in diet, feeding on almost all kinds of food matter including human food, paper, leather, cloth and even

dead bodies of their fellows. They prefer starch containing food. Cockroaches are cursorial insects, viz. run very fast. They fly very rarely as they are not good fliers. Cockroaches are unisexual (male and female sexes are found in different individuals) and show sexual dimorphism i.e., one sex can be distinguished from the other externally. They are oviparous (laying eggs). The young ones called nymphs resembles adults, except being smaller. Parental care is seen in them.

mOrPhOLOGY Or exTernAL chArAcTerS

The content for PMT Biology is very vast. It does not allow students to engage in enquiry so as to develop meaningful knowledge. Essential topic for PMT is presented here to enable students grasp the topic, analyse the kind of questions appearing in PMTs, practice and scorE HIGH.

Shape, Size and Colour

The body is dorsoventrally flattened, elongated and bilaterally symmetrical. The adult cockroach is about 2 to 4 cm in length and about 1 cm in width. The colour is shining reddish brown.

cOckrOAch
The cockroach is the most common pest of food industries, hotels, kitchens, warehouses etc. It is one of the arthropods belonging to the class insecta. It has four common species found in India. They are : Blattella germanica, the German cockroach, Blatta orientalis, the Oriental cockroach, Periplaneta americana, the american cockroach (the most common species in the world) and Periplaneta australasiae, the australian cockroach.

SYSTemATIc POSITIOn
Phylum arthropoda Class Insecta Subclass Pterygota Division exopterygota Order Orthoptera Genus Periplaneta americana Species Cockroach is considered suitable type for the study because it shows insect structure in its fundamental form, it is harmless to handle, its size is convenient for study and it is available throughout the year. Male cockroach Female cockroach 1. abdomen is relative long abdomen is relatively short and narrow. and broad. 2. Seventh tergum covers Seventh tergum covers the only the eighth tergum in eighth and ninth terga in the abdomen. the abdomen. 3. all the nine abdominal Only the sterna are visible. abdominal visible first seven sterna are

hABITAT
Cockroaches are found in warm, dark and damp places. They commonly inhabit kitchens, restaurants, store houses, godowns, railway wagons, ships, etc. They are numerous in underground drains.

4. There is no brood pouch. a brood pouch is formed by the seventh, eighth and ninth abdominal sterna. 5. Ninth abdominal sternum There are no anal styles. bears a pair of anal styles. 6. Genital aperture lies Genital aperture lies on below the anus on one the 8th sternum within the of the gonapophyses. brood pouch. 7. There are only gonapophyses 3 There are 3 gonapophyses.
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hABITS
They are nocturnal insects preferring darkness and become active during night, but remain hidden under some objects and take rest during day time. Cockroaches are omnivorous

pairs

of

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Exoskeleton or cuticle
a non-living brown coloured, hard, jointed and chitinous exoskeleton composed of several plates or sclerites cover the entire body. The adjacent sclerites are joined together by thin, soft, flexible articular or arthrodial membranes to allow movement. Functions of cuticle Thick cuticle of arthropods is like steel to modern man, and is primarily responsible for their great success. It is useful in many ways as follows : Provides support, rigidity and protection. Waxy layer prevents loss of water due to evaporation, thus enabling insects to live in relatively dry environments. Cuticular invaginations offer points of attachment for muscles. Jointedness of cuticle of body segments and appendages make accurate complicated movements possible. Cuticular lining of fore and hind guts protect their epidermis from abrasions by passage of food. Melanin pigments within cuticle provide protective colouration. Many of the cuticular outgrowths form sensory receptors.

a movable plate called the labrum articulates with the lower edge of the clypeus by labroclypeal suture. Two cheek sclerites, the genae, lie vertically just below the eyes at the lateral side. Head bears a number of jointed appendages. On each dorsolateral side of head is a large reniform and black compound eye. Just in front of each eye is a long, slender and multisegmented antenna. Inner to the base of each antenna is a small, rounded and whitish area or fenestra, representing a simple eye or ocellus. Lower end of head bears the preoral cavity and mouth, surrounded by mouth parts. Such a head with mouth parts directed downwards is called hypognathous. Thorax The middle region of body or thorax consists of 3 distinct segments called, from in front backwards, the prothorax, mesothorax and metathorax. each thoracic segment is enclosed by four chitinous skeletal sclerites. a dorsal tergum, a ventral sternum and two lateral pleura (sing. pleuron). The tergum of the prothorax is also called pronotum, which is the largest sclerite and projects forwards to cover the neck and head. each thoracic segment bears ventrally a pair of 9 jointed walking legs, while mesothorax and metathorax each bear a pair of wings dorsally. Two pairs of tracheal openings or spiracles are present on the lateral pleura of thorax. Abdomen The posterior region of body is called abdomen. It is broader than thorax and dorso-ventrally flattened. abdomen of adult consists of 10 segments while embryo has 11 segments. Not all segments are visible externally, the hinder segments remain somewhat concealed. 8 pairs of tracheal openings or spiracles are present on lateral pleura of first 8 abdominal segments. The arthrodial membrane between the fifth and sixth abdominal terga is depressed on either side to form a stink gland. The stink glands produce a secretion pheromone, that gives a characteristic stinky (foul) smell. anus lies below 10th tergum between 4 podical plates. 10th segment in both sexes bears a pair of small, filamentous and sensory anal cerci. In females, the 7th sternum is boat shaped and together with the 8th and 9th sterna forms a brood or genital pouch whose anterior part contains female gonopore, spermathecal pores and collaterial glands. In males, genital pouch or chamber lies at the hind end of abdomen bounded dorsally by 9th and 10th terga and ventrally by the 9th sternum. It contains dorsal anus, ventral male genital pore and gonapophysis. Males bear a pair of short, thread-like anal styles which are absent in females.

Body
body of cockroach is distinctly divided into segments grouped into 3 well - defined regions or tegmata head, thorax and abdomen. Head Head is formed by the fusion of 6 embryonic segments and is small and roughly triangular in shape. It is attached to thorax by a short and narrow neck or cervicum and can be moved by neck muscles in different directions. The whole of head is covered by sclerites constituting the head capsule. The top or vertex is formed by two epicranial plates jointed in front by an inverted g-shaped coronal or epicranial suture. an impaired triangular sclerite called frons lies between the arms of epicranial suture. below the frons is a narrow, rectangular sclerite, the clypeus. There is a faint horizontal line, the frontoclypeal suture between the clypeus and the frons.

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APPenDAGeS Of cOckrOAch
Main appendages include: antennae and mouth parts on head, legs and wings on thorax and external genitalia on abdomen.

Antennae
antennae are a pair of long, slender, whip-like, and manyjointed movable appendages, found on head. an antenna is attached close to the inner side of compound eye in a circular socket enclosed by a ring-like antennal sclerite, and freely articulating by a thin membrane. It consists of a large basal segment, the scape, followed by a short and cylindrical pedicel, and a long many-jointed flagellum. The antennae bear tactile and olfactory receptors and are sensitive to touch and smell. Male cockroach has longer antennae than female.

inner, hard plate-like lacinia. The latter tapers into two sharp claw like projections. Lacinia also bears numerous strong sensory bristles at its inner surface. Exopodite : Maxillary palp represents exopodite. both maxillae act as accessory jaws. They work sideways to masticate food and to convey food morsels into oral cavity.

Mouth parts
Mouth parts are head appendages surrounding the mouth. These consist of the labrum or upper lip, a pair of mandibles, a pair of maxillae, the labium or lower lip and the hypopharynx. They are of the mandibulate type (i.e., biting and chewing type) and remain unspecialized due to its omnivorous diet. (i) Labrum Labrum or upper lip is the appendage of 3rd head segment. It is broad, chitinous flap, which hangs from the distal end of the clypeus. It is a also called as upper lip. a thin plate, the epipharynx, is fused to the inner surface of labrum. The epipharynx bears the organs of taste. The labrum holds the food particles during the feeding. (ii) Mandibles These are appendages of 4th head segment. These are small, triangular, and strongly sclerotised structures. They are attached with the sides of head capsule and articulate by means of a condyle with the gena of same side. Inner margin of each mandible is made of two small cutting or serrated lobes, distal incisor and proximal molar, each bearing 3 tooth-like denticles of thickened cuticle. Proximal to molar lobe is a membranous lobe, the prostheca, that bears sensory hairs. Mandibles work like jaws. (iii) Maxillae (First maxillae) These are appendages of 5th head segment and known as first pair of maxillae. They lie beneath the mandibles on either side on the head capsule. each maxilla consists of three parts: Protopodite : It is a basal portion and made up of two parts- the proximal cardo and the distal stipes. both the parts are bent at an angle to each other. Endopodite : It arises from the inner side of the stipes and consists of two parts- outer broad, hood-like galea and an

(iv) Labium (Second maxillae) Labium or lower lip is the appendage of 6th head segment. It is the posterior-most of all mouth parts. It is formed by the fusion of two maxilla-like embryonic appendages or second pair of maxillae. fused protopodite is 3-segmented consisting of a large proximal submentum, a small middle mentum and a distal prementum. The partially fused endopodites form a tongue-like ligula. each half of ligula consists of an inner glossa and an outer paraglossa, corresponding with lacinia and galea respectively. Prementum bears, on each side, a 3-jointed sensory labial palp borne on a basal projection, the palpiger. Terminal segment of palp is covered thickly with sensory setae. The labium does not take active part in feeding. However, glossae and paraglossae prevent the loss of food particles from mandibular action. The labial palps respond to taste and smell. (v) Hypopharynx It is a small concial fleshy structure, hanging in between the two maxillae in front of the labium and acts like tongue. an efferent salivary duct carrying the saliva from the salivary glands opens near the base of the hypopharynx.
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Walking legs
There are three pairs of walking legs, one pair attached ventrally to sternum of each of prothorax, mesothorax and metathorax and called fore, mid- and hind legs, respectively. all the legs are similar, and each consisting of a linear series of 9 segments or podomeres. Leg is articulated with its thoracic segment by a stout flattened, basal coxa, followed by a smaller triangular trochanter. The latter is fused to a stout spiny femur, followed by a slender spiny tibia, which is the longest segment of leg. finally, the tarsus is made of 5 very small movable podomeres or tarsomeres bearing fine hairs. basal tarsomere is longer and called metatarsus while terminal tarsomere is named pretarsus. Inner edges of first four tarsomeres bear soft adhesive pads, the plantulae. Pretarsus ends in two lateral claws and between them a median, delicate hair-covered porous pad, the arolium or pulvillus which prevents from slipping. all the legs are used for walking, running and climbing.

External genitalia
reproductive organs (such as testes and ovaries) concerned with production and transmission of gametes (ova and sperms) are collectively termed internal genitalia. While organs involved in sexual dimorphism, mating and deposition of eggs are known as external genitalia. In cockroach, these are appendages of the terminal segments of abdomen. Anal cerci and anal styles have already been described earlier. Whereas gonapohyses shall be dealt with the reproductive system of cockroach.

BODY WALL
body wall or integument consists of : cuticle (explained earlier), hypodermis and basement membrane.

Hypodermis
Hypodermis (or epidermis) lies beneath cuticle which it secretes. It is a highly organised epithelium made of a single layer of columnar cells resting on a basement membrane and anchored to it by hemidesmosomes. besides secreting cuticle, hypodermis resorbs endocuticle before each moult or ecdysis. Dermal glands found in hypodermis are concerned with the production of cement layer and different kinds of cuticle. They probably also secrete pheromones and some hormones. Oenocytes appear between hypodermal cells and probably secrete wax or lipids that is transmitted to the surface of cuticle.

Basement membrane
a typical stout and continuous basement membrane bounds the inner surface of hypodermis. It consists of an amorphous granular material, probably a mucopolysaccharide.

Wings
Cockroach has two pairs of wings. One pair of wings are attached dorso-laterally between tergum and pleuron of both mesothorax and metathorax. In P. americana wings reach up to the tip of abdomen in female, and a little beyond in male cockroach. Chitin thickens around tracheae to form nurvures or veins that strengthen the wings. (i) Forewings Mesothoracic or forewings are heavily sclerotised. They are narrow, dark opaque and leathery in texture. They are not used in flight but serve to protect the hindwings at rest. Hence they are known as elytra, wing covers or tegmina. (ii) Hindwings Metathoracic or hindwings are thin, membranous, transparent, broad, delicate and used in flight. They are kept folded like a fan under the tegmina, when at rest. Movements are due to special muscles attached to wing bases and working at a very high speed.
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COeLOm (BODY CAvITY)

The large perivisceral body cavity of cockroach, enclosing alimentary canal and other viscera, is a haemocoel containing blood. True coelom in cockroach is much reduced and represented only by the cavities of gonads. Fat body (corpora adiposa) is a soft whitish tissue which surrounds the viscera. Most of its cells store fat, glycogen and protein, and are termed trophocytes. Some cells store nitrogenous waste (uric acid) and are called urate cells.

PhYsIOLOGY Of PerIPLAneTA DIGesTIve sYsTem/DIGesTIOn

It includes the mouth parts (already described), a long alimentary canal and a pair of salivary glands.

Alimentary canal
alimentary canal is a long and somewhat coiled tube of uneven diameter and divisible into three regions : foregut, midgut and hindgut. foregut and hindgut are ectodermal and lined with a thin cuticle secreted by ectoderm whereas

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midgut is endodermal, devoid of cuticular lining and capable of absorbing digested food. Foregut Foregut or stomodaeum includes mouth cavity, pharynx, oesophagus, crop and gizzard. (i) Mouth cavity : Mouth cavity or preoral chamber is a small, ill-defined space outside mouth, surrounded by mouth parts. food is crushed and acted upon by the salivary secretion or saliva in mouth cavity.

(ii) Malpighian tubules : from the junction of midgut and hindgut arise 100 to 150 very narrow, thread-like, yellowcoloured blind tubules projecting freely into haemocoel. These are called Malpighian tubules and are excretory in function. Hindgut Hindgut or proctodaeum is divided into three regions : ileum, colon and rectum. (i) Ileum : The mid-gut continues into the ileum. It is short and relatively narrower. Its posterior end is characterised by the possession of six tiny triangular lobes internally, bearing spicules and acting as a sort of sphincter. The ileum passes undigested food into the colon. (ii) Colon : actually it is a dilation of ileum and is the longest, relatively thicker and coiled part of hind gut. It leads into the rectum. (iii) Rectum : rectum is an oval or spindle-shaped sac with external ridges alternating with internal longitudinal thickenings called rectal pads or rectal papillae. These are 6 in number and also known as rectal glands. It helps in the absorption of water. rectum opens to outside by anus.

Digestive glands
(ii) Mouth : True mouth is a small opening at the base of preoral cavity and leads into pharynx. (iii) Pharynx : Pharynx is short and tubular and its cuticular lining is more folded posteriorly. (iv) Oesophagus : from pharynx arises a long, straight, narrow and laterally compressed tube, the oesophagus. (v) Crop : Crop is large, thin-walled, pear-shaped sac, which extends well up to the third or fourth abdominal segment. It is the largest part of foregut. Its outer surface is covered by a network of tracheae. Crop serves as a reservoir for storing food. (vi) Gizzard : Crop leads behind into a small, cone shaped, muscular and thick-walled chamber, the gizzard or proventriculus, which marks the end of foregut. In the gizzard, the cuticular lining first form 6 plates with teeth to grind the food, and then bears bristles to let only the well crushed food to pass on. Midgut Midgut is the short and narrow tube-like middle part of alimentary canal also known as ventriculus or mesenteron. It is internally lined by glandular epithelium and forms the true stomach serving mainly for digestion and absorption. (i) Hepatic caeca : Opening into the anterior end of midgut are 6 or 8 short, narrow, blindly ending hollow tubes, called enteric or hepatic caeca. These are internally lined by epithelium and secrete digestive enzymes. They are as follows: Salivary glands : There are paired salivary glands lying one on each side of the oesophagus and crop. each gland has two glandular portions and a salivary reservoir or receptacle. The secretion secreted by the glandular portion is known as saliva which is stored in the receptacles. The saliva contains amylase, chitinase and cellulase enzymes.

Hepatic caecae are lined by the glandular cells which

secrete digestive secretion containing proteolytic, amylolytic and lipolytic types of enzymes. The mid-gut is lined by glandular epithelial cells which secrete a digestive secretion containing enzymes.
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Table : Digestion in Periplaneta Part of alimentary canal 1. buccal chamber 2. Pharynx 3. Oesophagus Chemical/Enzyme secretion etc. Types of food digested Saliva secreted by salivary gland is mixed with food (i) Zymase Carbohydrates (ii) Chitinase (iii) Cellulase (i) Invertase, maltase and lactase (ii) Trypsin, proteases and peptidases (iii) Lipase (i) food is triturated (ii) Pulvilli filter the food Carbohydrates Proteins fats Carbohydrates, fats and proteins excess nutrients deposited in fat body

4. Crop (principal site of digestion)

5. Gizzard

6. Midgut (larger particles pushed back Midgut enzyme continue their action into crop) 7. Midgut + hepatic caeca 8. rectum (hindgut) absorption

Water and salts absorbed by rectal papillae, rest defecated as dry pellet via anus. Perineural sinus encloses the ventral nerve cord.

CIrCuLATOrY sYsTem
Cockroach has an open or lacunar circulatory system as blood, also called haemolymph, flows freely within the body cavity or haemocoel. There is a heart and aorta but no capillaries and veins.

Heart
Heart lies mid-dorsally beneath the terga of thorax and abdomen. It is a long narrow tube with anterior end open and posterior end closed. It consists of 13 funnel shaped chambers or segments, each communicating by a valvular opening with the one in front of it. Hinder end of each chamber has a pair of minute lateral openings, the ostia. These allow flow of haemolymph from pericardial sinus into heart only and not in a back gear. The anterior narrow and tubular part of heart is called anterior aorta. It is without ostia and forwards into the head sinus.

Haemocoel
body cavity of cockroach is called haemocoel. Haemocoel is divided by a dorsal and a ventral diaphragm into three sinuses: (i) dorsal pericardial, (ii) middle pervisceral and (iii) ventral perineural. fan-shaped alary muscles are present in the floor of pericardial sinus in each segment. These are connected to heart and dorsal diaphragm by connective tissue. Perivisceral sinus contains the alimentary canal and is mostly occupied by a whitish mass of tissue or fat body which consists of following cell types: Trophocytes : store fat, glycogen and proteins. Myocytes : Contain symbiotic bacteria that secrete vitamins, amino acids and glycogen from glucose. Oenocytes : Take part in intermediary matabolism at the time of ecdysis. Urate cells : absorb nitrogen waste from haemolymph, synthesize uric acid and store it.
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Haemolymph
The haemolymph or blood of cockroach consists of a clear colourless plasma rich in amino acids, uric acid, and numerous different types of cells, called haemocytes. Haemolymph is devoid of respiratory pigment and hence does not assist in respiration. blood also consists of a non-reducing sugar agent, called trachealose a characteristic of insects.

Blood circulation
blood or haemolymph circulates by the contraction and relaxation of heart assisted by the paired fan-shaped alary muscles. Contraction of these muscles enlarges the pericardial sinus so that blood flows into it from the underlying perivisceral sinus. When the muscles relax, blood is forced through ostia into the heart.

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resPIrATOrY sYsTem
respiratory system is well developed in a cockroach in order to compensate the poorly developed circulatory system. It consists of tracheae, tracheoles and spiracles.

abdominal segments. They are present laterally in the soft cuticle between a terga and sterna.

Respiratory mechanism and gaseous exchange

alternate contraction and relaxation of the abdominal muscles (tergo-sternal muscles) cause rhythmic contraction and expansion of abdomen. Such movements cause change in diameter of tracheae and force air in and out of tracheal tubes through spiracles. 1st and 3rd pairs of spiracles always remain open while the remaining eight pairs open only during inspiration. Gaseous exchange occurs by simple diffusion between air in tracheae and dissolved gases in blood or tracheolar fluid which has been shown to rise and fall.

Tracheae
Haemocoel contains a network of elastic, closed and branching air tubes or tracheae. There are three pairs of large, parallel, longitudinal tracheal trunks, one dorsal, one ventral and one lateral in position, which are connected together by transverse commissures. The cuticular lining is spirally thickened forming intima or taenidia which prevents the tracheal tubes from collapsing.

exCreTOrY sYsTem
It regulates the amounts of nitrogenous material, inorganic salts and water in blood or haemolymph. The main structures playing the role of excretion are : Malpighian tubules, fat body cells, uricose glands and cuticle.

Malpighian tubules
These are fine, long unbranched, yellowish and blind tubules lying freely in the haemolymph and are attached to the alimentary canal at the extreme anterior end of hindgut. each tubule is about 16 mm long and 0.5 mm in diameter and is lined by glandular epithelium with a characteristic brush border. a Malpighian tubule has two functional parts. Glandular cells of distal secretory part extract nitrogenous wastes and water from haemolymph forming a solution called urine. The urine flows towards the proximal absorptive part of tubule which reabsorbs certain salts, such as potassium bicarbonate, and some water resulting in precipitation of uric acid. More water is reabsorbed in colon and rectum so that more or less solid uric acid is eliminated with faeces through anus. So, cockroach is uricotelic.

Tracheoles
The ultimate finer branches of tracheae are called tracheoles which come in contact with the individual body cells. The elaborate tracheal system carries oxygen directly to all the body cells.

Fat body cells

It consists of many different types of cells, but only urate cells are associated with excretion. These cells accumulate, produce and store uric acid and urate granules throughout life. This mode of excretion is termed storage excretion.

Spiracles
The main tracheal trunks open to the exterior on body surface through 10 pairs of segmentally arranged apertures termed spiracles or stigmata. Two pairs of spiracles are thoracic, one between pro and mesothorax and the other between meso and metathorax. Eight pairs of spiracles are abdominal, one pair in each of the first eight

Uricose glands
The mushroom gland of male cockroach possesses long, blind tubules at its periphery, called uricose glands or utriculi majores. These tubules store uric acid (storage excretion) and discharge it over the spermatophore during copulation.
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Cuticle
Cuticle also acts as a site where nitrogenous waste material is deposited and then eliminated with its shedding at each moult or ecdysis.

nervOus sYsTem
Nervous system comprises the central, peripheral and sympathetic or stomatogastric nervous system. Central nervous system consists of brain and double ganglionated ventral nerve cord. Peripheral nervous system comprises nerves arising from brain and segmental ganglia and sympathetic nervous system (= Stomatogastric) comprises four ganglia and a retrocerebral complex.

The nervous system of cockroach is spread throughout the body. The head holds a bit of a nervous system while the rest is situated along the ventral (belly-side) part of its body. So, now you understand that if the head of a cockroach is cut off, it will still live for as long as one week.

sensOrY sYsTem
Periplaneta has a variety of sensilla which are sensitive to touch, smell, taste, detection of deleterious chemicals, sound, temperature, and light. each sensilla (1-6) contains neuro-sensory cell, trichogen cell and tormogen cell. These are: Tactile sensilla (= touch = thigmoreceptor) are present all over the body, and abundant on antenna, legs, anal cerci, maxillary palps. Thermoreceptors (= sensitive to temperature) are present on antennae, maxillary, and labial palp. Gustatory ( = taste) are present on maxillary and labial palps. Auditory (= sound) are present on ventral surface of anal cerci. Proprioceptors (pressure) are sensitive to pressure set up in cuticle during feeding and movement. Light or photoreceptors are simple and compound eye. Simple eye (= ocellus) is present at the base of each antennae, consists of lens that facilitates collection/filtering of light. It does not form image but help in discrimination between dark and dim light. Compound eyes are large, sessile, paired, bean-shaped, black in colour present on either side of head. The outer convex surface of eye is divided into 200 hexagonal areas called facets (200 2 = 400). below the facet lie series of visual units called ommatidium. Periplaneta has 2000 such units (Honey bee has 5, 000 and dragon flies 50,000) which are similar in structure and function. all facets of an eye together form its cornea. each ommatidium is composed of : (i) Diopteric region-from cornea to extreme ends of cone cells and (ii) Receptor (= retinular region). The diopteric region consists of : Transparent cuticle that acts as lens. Corneagen cells (two in number) which secrete retina. Crystalline cone formed by 4 cone cells serving as accessory lens. With the help of several ommatidia, a cockroach can receive several images of an object. This kind of vision is known as mosaic vision with more sensitivity but less resolution, being common during night (hence called nocturnal vision).

Central nervous system (made of 6 fused ganglia)

brain consisting of (a) protocerebrum, (b) deuterocerebrum and (c) tritocerebrum which fuse to form a bilobed mass called supra-oesophageal ganglion. The 3 other ganglia fuse to form the sub-oesophageal ganglia. Ventral nerve cord originates from sub-oesophageal ganglion. It bears 3 ganglia in thorax called pro-meso-, and metathoracic ganglia and six abdominal ganglia of which the last i.e., 6th is formed by the fusion of many ganglion.

Peripheral nervous system

The nerves, given off from ganglia to all parts of body, constitute the peripheral nervous system.

Sympathetic nervous system

It comprises four ganglia and a retrocerebral complex. The four ganglia are : Frontal ganglion, hypocerebral ganglion, ingluvial ganglion and proventriculus ganglia. Retrocerebral complex lies above hypocerebral ganglion. It is made up of endocrine organs (a) corpora cardiacasecretes hormone that regulate peristalsis of gut and act as cardiac accelerator, and (b) corpora allata- secretes juvenile hormone which is involved in reproduction, metamorphosis etc.

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neurO-enDOCrIne sYsTem
Neurosecretory cell in the brain secretes brain hormone (bH) that affect secretory activity of other endocrine glands and several other physiological processes. The corpora cardiaca and corpora allata are already discussed. Prothoracic gland is located in thorax. It secretes a hormone Male reproductive organs 1. Testes : paired, massive, extend from 3/4 abdominal 1. segment to 6th has 3-4 interconnected lobes each of which is formed of sac-like lobules. 2. Vas deferens (= sperm duct) originate from either side of testes and receive the sperm from testicular lobules. 3. Ejaculatory duct : elongated, contractile, formed by the union of right and left vas deferens. It opens to the outside by male genital aperture that lies ventral to anus. It is lined internally by cuticle. Accessory genital glands 2. 1. Utricular = Mushroom gland : Large, white in color, present at the junction of vas 3. deferens and ejaculatory duct. It is made up of sac-like tubules of three types : Long - utriculi majores 4. Small - utriculi breviores and bulb - like seminal vesicles

called ecdysone (= moulting hormone) which stimulates metamorphic changes in a nymph. ecdysone has a antagonistic action to JH.

rePrODuCTIve sYsTem

In Periplaneta sexes are separate and sexual dimorphism is pronounced. Table : Differences between male and female reproductive organs Female reproductive organs Ovaries : paired, elongated, one on each side of abdomen, extend from abdominal segment 2 6. If consists of 8 ovarioles in each ovary. (8 + 8 = 16) Ovarioles has 5 parts : Terminal filament Germarium Vitellarium egg chamber Pedicel and plug Oviduct : The pedicel of all the 8 ovarioles/ovary join to form a small, muscular oviduct of their side. Vagina : The left and right oviduct unite to form vagina which opens into genital pouch by a slit-like gonopore (on 8th abdominal sternite). Genital pouch (= Gynantrium) boat-shaped sternite of 7th abdominal segment forms its floor and 8th and 9th form roof and sides. The pouch is divided into (a) genital chamber and (b) oothecal chamber. The 7th sternite has 2 large and oval apical lobes on its posterior region.

2. Phallic = Conglobate gland : Club-shaped, long flattened, sac-like lie beneath the mushroom gland. It opens by a separate aperture which lies in proximity with genital aperture. It secretes outer Accessory glands/structure layer of spermatophore. 1. Collaterial gland : a pair of much branched accessory Accessory external genitalia or collaterial glands lies behind and above the ovaries. Secretion of two collaterial glands forms the hard egg1. Male genital aperture is surrounded by three asymmetrical case or ootheca around groups of eggs. plates called gonapophysis (= phallomere-right, left and ventral) which arise from the 9th sternum. 2. Spermathecae : a spermatheca or receptaculum sem2. Right phallomere consists of two horizontal opposing plates, a sickle-shaped hook and a serrated lobe terminating in two prongs. inis, consisting of a left sac-like and a right filamentous caecum, opens by a median aperture in the dorsal wall of genital pouch on 9th sternum,at the tip of a small spermathecal papilla. In a fertile female, spermatheca is found filled with spermatozoa, received during copulation, from the male.

3. Left phallomere consists of four components. Titillator with a terminal hook. Pseudopenis with a broad hammer-like head. asperate lobe near pseudopenis bearing the External genitalia opening of phallic gland. external genitalia consists of ovipositor made of 3 pairs accutobolus having a hook. of chitinous processes called gonapophyses (arising from 8th and 9th sterna), that hang into oothecal 4. Ventral phallomere bears male genital pore. It lies chamber and facilitate arranging of ova in the ootheca. below right phallomere. Opening of ejaculatory duct They also help in imparting the characteristic shape to lies at its base in an intromittent muscular region, called ootheca. phallus or edegus.
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Males are smaller, have a visible abdominal sclerite, pointed hind end, undivided 7th sternite, paired anal styles on 9th abdominal sternite and wings larger extending behind the body. Females are larger with seven, visible abdominal sternites, blunt and boat-shaped hind end, wings smaller, 7th sternite divided, anal styles are absent and wings are smaller. The male and female reproductive organs are compared as given in table (Refer previous page).

LIfe hIsTOrY Copulation

Sexually mature male and female cockroach generally mate during night from March to September. During copulation, the male transfers its spermatozoa in the form of packets, called spermatophores, directly into the genital pouch of female.

Fertilization and Development

fertilization of the egg occurs into vestibulum of genital pouch. fertilized eggs become surrounded by the secretion of collaterial glands, which hardens to form an egg case or ootheca. This ootheca is then laid in a warm, sheltered and dark place. The egg undergoes spiral cleavage. The young cockroaches or nymphs emerge out leaving the egg membrane behind. freshly hatched nymphs are delicate, transparent and almost colourless. They possess nearly all adult characters but differ in size and colouration, in being sexually immature and lacking wings.

Metamorphosis
Immediately after hatching, the nymphs undergo first moulting or ecdysis and then 6 or 7 successive moults follow. as nymphal development proceeds, the wing pads arise, body increases in size, colouration becomes darker and ultimately the adult takes its form with fully developed wings and genitalia. Thus development of cockroach is simple and direct and includes incomplete or gradual metamorphosis which is known as paurometaboly.

InTerACTIOn WITh mAnkInD

all the species of cockroach are harmful because they contaminate food with their excreta, spread foul smell, and also pose potential harm by acting as disease transmitting agents. besides, cockroaches are the fourth most common allergen. These also have a psychological impact on humans, causing anxiety and stress due to embarrassment and physical invasion.

neW mCQs
1. In cockroach, wings are absent from (a) prothorax (b) mesothorax (c) metathorax (d) none of these. 2. Number of spiracle pairs in Periplaneta americana is (a) 8 (b) 9 (c) 10 (d) 11. 3. Male cockroach can be distinguished from female cockroach through (a) longer antennae (b) longer abdomen (c) wingless body (d) all of these.
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4. Cockroach blood does not contain respiratory pigment. It means (a) it does not respire (b) cockroach respires anaerobically (c) oxygen passes to all the tissues through alary muscles (d) oxygen reaches tissue through tracheoles. 5. In cockroach the longest podomere is (a) coxa (b) trochanter or femur (c) tibia (d) tarsus. 6. In cockroach moulting is induced by secretion of (a) prothoracic gland (b) corpora allata (c) corpora cardiaca (d) neurosecretory cells. 7. Spiracles of cockroach which are larger and always kept open are (a) first and second pairs (b) first and third pairs (c) first and tenth pairs (d) second and third pairs. 8. antennae of cockroach have (a) gustatory receptors (b) auditory receptors (c) tactile receptors (d) tactile and olfactory receptors. 9. Heart of cockroach is (a) myogenic (c) neurogenic (b) neuromyogenic (d) none of these.

(a) ecdysone (c) parotid gland

(b) salivary glands (d) juvenile hormone. (bHu-2006)

4. Which one of the following is the correct statement about the circulatory system of cockroach? (a) It is closed type of circulatory system. (b) It is complicated type of circulatory system. (c) It takes place without the participation of tissue. (d) It has 13-chambered heart and in each segment one pair of ostia are present. (bHu-2007; DPMT-1998; uP-CPMT- 1996) 5. What is the main difference between male and female cockroach? (a) jointed appendages (b) paired antennae (c) anal cerci (d) conglobate gland. (bHu- 2008) 6. In cockroach, the ootheca is formed by the secretion of (a) phallic gland (b) collaterial gland (c) mushroom gland (d) conglobate gland. (DPMT-1995,1996; Manipal-2002, 2004) 7. In cockroach, oxygen is transported by (a) trachea (b) plasma (c) haemoglobin (d) histamine.

(DPMT-1998)

10. Diagram represents posterior region of male cockroach. Choose the correct combination of labelling

8. The difference between male and female cockroach is (a) in male anal cerci are present (b) in male anal style are present (c) in female anal style are present (d) in female and cerci are present. (uP-CPMT-1996) 9. Phallic organs in cockroach are related to (a) male excretory system (b) male reproductive system (c) female excretory system (d) female reproductive system. (uP-CPMT-1998) 10. The cockroach of genus Blatta is also called (a) German cockroach (b) australian cockroach (c) Oriental cockroach (d) american cockroach. (uP-CPMT-2004) 11. Stink gland is found in (a) 4th and 5th terga of cockroach (b) 5th and 6th terga of cockroach (c) 5th and 6th sterna of cockroach (d) 4th and 5th sterna of cockroach. (uP-CPMT-2007) 12. Cockroach mainly excretes (a) uric acid (b) urea (c) ammonia (d) amino acid (uP-CPMT-2009) 13. Heart of cockroach is (a) 13 chambered (b) 29 chambered (c) 9 chambered (d) 6 chambered (uP-CPMT-2009)
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(a) 1 - 9th sternum, 2 - anal style, 3 - 10th tergum, 4 - anal circus (b) 1 - anal style, 2 - anal circus, 3 - 10th tergum, 4 - 9th sternum (c) 1 - 9th sternum, 2 - anal circus, 3 - 10th tergum, 4 - anal style (d) 1 - 9th sternum, 2 - anal style, 3 - 10th tergum, 4 - anal circus

exAm seCTIOn
1. Ommatidia serve the purpose of photoreception in (a) cockroach (b) frog (c) humans (d) sunflower. (CbSe-2003) 2. excretion in cockroach takes place by (a) nephridium (b) parotid gland (c) coxal glands (d) Malpighian tubules. (aIIMS-2002) 3. In cockroach, larval and nymphal characters are maintained by

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14. Conglobate gland is found in (a) female cockroach (b) male cockroach (c) Anopheles mosquito (d) Culex mosquito. (Manipal-2005) 15. Which structure is absent in male cockroach ? (a) seminal vesicle (b) phallomeres (c) spermatheca (d) none of these. (aMu-2006) 16. In the nymphal stage of cockroach the juvenile hormone is secreted by (a) corpora cardiaca (b) corpora allata (c) prothoracic gland (d) intercerebral gland cells (aMu-2009) 17. earthworm and cockroach have which of the following thing in common ? (a) nephridia (b) ventral nerve cord (c) cocoon (d) closed blood vascular system. (afMC-1995) 18. In the following diagram of a leg of cockroach parts have been indicated by alphabets. Choose the answer in which these alphabets have been correctly matched with the parts which they indicate

21. about how many times does the nymph of the Periplaneta americana undergo moulting before becoming an adult? (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 17 (d) 3 (e) 7 (Kerala-2011) 22. Compound eyes are found in (a) frog (b) earthworm (c) cockroach (d) roundworm. (aMu-2011) 23. The head of cockroach lacks (a) cardo (b) gena (c) trochanter (d) frons.

(uP-CPMT-2011)

24. Mushroom gland is a part of (a) male reproductive system of cockroach (b) female reproductive system of cockroach (c) male reproductive system of rabbit (d) female reproductive system of rabbit. (uP-CPMT 2010) 25. In the mouth parts of cockroach, the galea and lacinia form parts of the (a) mandible (b) maxilla (c) labium (d) labrum (aMu-2010) 26. Cockroaches can climb smooth or steep surfaces due to the presence of adhesive pads found on the torses of their legs. They are called (a) plantulae (b) tibia (c) pretarsus (d) arolium (Karnataka-2010) 27. The respiratory pigment present in cockroach is (a) vanadium (b) haemocyanin (c) malpadin (d) none of these (Orissa-2010)

(a) a = coxa, b = tibia, c = tarsus, d = femur, e = trochanter (b) a = coxa, b = femur, c = trochanter, d = tarsus, e = tibia (c) a = coxa, b = tarsus, c = femur, d = tibia, e = trochanter (d) a = coxa, b = trochanter, c = femur, d = tibia, e = tarsus. (Karnataka-2003) 19. The young one of cockroach is called (a) caterpillar (b) nymph (c) fingerling (d) maggot. (Karnataka-2004) 20. Which of the following happens in the common cockroach? (a) Malpighian tubules are excretory organs projecting out from the colon. (b) Oxygen is transported by haemoglobin in blood. (c) Nitrogenous excretory product is urea. (d) The food is ground by mandibles and gizzard. (aIPMT Prelims-2011)
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AsserTIOn AnD reAsOn

The following questions consist of two statements each : assertion (a) and reason (r). To answer these questions, mark the correct alternative as directed below : (a) If both a and r are true and r is the correct explanation of a. (b) If both a and r are true but r is not the correct explanation of a. (c) If a is true but r is false. (d) If both a and r are false. 1. Assertion (A) : Haemocoel in Periplaneta is not lined by the mesodermal epithelium. Reason (R) : Periplaneta possess highly developed true coelom. 2. Assertion (A) : The development of P. americana is paurometabolus. Reason (R) : In them development occurs through nymphal stage.

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3. Assertion (A) : In cockroach Malpighian tubules help in excretion. Reason (R) : It is present at the juction of midgut and hind gut. 4. Assertion (A) : blood vascular system of cockroach is of closed type. Reason (R) : blood vessels are well developed and open into space called haemocoel. 5. Assertion (A) : Cockroaches are dioecious. Reason (R) : Male reproductive system and female reproductive system are found in the 6th - 7th abdominal segments.

AnsWers
Part - I

1. (a) 6. (a)
Part - II

2. (c) 7. (b) 2. 7. 12. 17. 22. 27. 2. (d) (a) (a) (b) (c) (d) (a)

3. (b) 8. (d) 3. 8. 13. 18. 23. (d) (b) (a) (d) (c)

4. (d) 9. (c) 4. 9. 14. 19. 24. (d) (b) (b) (b) (a)

5. (c) 10. (c) 5. 10. 15. 20. 25. (d) (c) (c) (d) (b)

1. 6. 11. 16. 21. 26. 1.

(a) (b) (b) (b) (e) (a) (c)

shOrT AnsWer TYPe QuesTIOns

1. fill in the blanks. (i) all the legs of cockroach are similar, and each consists of linear series of nine segments of _________ . (ii) The excretory product of cockroach is _________ . (iii) The accessory genital glands of male cockroach is called _________ . (iv) In cockroach _________ serves as a reservoir for storing food. (v) The blood of cockroach circulates by the contraction and relaxation of heart which is assisted by the paired fan-shaped _________ . 2. What do you call the circulatory fluid in the body of cockroach? Mention its three functions. 3. Name the excretory organ of cockroach. 4. Name the mouth parts of cockroach. 5. (i) What is the name of tracheal opening in cockroach ? (ii) How many segments are present in the abdomen of cockroach ? (iii) Where do you find Malpighian tubules in cockroach? 6. Mention three differences between male and female cockroach. 7. refer the following figure and answer the given questions.

Part - III

3.

(b)

4. (d)

5. (c)

Part - IV

1. (i) podomeres (ii) uric acid (iii) mushroom gland (iv) crop (v) alary muscles 2. The circulatory fluid of cockroach is colourless haemolymph which fills the entire haemocoel. It helps in (i) transportation of nutrients, (ii) maintains hydrostatic pressure and (iii) acts as a reservoir of water. 3. Malpighian tubule. 4. Mouth parts of cockroach are head appendages surrounding the mouth. These consist of the labrum or upper lip, a pair of mandibles, a pair of maxillae, the labium or lower lip and the hypopharynx. 5. (i) It is called spiracle. (ii) In the embryo the abdomen consists of eleven segments but in the adult form it comprises ten segments. (iii) Malpighian tubules are found attached at the junction of mid and hindgut. 6. The three differences between made and female cockroach is given below: Male cockroach Female cockroach (i) abdomen is relatively (i) abdomen is relatively long and narrow. short and broad. (ii) Ninth abdominal sternum (ii) There are no anal styles. bears a pair of anal styles. (iii) There are only three (iii) There are three pairs of gonapophyses. gonapophyses. 7. (i) a = Ovary b = Spermatheca, C = Gonapophyses, D = Collaterial glands. (ii) The figure represents the reproductive system of female cockroach. (iii) a = Ovary (iv) The labelled part b (spermatheca) is present in 6th segment which opens into the genital chamber. nn
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(i) Identify a, b, C and D. (ii) What does this figure represent? (iii) Which labelled part is formed of a group of eight ovarian tubules or ovarioles, containing a chain of developing ova? (iv) The labelled part b is present in which abdominal segment?

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