Coprophagy and necrophagy of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, in the laboratory condition

In the laboratory condition, German cockroaches were reluctant to feed on their own feces or dried carcasses. When dried feces, dried carcasses of the cockroaches, and mouse food put in each of three small aluminum cups were placed side by side in a plastic arena the cockroaches usually selected the mouse food, followed by the dried carcasses but they did not eat the feces. The longevity of the cockroaches fed on feces or dried carcasses, was remarkably short compared with those fed on mouse food. Especially, when fed on feces or dried carcasses male cockroaches had a shorter lifespan than the females. In addition, no reproduction was observed in cockroaches fed on feces or dried carcasses. The results demonstrate that feces or dried carcasses of cockroaches may not be suitable food for the adult German cockroaches.