Potentiometric determinations of the crop, 3 regions of midgut, and the hindgut of adult American cockroaches, Periplaneta americana (L.), showed no significant differences (P>0.05) related to a diet of banana, meat, or a mixture of the two. Nevertheless, the diet-dependent pH range of the crop varied from 4.82 to 6.76, with averages of 5.75 and 6.46 on banana and meat, respectively. There was a very stable slightly acid condition (∼pH 6.5) in the rest of the tract which was uninfluenced by diet. A slight but consistent decreasing gradient of acidity was noted from crop to rectum.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Greenberg et al. (1970) studied this question.