# How close are lobsters and cockroaches? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 18, 2018, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176 "2018-07-18T23:31:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176/41 "2018-07-21T21:40:39Z")
They used to be really close. They hung out a lot in high school and swore they’d be best friends forever. But, you know, life comes along, and they just drifted apart - nothing major happened, no hard feelings, but they just began living different lives. They keep saying they should get back together and hang out. Maybe one day they will. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176/42 "2018-07-21T21:54:43Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > They used to be really close. They hung out a lot in high school and swore they’d be best friends forever. But, you know, life comes along, and they just drifted apart - nothing major happened, no hard feelings, but they just began living different lives. They keep saying they should get back together and hang out. Maybe one day they will. \*For best effect, play _Dawson’s Creek_ theme song while reading this. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2018, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176/43 "2018-07-21T22:03:09Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Cockroaches are pretty distant. But the category of things that most would call “bugs” includes crustaceans. In particular, the [pill bug/roly-poly/woodlouse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodlouse) is a crustacean. The [giant isopod](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_isopod) is closely related. The lobster is a couple more steps away (but shares the class [Malacostraca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malacostraca)). Fun tangental fact: the giant isopod can live a [_long_](https://soranews24.com/2014/02/17/%E3%80%90obituary%E3%80%91-giant-isopod-no-1-found-dead-after-more-than-five-years-of-not-eating/) time without eating. ---
**Author:** ![LucyInDisguise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucyindisguise/32/18064_2.png) [@LucyInDisguise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LucyInDisguise)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176/44 "2018-07-22T13:32:26Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > “In my ego inflamed opinion” … there’s not one trace of humility in any opinion I post on the internet … no pride either … it’s all pure ego … > > Goes to show you who’s the honest one here … Your really should update the Urban Dictionary : > **[Urban Dictionary: IMEIO](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=IMEIO)** > > An idiotic acronym made up by some dumbshit named 'watchwolf49' at 'The Straight Dope Message Board'. He never defines it, and the best I can determine, it must mean "In My Extremely Idiotic Opinion". An example can be found at URL:... 😃 Lucy ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176/45 "2018-07-22T13:42:48Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > In my mind, the classifications are different - cockroaches and lobsters and snakes all belong to Ickicreepidae, and puppies and bunnies belong to Cuteidae. I think this type of personal classification system is the only reason anybody thinks cockroaches and lobsters have similarities. speaking as someone who has eaten insects on purpose (grasshoppers and ants) lobsters and crabs are in Smelltastydae and Cockroaches and Japanese Beetles are in Smellnastydae. It’s a surprisingly important distinction. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2018, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176/46 "2018-07-22T14:28:40Z")
> [@LucyInDisguise](#): > > Your really should update the Urban Dictionary : > > [Urban Dictionary: IMEIO](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=IMEIO) > > 😃 > > Lucy Way too early in the morning … way too funny … excuse me whilst I clean the coffee splatter off my monitor … ---
**Author:** ![Major\_Matt\_Mason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Major\_Matt\_Mason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Major_Matt_Mason)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176/47 "2018-07-23T14:00:20Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > The [giant isopod](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_isopod) is closely related. But how are giant isopods when steamed and served with drawn butter? Inquiring minds want to know. -MMM- ---
**Author:** ![Artfog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/artfog/32/1011_2.png) [@Artfog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Artfog)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176/48 "2018-07-25T06:36:54Z")
The [tree lobster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dryococelus_australis) is cockroach-like. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176/49 "2018-07-25T06:54:27Z")
> [@Major\_Matt\_Mason](#): > > But how are giant isopods when steamed and served with drawn butter? Inquiring minds want to know. [The Japanese seem to enjoy them](https://kotaku.com/would-you-like-some-grotesque-sea-bugs-to-eat-1551830363), as one might anticipate. However, I see no mention of garlic or butter. ---
**Author:** ![PitJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9bcb4/32.png) [@PitJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PitJ)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176/50 "2018-07-25T09:49:15Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > What does this mean? Perhaps “I My Exhaustively Ignorant Opinion”? No offense meant but I hate these acronyms. ---
**Author:** ![PitJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9bcb4/32.png) [@PitJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PitJ)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176/51 "2018-07-25T09:56:43Z")
I think taxonomy wouldn’t help - the OP raises the question that I as I must admit have also thought about many times. Why is it that lobsters, shrimp etc. are sorted into “yummi”, in particular when served with a nice Cocktail Sauce, but cockroaches and other insects are sorted into “yuck” although both have lots of legs, a hard exoskeleton and an edible (at least on crustaceans) abdomen? My conclusion is that only my cultural background brings me to eat one and stomp on the other. That insight wouldn’t cause me to munch ants but hey, I have to live with it. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176/52 "2018-07-25T13:50:01Z")
It no doubt helps that lobsters are a lot bigger. The chitinous shell is a lot less yummy than the soft innards, if it’s even edible at all, and it’s more work to remove a lot of teeny tiny shells to get to teeny tiny inner parts than it is to remove one big shell. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176/53 "2018-07-25T14:43:03Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > You have spoken very well for me. A tyrannosaur, a tiger and a great white shark are obviously genetically different but have similarities. > > For example, how similar are the nervous system of cockroaches and lobsters? What type of thing do they eat? What’s their brood size? Do they have similar eye/antenna ratio? Genetic relatedness has nothing to do with occupation of similar ecological niches. The similarities are in niche only, in the first example. In the example of cockroach and lobster, I doubt there is even that similarity. The OP is apparently sparked by a completely non-scientific and irrational aversion to smaller animals with a hard carapace that scuttle, wherever they may live. Personally I find lobsters very tasty and cockroaches utterly loathsome but I keep my subjective reactions and my knowledge of current scientific nomenclature (such as it is), quite separate. Sort of like science and religion. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176/54 "2018-07-25T17:17:08Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It no doubt helps that lobsters are a lot bigger. The chitinous shell is a lot less yummy than the soft innards, if it’s even edible at all, and it’s more work to remove a lot of teeny tiny shells to get to teeny tiny inner parts than it is to remove one big shell. Coincidently, I was just debating having, in my NYC apartment, a crab and/or crayfish boil. Otherwise I hate dealing with those fuckers, and get crayfish only to make crayfish butter for a pumped sauce Normand. (Old timey [Normandy garnish](https://vintagerecipecards.com/2017/02/13/filets-de-sole-normande-fillets-of-sole-normandy-style/), but, unaccountably, shown with shrimp instead of whole crayfish.) Fleurons, truffles, whole crayfish, and mussels not served at _Leo’s All You Can Eat_. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176/55 "2018-07-25T20:16:57Z")
I am with the OP. Not because cockroaches, but because of those huge underwater roly-polies they found. It just emphasized to me “Why yes, you are eating big bugs.” You know, these buggers: [Sea Isopods](https://www.google.com/search?safe=active&rlz=1C1GGRV_enUS751US751&biw=1305&bih=582&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=E9pYW8OBIurYjwTlv4mQAg&q=sea+isopods&oq=sea+isopods&gs_l=img.3...54373.57315.0.57528.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0....0...1c.1.64.img..0.0.0....0.LZ96c4JxQ1U) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176/56 "2018-07-25T22:06:18Z")
> [@PitJ](#): > > I think taxonomy wouldn’t help - the OP raises the question that I as I must admit have also thought about many times. Why is it that lobsters, shrimp etc. are sorted into “yummi”, in particular when served with a nice Cocktail Sauce, but cockroaches and other insects are sorted into “yuck” although both have lots of legs, a hard exoskeleton and an edible (at least on crustaceans) abdomen? My conclusion is that only my cultural background brings me to eat one and stomp on the other. That insight wouldn’t cause me to munch ants but hey, I have to live with it. At the risk of repeating myself, lobster and and crab actually ARE yummy, and shrimp are a mild-flavored protein-rich food. Cockroaches actually smell horrible, and probably taste bad. I’ve eaten some of the more popularly eaten insects (ants and grasshoppers) and the reason we don’t eat those is “creepy crawlie!”, but I think we have more compelling reasons to avoid eating cockroaches. Most beetles taste nasty, too. (based on experiences of friends, family, and acquaintances who have eaten them both on purpose and by mistake.) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176/57 "2018-07-26T07:39:30Z")
Cockroaches carry a range of bacteria that we, humans, are susceptible to, like [_Pseudomonas aeruginosa_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudomonas_aeruginosa) and _Salmonella_. I don’t mean what can grow if they’re improperly prepared or stored, like seafood. I mean they are little festering disease pots. Nobody want to eat that. And yes, people who’ve tried [say](https://www.quora.com/What-does-a-cockroach-taste-like) they do taste terrible. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2018, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176/58 "2018-08-31T03:04:02Z")
[Speaking of lobsters](http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/science-sushi/2018/08/27/predator-prey-reversal-whelk-lobster-amos-barkai/#.W4RJmpNKjYJ)… ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2018, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176/59 "2018-08-31T13:39:29Z")
Nice avatar/post combo. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2018, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176/60 "2018-08-31T17:28:31Z")
One difference is a different strategy for hardening the exoskeleton. > [@cribbed from Wikipedia but rerarranged and trimmed for clarity](#): > > In insects and Arachnids the main reinforcing materials are various proteins hardened by linking the fibres in processes called sclerotisation and the hardened proteins are called sclerotin. > > Biomineralization occurs mainly in crustaceans. Typically the mineral crystals, mainly calcium carbonate, are deposited among the chitin and protein molecules. The crystals and fibres interpenetrate and reinforce each other, the minerals supplying the hardness and resistance to compression, while the chitin supplies the tensile strength. This chemical difference in their outer coverings goes way back in the split between these subgroups. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-close-are-lobsters-and-cockroaches/818176.md?page=4)