World’s biggest cockroach farm breeds 6 BILLION insects for medicine

A Chinese farm in Xichang, Sichuan Province, breeds six billion adult cockroaches a year for medicinal use, reportedly making it the largest cockroach breeding farm in the world.

"The Periplaneta Americana [American cockroach] has the characteristics of having a butterfly spot and a white neck, which can be used as medicine," said farm chairman Geng Nengfu on Sunday.

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He explained that the cockroaches are kept in the dark below a temperature of 10 degrees celsius (50 fahrenheit).

"Periplaneta Americana has been used [as medicine] for more than 2,000 years," Nengfu said.

"Kangfuxin Liquid and Periplaneta Americana extract and separated products are very effective for diseases and can play a therapeutic role," he stated.

According to local media, this is the first time in history that so many of these insects have been bred and confined to the same indoor space.