Are differences in hydrocarbon profiles able to mediate strain recognition in German cockroaches (Dictyoptera : Blattellidae)?

WOS:000180595600005International audiencePrevious behavioural tests indicated that strain recognition and aggregation behaviour could be induced by cuticular hydrocarbons. The aim of this study was to document and to compare cuticular hydrocarbon profiles between different strains of Blattella germanica (L.) (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae) and to relate variations in the general profile of cuticular hydrocarbons with strain discrimination during behavioural tests. Profiles of different strains were remarkably similar qualitatively but presented slight quantitative differences over the 25 identified components. Important differences were observed in dimethylalkane components and these allowed separation of the strains into two groups using multivariate methods. Although we were not able to demonstrate a relationship between strain discrimination ability and differences in cuticular hydrocarbon profiles, we assumed that cuticular hydrocarbons could play two major roles in B. germanica strains. Less variable hydrocarbon profiles could play a role in species recognition and aggregation behaviour and the more variable part could play a role in strain discrimination