Synchronization of deposition of daily growth layers in the cuticle of the cockroachBlaberus fuscus by gating of moult

Summary InBlaberus fuscus, combined light/dark-warm/cold cycles induce a rhythm of moulting. Most of the moults take place in the middle of the dark cold phases. Because of a stable phase-relation between moulting time and endocuticle growth rhythm, the latter is synchronized with the environmental cycles, too; lamellated layers are deposited during the light warm phases, which correspond to the time of resting of the cockroaches. Therefore, the cuticle growth is internally synchronized with rhythmic locomotory activity and metabolic rhythms.