Scientists Discover Cockroach Milk
Scientists discover cockroach milk is 4 times more nutritious than cow milk!
“Cockroach milk” is a real thing people talk about, but it’s not something you’re going to see in stores or casually drink.
🪳 What it actually is
The species involved is the Diploptera punctata, a type of cockroach that gives birth to live young instead of laying eggs.
Instead of producing milk-like mammals, it produces a crystal-like protein substance inside its body to feed its embryos.
🧬 Why scientists got interested
Researchers found that these crystals:
Contain protein, fats, and sugars
Are very nutrient-dense
Release energy slowly as they break down
In lab studies, they appear extremely calorie-rich compared to regular milk.
🧃 Is it actually “milk”?
Not really.
It’s not milk in the mammal sense
It’s more like nutrient crystals for developing baby cockroaches
🚫 Can humans drink it?
No—and it’s not produced for consumption:
You can’t “milk” cockroaches at scale
It hasn’t been approved as a food product
Extracting it is impractical and not safe or ethical for food use thankfully!
Lana Backman
