Does Cockroach Drink Blood?
WouterDespite its open circulatory system, a cockroach does not drink blood. Instead, it uses holes in various body segments as a means of breathing. This allows them to survive submersion in water for 30 minutes. Instead of circulating blood, cockroaches use a yellowish fluid called endolymph.
While most animals have red blood, cockroaches do not have this substance. Instead, their blood is clear, yellowish, or even orange. This is because their blood does not contain the red-colored hemoglobin that most vertebrates have. Hemoglobin is a protein that transports oxygen throughout the body and changes color when it is bound with oxygen.
The fluid clings to the cockroach’s body. Hemolymph is composed of about 20 to 50 percent water and organic compounds. This explains why white cockroaches look so white, but are not bloodless. The white color is the result of molting, which takes several hours or even days. Blood is visible in baby cockroaches and in nymphs. In addition, baby cockroaches have a lot of hemolymph in their blood. This fluid is important for their growth.
In order to survive, the American cockroach needs to feed on moisture. This species can live for two years. Its body is about an inch and a half long. It can also fly. This roach rarely bites humans, but its bite is more severe than a mosquito’s.
