摘要：SummaryThigmotaxis is required in small animals. In this study, we examined how the shelter angle affects the development of German cockroaches,Blattella germanica. Groups and individual cockroaches showed a strong preference for shelters with an angle of ≤40° after 15 min or 24 h in shelter-selection trials. For cockroaches that developed in 90/180-degree shelters, survival and fecundity were low, and the nymphal stage lasted longer. Post-molting transcriptomes of second- and sixth-instar nymphs were analyzed at 12 h and 2 days post-molting. Upregulation was observed in genes related to ATP metabolism and cellular amide metabolism. Chitin-based cuticle development and postembryonic development-related genes were downregulated. The stress responses of cockroaches that developed in shelters with angles of 90° were similar to those of gregarious cockroaches experiencing social isolation. For German cockroaches, environmental tactile stimuli are crucial to development and homeostasis.Graphical abstractDisplay OmittedHighlights•German cockroaches tended to prefer shelters with an angle of ≤40•Both fecundity and survival are low in 90°/180° developed cockroaches•Genes for cuticle development were down-regulated in 90°/180° developed cockroaches•German cockroaches require a shelter with an angle of ≤40° for developmentEntomology; Molecular mechanism of behavior
