General culture test. Which insect makes a more nutritious milk than cows?

We have many curiosities about insects; here’s one that’s not for the faint of heart: what insect makes more nutritious milk than cows?

Which insect makes a more nutritious milk than cows? It is about a species of beetles.

The female beetles of the species Diploptera punctata they give birth to live young and nurse their young. Their milk is much more nutritious than cow’s milk, according to Britannica. However, it takes a thousand beetles to produce just a few tens of grams.

Which insect makes a more nutritious milk than cows?

Cockroach milk is a protein-rich, crystallized substance produced by the species Diploptera punctata.

This species is unique because it gives birth to live young. Females produce “milk” in the form of protein crystals to feed the developing young.

In recent years, researchers have discovered that this crystallized milk-like substance is nutritious and considered a complete food, as it is a good source of protein, carbohydrates and fats, notes Healthline.

In addition, cockroach milk is considered a complete source of protein because it provides all nine essential amino acids, the building blocks of protein that can only be obtained from food.

This is important because most non-meat foods do not contain one or more of the nine essential amino acids, which is why cockroach milk has gained attention as an alternative to non-dairy milk.

But harvesting this milk-like substance is currently a laborious process. It involves killing a female cockroach and her embryos when she begins to nurse and then harvesting the crystals from her midgut. It takes 1,000 cockroaches for 100 grams of milk.

Benefits of cockroach milk

Analyzes have shown that milk is a good source of other nutrients such as oleic acid, linoleic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and short- and medium-chain fatty acids.

It is also an alternative to non-dairy milk that is a complete source of protein, providing all nine essential amino acids. This is rare in non-meat foods, as they tend to lack one or more amino acids, making cockroach milk a unique alternative.

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