Which Cockroach Give Milk to Humans?
WouterCockroaches are not generally considered to be vegetarians. However, they can give milk to humans if they’re in a situation where they don’t eat meat or dairy products. They can also be a source of protein for people who are lactose-intolerant. Cockroach milk, however, is still not widely available, and it would take quite a few cockroaches to produce a single glass of milk.
The milk produced by female cockroaches is a protein-rich substance, similar to cow’s milk. Cockroach milk contains all nine essential amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. It also contains a significant amount of iron, zinc, and calcium. The crystalline substance has a similar taste and texture to cow’s milk, and it does not spoil or require refrigeration. Although it has not been approved for human consumption, scientists are currently trying to put the gene for cockroach milk into yeast cells to make a safer food supplement.
Cockroach milk crystals are nutrient-dense and beautiful to look at. A biochemist in Bangalore, India, says that the crystals could be used in protein drinks. However, cockroaches do not have nipples, so milking them would be impossible. Instead, cockroach milk would probably be derived from yeast, as bioengineered yeast is already being used in the food industry to create synthetic sweeteners.
Scientists have long known that the Pacific beetle cockroach gives live young and that the mother produces food for them. The baby roaches consume a liquid food that contains sugars, fats, and protein, much like human milk. However, scientists didn’t have much faith in the fact that baby roaches were eating cockroach milk until Barbara Stay discovered crystals in the embryos.
