What Are the Economic Importance of Cockroaches?
While it may not be a popular topic to discuss, the cockroach has several benefits for humanity. They are edible, are a valuable source of disinfectants, and are useful for many people. Some are even used in cancer treatments and cosmetics. In China, cockroaches are becoming a delicacy, and the price of a pound of dried cockroaches has increased from $2 to $20. A wealthy farmer in China has six farms that produce 10 million cockroaches a year for sale to drugstores and Chinese medicinal uses.
Cockroaches feed on a variety of organic materials, such as wood, bark, paper, and wool clothes. They also eat sugar, cheese, lemons, and oil. They have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria, and they are especially fond of fermented foods.
Cockroaches have a long lifespan. They are often used as laboratory models for insect morphology, and to test new insecticides. Nearly every entomological research organization keeps a culture of these insects. The cockroach has many uses, including food, cosmetics, and fungicides.
Cockroaches are not only a nuisance, but they can also be an important source of income for many people. Many countries value cockroaches for their economic benefits. In China, for example, farmers breed thousands of these pests and sell them for three dollars a pound to 20 dollars per pound.