Feed the cockroaches dry dog food with pieces of fresh fruit and vegetables. Provide water with a damp sponge in a small cup or dish. Be careful not to jerk, since the feet have sticky pads and hooks that grip tightly. The holes should be the size of the pipette or any instrument used for wind stimuli. The winds puffs are generated by inserting the pipette into the holes of the plastic containers.
Students can design an experiment to measure the distance turned after applying a wind stimulus.
Students can design an experiment to test other types of stimuli on the cerci. Students can design an experiment to test other sensory receptors of the cockroach. Pre-Lab Discussion Escape reactions are very useful in analyzing animal behavior. The cockroach has one of the best understood escape systems. The escape system of the cockroach illustrates a reasonably complex neural circuitry, making it a useful neurological model.