Abstract
Three sensitive actographs were constructed for monitroing the activities of cockroaches. Type 1 was a floating-tire type consisting of a hanging circular corridor. The locomotion of the insect was detected by an infrared beam. Type 2 was a vibration type having a circular floor of aluminum foil as the track. The floor vibration was picked up by a small speaker. Type 3 was a new running wheel type having six photointerrupters to detect slight rotation of the wheel. The signals from these devices were analyzed automatically and quantitatively by personal computer. Each actograph gave satisfactory recordings of the activities of normal and operated (or decapitated) cockroaches. Type 1 had the highest sensitivity of the three types, but the results were sometimes noisy. Type 2 could record locomotive activity without positive feedback caused by movement of the apparatus. Type 3 had the highest S/N ratio. It could collect quantitative data for comparing the activities of normal and operated cockroaches.
