to put together a spread sheet. I'm very adept with Photoshop and page layout programs. In my mind it should be the images like they use for pest species with 3-5 development stages with an ootheca and an image of how to identify male and female adults of each species and differentiate between Parcoblatta species. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 I think that would be quite beneficial. I've searched for information about Parcoblatta species and how to differentiate between them; so far I've had limited success. It seems like there really isn't much in the way of images either. We should try and compile a photographic identification and information guide for our native dwellers. If I'm supplied with correct identification images I'd be happy to put together a spread sheet. I'm very adept with Photoshop and page layout programs. In my mind it should be the images like they use for pest species with 3-5 development stages with an ootheca and an image of how to identify male and female adults of each species and differentiate between Parcoblatta species. I think an image with the developmental stages would be good in theory, but visually there appears to be little to no difference between various Parcoblatta species nymphs other than size. I think there may be a difference in ooth size and number of eggs, so that would be a good one to include. It seems like the main way to ID Parcoblatta are these little structures under the wings. Apparently sometimes these are fuzzy and that sets apart one group (I think including P. lata) from many others. I have a really good dissecting microscope I can offer to those hoping to ID their stock. On another note, while transfering one set of my Parcoblatta from Tennessee to a new container I accidentally dropped a male whose wingpads were bulging. He seems just fine but seeing as he's my only male of this species, I'd hate to lose him. Anyone find this genus particularly physically durable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulgaris Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 You usually don't need a microscope to see the identifying structures under the wings. I find Parcoblatta are usually not very hardy when it comes to physical damage. When I cleaned out my cage, I dumped all the roaches into an empty plastic tub. They became over stressed, were sticking to each other's defensive secretions, and a few even died. If I had left them in there for much longer a lot would have started to die BTW Zephyr - do you still need a few Parcoblatta? I never made up my mind. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 You usually don't need a microscope to see the identifying structures under the wings. I find Parcoblatta are usually not very hardy when it comes to physical damage. When I cleaned out my cage, I dumped all the roaches into an empty plastic tub. They became over stressed, were sticking to each other's defensive secretions, and a few even died. If I had left them in there for much longer a lot would have started to die BTW Zephyr - do you still need a few Parcoblatta? I never made up my mind. lol Most definitely do. lol I'm wondering about the long wingedness of your female... Maybe it's a genetic trait that can pop up in P. pennsylvanica, or maybe it's a trait of an undescribed species resembling P. pennsylvanica. It seems like a lot of people dismiss female Parcoblatta as being impossible to ID but perhaps they carry some traits nobody has really noticed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulgaris Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 I'm not sure. I thought she was normal. I still have her shriveled up body saved in my collection. It is dried out, though, so not useful for DNA analysis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfox Posted January 8, 2011 Author Share Posted January 8, 2011 I just found two more that molted to what looks like the same instar. And I noticed the peppered roaches I got from Kyle are now sub adults. No idea on the B. rothi though, they've hidden themselves well amongst the other species lol. I'm a bit confused over what species they are again lol. I'll need to wait for an adult male I guess but they could be like 4 different species as of right now lol. Do all Parcoblatta secrete that sticky defensive goo? Mine do, I'm curious where it's secreted from too because the last 2-3 segments of one of my larger ones was slicked in it when I disturbed them earlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Alright, the male matured! I cooled him down in the fridge and spread his wings; looks like P. pennsylvanica. Can anyone confirm this? ***EDIT- Yep, P. pennsylvanica! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulgaris Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Yep. Congratulations! Did chilling and spreading the wings like that hurt the roach in any way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Yep. Congratulations! Did chilling and spreading the wings like that hurt the roach in any way? I don't think so. When I pulled him out of the fridge he looked, well, dead. lol He didn't squirm at all when I spread the wings, and he stayed fairly motionless for about 4 minutes, allowing me to take the pics. When I was done I put him back in a small deli cup and breathed on him a few times. He perked up immediately and before I knew it he was scurrying around and trying to take off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfox Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share Posted January 12, 2011 Cool, now all you need is an adult female and you're set lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulgaris Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 You have any adults yet, vfox? A lot of mine are now in last instar, and I am actually considering leaving them home I would miss everything that happens with them, but they really do need the heat and care that I can't give them at school. The parents might actually be talked into caring for them, but I don't know how reliable they would be. Its just one of the many decisions I have to make in a few days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfox Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share Posted January 12, 2011 You have any adults yet, vfox? A lot of mine are now in last instar, and I am actually considering leaving them home I would miss everything that happens with them, but they really do need the heat and care that I can't give them at school. The parents might actually be talked into caring for them, but I don't know how reliable they would be. Its just one of the many decisions I have to make in a few days Nope, mine are all sub adult and one molt before sub adult mainly. It would stink not to have them around but at the same time the eat will help. Just hope your parents are reliable for that. My mother would let mine die off most likely, she hates bugs, if it wasn't my own house I likely wouldn't have any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 @vfox I'm very close! I'm thinking all 3 of the other large nymphs I was sent are P. pennsylvanica. Time will tell! @Vulgaris You know, if you need to rehome them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vfox Posted January 21, 2011 Author Share Posted January 21, 2011 Ladies and gentlemen, we have Parcoblatta pennsylvanica! I just had a male molt into adulthood and although these crappy shots are from my cellphone it shows the same structures are Kyle's adult, above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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