What Does a Cockroach Have in Its Blood?
WouterYou might be wondering: “What does a cockroach have in its blood?” Fortunately, there’s no need to worry about this mystery. Cockroaches do not have a blood supply that contains red blood cells. Instead, they have a circulating system with a colourless liquid known as haemolymph. This liquid transports oxygen and carries nutrients to and from the organs. Cockroaches also have no kidneys, so their blood doesn’t carry waste.
Many people believe that seeing a white cockroach is a sign of good luck, but a white cockroach could mean a more serious infestation. Cockroaches live in small crevices and prefer warm, damp environments with easy access to food. Their circulatory system is unusually complex for a bug. This is similar to that of octopuses, but the two species are different. Their multiple heart structures can reveal information about their evolutionary history and manipulation of their environment.
Although white cockroaches do not have white blood, they do have white skin. During molting, roaches produce more blood than brown cockroaches. Because white skin lacks pigment, they appear white while in this stage. Once the molting cycle is complete, the white cockroaches will be brown.
Cockroaches do not have hemoglobin in their blood. Instead, they carry a colorless protein called vitellogenin. This substance is only present during the egg-laying stage of life and returns to normal blood color after egg-laying. During their egg-laying phase, female cockroaches lose their hemoglobin and return to their normal blood color. The presence of vitellogenin in cockroach blood contributes to the white blood that cockroaches exude.
