Zoos and zookeepers buy feeder insects like locusts for their animal friends. These insects are the largest live source of nutrition for animals in captivity, but they are also very expensive to buy regularly. This means that it is much cheaper to breed locusts yourself to save on the costs of buying live insects every year. There are several benefits of breeding locusts yourself. Here are some of them.
Cost of breeding locusts
There are many benefits to breeding locusts. First, you can be sure that your new colony is fed well. Second, you can use any size of locust you want. Third, you can have a rotational system where you swap laying bins every seven to 10 days. If you have a large colony, you can easily produce more than 150 adult locusts each week. Fourth, you can use your new colony for breeding purposes as long as it looks healthy and looks like it is not too big or too small.
The biggest downside of breeding desert locusts is their high cost. However, the rewards are well worth it. The resulting damage is unimaginable. Millions of people have become food insecure and are living in poverty because of this infestation. Moreover, the spread of the locusts is exacerbated by other complexities and human behavior. Consequently, it is critical to address the problem as early as possible.
One of the first steps to raise locusts is choosing an appropriate substrate. Suitable substrate is essential because it is the place where the locusts will lay their eggs. A plastic container filled with the right kind of substrate is adequate. Make sure that the laying bin provides ideal conditions for locust eggs and that you can collect the eggs easily. The laying bin is an essential part of the breeding process, so consider the size and location of your laying bin before you begin breeding.
In Kenya, breeding sites are in high numbers. There are about 40 to 80 million locusts per square kilometer. It is essential to target areas that pose the greatest threat, and to reinforce ground surveillance. This is an environmentally friendly way to control locusts. Some of the best habitats for breeding locusts are found in vast areas of Kenya. Wajir, Garissa, Marsabit, Turkana, and Mandera have the right conditions for locusts.
The other major benefit of breeding locusts is their high yield. During the first stage, locusts will consume approximately 10 times their body weight in plant material every day. The remaining plant material can be used for livestock feed and biofertilizing substrate. Once the ripening stage has completed, the locusts will be harvested outside during the second month. These insects are highly valuable as a food supplement.
Life cycle of a locust
The life cycle of a locust consists of three stages: the egg, the pronymph, and the wingless hopper. It is difficult to find the eggs of this insect, because they are hidden under a layer of froth. The eggs develop and hatch after 10 days or more in the ground. The young locusts, also known as nymphs, have no wings when they are first born and will moult five or six times before developing full wings.
After the first instar, the locust will shed its skin in order to grow. This skin will be a little darker than before, so you can see the changes in color. A locust nymph has wing buds. The fifth instar will have fully developed wings. The locust life cycle will vary depending on the species. The larvae will shed their skin after each moult, so make sure to leave plenty of green vegetation around to give them the nutrients they need to grow.
After the larval phase, the locusts will enter the solitarious stage. In this phase, they change colour to match their surroundings and avoid each other. They will begin breeding like crazy and will migrate to find food. The gregarious phase lasts several generations. Once they enter this stage, their bodies will undergo a complete transformation, from the solitary stage to the gregarious phase. The larvae will become smaller, and their wings will be shorter and narrower than in the solitarous stage.
Swarms of locusts may be solitar or gregarious, depending on external conditions. Small pockets of locusts are called outbreaks, while large swarms are known as plagues. Depending on the species, the swarms may occupy an entire country or state. This is a serious threat to our food supply, and increasing rainfall will help their reproduction.
A locust’s migration is aided by the wind. Unlike many insects, locusts migrate with the flow of the wind, and they are known since biblical times. They were first recorded in Egypt, around 2500 BCE. They are an extremely damaging pest of agriculture. The adult swarms can be incredibly destructive. So, what is the life cycle of a locust?
Rotational system for breeding locusts
In many countries, black locusts have been planted and established outside their native ranges. These plantations have started in places like Las Cruces, New Mexico, where the summer temperature is over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius). In other areas, such as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where the average winter temperature is about 60 degrees Fahrenheit, breeding black locusts has been successful.
In New York State, the black locust was primarily found in pitch pine-mixed-oak forests and in barren upland habitats. In the northern forests of New York and Vermont, the pest was found in pure patches among the red maple and sugar maple. The infestation was so prevalent that it even occupied seedling layers in the Bronx. Its range was determined by identifying its host trees.
In its native range, black locust has important effects on the development of the plant community. Their high biomass stimulates the growth of co-occurring plants. However, their short lifespans mean that plantations of black locust trees in western and midwestern areas experienced high mortality rates. After the locusts die, the co-occurring plant species often replace them. Consequently, black locust savanna ecosystems in the western United States are in danger of being wiped out.
There are several ways to control the population of black locusts. First, researchers are investigating insect growth regulators and pathogens. Second, they’re looking at methods to suppress the locusts’ natural enemies. Thirdly, people and birds may eat the pests. And, of course, satellites may be able to detect them remotely, which could help in developing effective solutions for locust management.
While fire is the most common means of controlling black locusts, it can also lead to a loss of habitat. Black locusts are most likely to spread in disturbed areas. Fire crews and heavy equipment can damage or kill black locust populations. Hence, fire suppression and integrated management is essential to minimize the impacts of black locusts on native ecosystems. The use of fire in the area of black locust control is one way to combat this problem.
Impact of climate change on locust breeding industry
The rapid rise of locusts is attributed to climate change, a natural phenomenon that causes cyclones that create the perfect conditions for massive locust breeding. In 2019, there were eight cyclones in the Indian Ocean, compared to zero to one per year. As a result, locusts multiplied by about eight times. In addition, they are expected to increase in number and severity with warming temperatures.
The threat is so serious that governments and organizations are already preparing for a locust invasion. In China, for example, a recent study found that climate change may worsen locust outbreaks, especially in the north of the country. The climate-change-induced rains and flooding have created favourable breeding conditions, and the government-run New Vision newspaper has reported that a locust swarm could occur this year. The impact on Africa’s agriculture industry is potentially enormous, as it is the largest single source of income for the continent.
In the Horn of Africa, the region has been grappling with swarms of desert locusts since 2020. In fact, the Food and Agriculture Organization warns that the increasing number of locust swarms is a major threat to livelihoods and food security. With this in mind, the new breeding may worsen the situation in countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
While this outbreak has not been new, the severity of the plague is unprecedented. Recent rains in the southern Arabian Peninsula and northern East Africa have contributed to the infestation. Unseasonal rains in India are another factor. Locusts began breeding early this year and are likely to multiply even faster in future years. The latest outbreak is also exacerbated by the increased number of cyclones.
About The Author
Mindy Vu is a part time shoe model and professional mum. She loves to cook and has been proclaimed the best cook in the world by her friends and family. She adores her pet dog Twinkie, and is happily married to her books.