The effect of cooler temperatures on the Gromphadorhina portentosa’s ability to cling onto surfaces

Abstract

Ectothermic metabolic rates are affected by varying temperatures. Metabolic rates being an ectotherms way to function, we wanted to know if cooler temperatures would affect a Gromphadorhina portentosa’s ability to cling onto a surface. During the trials we observed that the cooler temperature negatively affected their ability to cling onto the surface. We found this to occur because the cooler temperature slowed their metabolic rate, which in turn minimize their ability to latch onto the surface of the chamber. We subjected the cockroaches to trials of room temperature, along with two other cooler temperature.