How on earth should locusts be raised?

Locust I think we have seen it as a child, it is an insect has the role of catching pests in the field, in fact, it can not only catch pests, its own nutritional value is also very high, it contains rich protein, so in many places it can also be made into a delicious dish.

How do locusts grow?

Grasshoppers belong to insects, Orthoptera, Acrididae. According to statistics, there are 223 genera and 859 species of Acridoidea. East Asian migratory locust grows under natural temperature conditions. It has two generations a year. The first generation is called summer locust and the second generation is autumn locust. Captive farming can now be converted to three generations per year. Female locust body length 39.5~51.2 mm, male locust body length 33.0~41.5 mm. Adults are good at jumping and flying. East Asian migratory locust has strong body, wide feeding range and strong adaptability. After hatching into young locust, it can become adult after 35 days of breeding process, and can be sold after about 50 days of fat, so it takes short time and returns quickly. The economic benefit of raising 10 000 adult Locusta migratoria can reach 20 kg, and the seed purchase is only once. Self-reproduction dozens of times, eggs hatch locusts, locusts lay eggs, cycle, many years of breeding, constantly selling money, a female locust can lay more than 35~90 eggs at a time. Migratory locusts are favored because of their soft, tender and nutritious meat. According to expert analysis, its protein content is as high as 74.88%, fat content is 5.25%, carbohydrate content is 4.77%, and it contains 18 kinds of amino acids and various active substances.

Cultured varieties of locusts

Insect breeding varieties generally consider: growth cycle, generation, size, taste, feeding habits, color, dormancy and other factors. There are tens of thousands of species of locust superfamily. Theory and practice have proved that Locusta migratoria is one of the better varieties among locusts and the most cultivated variety at present. The advantages of East Asian migratory locust: ① large body;② delicious taste;③ gorgeous color;④ more generations; ④ shorter growth cycle; ④ phytophagous, polyphagous.

Locusta migratoria is one of the three subspecies (explanation) of Locusta migratoria in China. There is only one species of Locusta migratoria in the world. Due to different geographical distribution, external morphology and ratio of different parts, there are 9-10 subspecies known. There are three subspecies in China: Locusta migratoria, Locusta migratoria asiatica and Xizang migratory locust.

Locusta migratoria is an incomplete metamorphosis insect. There are three insect states in its life, namely egg---locust nymph--adult. Locusta migratoria generally occurs 2--4 generations a year, the first generation (Hainan 1--2 generations) is customarily called "summer locust", the second generation (Hainan 3--4 generations) is called "autumn locust". Growth cycle: 35 days or so can be adult, 50 days or so (about) can be sold. Female locusts die normally after laying eggs, while male locusts die normally after mating.

Construction of locust breeding shed

1. Location

Choose a ventilated, sunny place is appropriate.

2. Destroy natural enemies

Before the construction of the shed, the ants and mole crickets on the ground should be eliminated by capturing, trapping and boiling water. Because the above animals are natural enemies of locusts, they can prey on locusts and destroy locust eggs, so these animals must not be allowed to exist in the shed.

3. Ground

The floor of the shed should be 10-15 cm higher than the surrounding ground in order to facilitate drainage during the rainy season. The soil is best to use sandy loam, this soil is not easy to agglomerate, easy to lay eggs and take eggs, not too soft, locusts lay eggs very high requirements.

4. Density

The area of the shed depends on the number of locusts, generally 600-800 adults per square meter.

5. Build a shed

According to their own conditions can be used sticks, bamboo to build a shed support. Then according to the size of this trellis, make a mosquito net-like canopy with gauze, hang it on the trellis, bury the bottom edge in the ground, leave the door, press the zipper on the door, this installation is to prevent locusts from running out and facilitate feeding and management in the shed. The height of the shed can be 1.5-2 meters. In order to keep warm or prevent rain, plastic sheets can be covered outside the shed. When the temperature is high and locusts are larger (more than three years old), they are not afraid of rain and can not cover plastic sheets. If natural conditions are used to breed migratory locusts, the construction of the shed must be completed by the end of April.

6. There should be corn and other taller plants in the shed for isolation.

Development, incubation and management of locust eggs

The initial temperature range of locust development is 20-42 ℃, the suitable temperature for development is 25-40 ℃, and the optimum temperature is 28-35 ℃. Under the condition of relative humidity 85%-92% or soil moisture content 15-18%, the suitable development temperature is 25-32 degrees, and the natural temperature in northern China will arrive in early May. After purchasing eggs, the locust eggs are directly put into the soil to wait for their natural incubation. After 10-15 days of incubation, all locusts hatch. Locusts eat very little, weak body, should pay attention to rain.

Management of locust rearing

1. Environmental conditions: the suitable development temperature of locusts is 25~32℃, the relative humidity is 85%~92%, the soil moisture content is 15%~18%, when it is lower than 14℃ or higher than 40℃, locusts gradually stop eating and die.

2. Incubation management: When the temperature reaches 28~30℃, locust eggs begin to hatch. First, prepare nontoxic soil and sawdust powder according to 1:2 stirring. The water content is 20%~30%. Spread 3~ 5cm soil in the vessel and pat it solid. Then spread locust eggs on the soil and cover it with mixed soil about 1cm thick. Finally, cover the vessel with a layer of film, check once every half day, find small locusts, brush them to the food in the shed with a soft brush, hatch small locusts after 10~15 days.

3. Feeding and incubation: newly unearthed small locusts like to eat fresh wheat seedlings, corn seedlings, weeds and other monocotyledonous plants, but their food intake is very small. Grasshoppers of 1~3 years old should pay attention to rain protection. It takes about 27~35 days for locusts to grow into adults from emergence. During this period, they shed their skin once every 5~7 days, totally shedding 5 times. Grasshoppers after 5 years old gradually begin to mate and lay eggs, and each locust lays about 70~100 eggs. In order to feed and reproduce eggs, locusts like to live in groups and migrate, so locusts should be given appropriate interference after emergence to before spawning, so as to improve the number and quality of eggs laid. Before freezing, some wheat chaff and weeds should be covered in the spawning area for heat preservation and moisture preservation to prevent freezing crack. Adult locusts in growing period should be sold in time if they are not planted.

To cultivate locusts, the first thing is to understand its living habits, and then build a suitable living environment for its growth and survival, this is the first step of successful breeding, followed by more communication with other successful breeding people, learn more about their successful techniques and methods.