Detailed Review: Antennal Grooming Behaviour in German Cockroach

This assignment provides a critical assessment of a scientific article focusing on the antennal grooming and movement behavior in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica. The review acknowledges the study's good overall experimental design in observing both stimulated and unstimulated grooming behavior, but also points out several experimental flaws, such as the lack of video recording and replicates in movement observation, which could lead to erroneous results. It contrasts the study's methodology and visual representation with other similar studies, suggesting improvements like the use of modern imaging techniques and further investigation into the antenna's sensory function. The review concludes by highlighting the study's potential contribution to taxonomic data gathering and insect behavior research, while also recommending enhancements to increase its impact. Desklib provides access to similar solved assignments and study resources for students.

Running head: CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE
CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE
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1CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE
The author of study have monitored and observed the movement and antennal
grooming of behaviour in German cockroach, Blartellrr germanica (L.). In this article, the
experimental design is overall good and the author have studied both stimulated and
unstimulated grooming behaviour. However, there are few experimental flaw in the methods
of this article. Author is working live animal and movements were observed by naked eye.
Any lapse in concentration might produce erroneous results and no preventive measures were
taken for this. Bret and Ross (1986) and Basibuyuk and Quicke (1999) have both studied the
grooming behaviour of the cockroaches and they both have videotaped the movements of the
cockroaches. Additionally, the author of this article did not use any replicate when observing
movements. On the contrary, Bret and Ross (1986) have used the sum of five cockroaches for
one replicate. This helps reduce erroneous data which is not present in this article. In the
result section, the author used Figure 1 and Figure 2 to visually demonstrate the antennal
movement of the German cockroach. However, it could have been more detailed for better
antennal movement understanding as Basibuyuk and Quicke (1999) have demonstrated in
their study (Figure 2). In a similar kind study, Bret and Ross (1986) have provided much
more detailed information about antennal cleaning motions and tarsal cleaning motions which
is not present in this authors study. The objective of this study was to provide information
about antennal and movement behaviour of cockroaches. In their study, Smith and Valentine
(1985) have reported that taxonomic data can be gathered by studying the antennal and
movement behaviour of cockroaches. Therefore, this study will be helpful to the researchers
studying insect behaviour. To enhance the impact of this study, modern imaging technique
like FEG SEM can be used for better understanding of antennal morphology. Additionally,
how cockroach’s antenna works as sensory organ can be investigated.

2CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE
References
Basibuyuk, H. H., & Quicke, D. L. (1999). Grooming behaviours in the Hymenoptera
(Insecta): potential phylogenetic significance. Zoological Journal of the Linnean
Society, 125(3), 349-382.
Bret, B. L., & Ross, M. H. (1986). Behavioral responses of the German cockroach, Blatella
germanica (L.)(Orthoptera: Blatellidae), to a propoxur formulation. Journal of
economic entomology, 79(2), 426-430.
Smith, B. J. B., & Valentine, B. D. (1985). Phylogenetic implications of grooming behavior
in cockroaches (Insecta: Blattaria). Psyche: A Journal of Entomology, 92(4), 369-385.