Nutrition and digestion

The nutrition and digestion of cockroaches have been previously reviewed by Guthrie and Tindall (1968) and by Cornwell (1968). Excellent general accounts of these topics, drawing on the entire insect literature, have been offered by Dadd (1970a,b) and by House (1974a,b), and are strongly recommended for background reading. In the account that follows some basic information is drawn from other species where none is available for Periplaneta americana, and is acknowledged as such. Statements which do not specifically refer to other cockroaches are drawn from work on the American cockroach.