Effects of resources and conspecifics on harborage selection in the German cockroach (Blatella germanica)

German Cockroaches are a common household pest that present serious concerns for public health serving as a source of asthma-inducing allergens and having the potential to transmit diseases. To combat the challenge of high levels of pesticide resistance, baits have helped to revolutionize cockroach management due to a limited efficacy of residual pesticides and serve as an alternative control option that has proven to be highly effective. Baits are most effective when placed near cockroach harborages; therefore, it is critical to understand what factors drive aggregation and movement decisions, such that baits can be optimally placed and the habitat modified in such a way to result in maximal bait efficacy. In this study, we explored the effects of distance between harborages and resources on cockroach aggregation behavior. Further, we explored how resource relocation impacts harborage site switching. Modification of resource location and harborage distance will help to reveal what influences aggregation site selection and the interplay between site switching and resource prioritization. Finally, we evaluated the relationship between already established harborage sites and resource availability to determine which factor(s) most heavily influences harborage site selection. Through this work, we hope to gain a better understating of how resource availability impacts harborage site selection, then utilize this information to improve upon current baiting practices.