Effects of constant or variable thermal rearing condition: a behavioural approach using an automated tracking system in Blaberus craniifer

Abstract An automatic tracking device was used to investigate exploratory behaviour of the cockroach, Blaberus craniifer , with regard to the influence of rearing temperature. Two groups were tested, one under variable rearing temperature, the other under constant rearing temperature. Rearing temperature influenced both the rate of decrease of linear speed and the spatial occupation of an open arena. Linear speed decreased with time and was higher during the first 10 minutes of recording for the animals reared under constant temperature conditions. The decrease fitted a linear model for the variable temperature group, whereas it was steeper than exponential for the constant temperature group. Frequency of occupancy in the peripheral zone of the arena was not affected by time and was always higher for the animals of the constant condition group. The results are interpreted as a function of the different thermal rearing conditions.