Start Date
23-4-2026 12:00 AM
Description
Blaberus discoidalis, also known as discoid cockroaches, inhabit the tropics of South America where their diet consists of leaf litter and decaying organic matter on the ground. This experiment expands on research from two previous years, originally based on the loitering time of the roach's different food types. Such as peanuts, leaf litter, and bananas. The experiment this year was to determine which food was preferred by determining how much it was eaten. Each food item, peanuts, banana, and leaf litter (peanuts alone are crushed) were dried in an oven for 24 hours and weighed before and after each trial. Following a fasting period for 24 hours three discoids haphazardly chosen were placed in an enclosure with the food items, a water dish, and an egg carton as a shelter area. Expanding the knowledge on the dietary preference of discoids will push forward further research on this understudied species.
Research Highlights
The Problem: Researchers sought to determine the specific dietary preferences of discoid cockroaches (Blaberus discoidalis) by measuring food consumption rather than just loitering time.
The Method: Ten groups of early instar discoids were fasted for 24 hours before being placed in enclosures for a 24-hour trial with water crystals, egg carton shelters, and three specific food items: crushed peanuts, crushed leaf litter, and bananas.
Quantitative Finding: All food items were dried at 60 degrees for 24 hours both before and after trials to determine precise weight changes; trials were conducted over a 30-day period.
Qualitative Finding: There is no general overall trend for food preference in discoid cockroaches; bananas reached the highest individual amounts consumed, while leaf litter demonstrated the steadiest consumption trend with the fewest outliers.
Recommended Citation
Larsen, Robert and Ariola, Sadie, "Dietary Preferences and Food-Seeking Behavior of Discoid Cockroaches, Blaberus discoidalisCont." (2026). 2026 Student Academic Showcase. 4.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/src_2026/Posters/1/4
Included in
Dietary Preferences and Food-Seeking Behavior of Discoid Cockroaches, Blaberus discoidalisCont.
Blaberus discoidalis, also known as discoid cockroaches, inhabit the tropics of South America where their diet consists of leaf litter and decaying organic matter on the ground. This experiment expands on research from two previous years, originally based on the loitering time of the roach's different food types. Such as peanuts, leaf litter, and bananas. The experiment this year was to determine which food was preferred by determining how much it was eaten. Each food item, peanuts, banana, and leaf litter (peanuts alone are crushed) were dried in an oven for 24 hours and weighed before and after each trial. Following a fasting period for 24 hours three discoids haphazardly chosen were placed in an enclosure with the food items, a water dish, and an egg carton as a shelter area. Expanding the knowledge on the dietary preference of discoids will push forward further research on this understudied species.