How to breed cicadas (golden cicadas)? Key technical points explained
SummarySeed source acquisition: naturally collect eggs, nymphs, and adults in the field as seed sources. Seeding: collect egg-bearing branches from the wild or from seed source sites. Growing conditions: plant poplar, elm, willow, paulownia, etc. Production facilities: build gauze net greenhouses. Timely harvesting: cicadas can be harvested from mid-to-late June each year (around the Summer Solstice) to early August (around the Start of Autumn).
I. Seed source acquisition
1. Eggs, nymphs, and adults can be naturally collected in the field as seed sources. Each life stage can be collected from July to September, with August to September being the better season for collecting nymphs, and September being the better time for collecting cicada egg-bearing tree branches. Collection can generally be carried out throughout the year.
2. For egg collection, choose sites with dense trees and abundant cicadas, and use fruit branch shears or a long pole with a hook at the tip to remove the 1-2 year old slender branches on which cicadas have laid eggs.
II. Seeding
The seeding targets are newly hatched nymphs or eggs close to hatching. Egg-bearing branches can be collected directly from the wild or from seed source sites, then placed indoors to promote hatching. Seeding time is generally June to July (eggs of the current year) or September to October (2-year eggs).
III. Providing growing conditions
1. Choose robust tree species with well-developed root systems, vigorous growth, and abundant sap, such as poplar, elm, willow, and paulownia, as well as various fruit trees in orchards. At the same time, some root and tuber crops can be intercropped, such as sweet potato, potato, and yam.
2. The planting depth is about 30-50 cm, the terrain should face the sun, which helps prevent freezing, and the soil should be loose, fertile, and pollution-free. It must not be too dry, nor should it have excessively high water content or waterlogging.
3. To ensure the normal growth and development of the host plant root system, keeping it young, tender, and juicy, a layer of wheat straw, rice straw, or corn straw can be spread over the seeding area in winter for insulation.
IV. Building production facilities
1. In addition to naturally harvested cicada eggs, gauze net greenhouses can also be built, which helps provide space for adults to lay eggs. Fruit trees from abandoned orchards can also be used, or fruit tree seedlings can be replanted.
2. Around the fruit tree seedlings, fences can be built using cement posts or bamboo poles, with wire pulled in between, and a layer of nylon window screen netting can be placed outside.
3. For adults that have emerged or been collected, they can mate and lay eggs inside, and afterward adults can be retained according to their number, with no need to collect seed sources from the wild again.
V. Timely harvesting
1. From mid-to-late June each year (around the Summer Solstice) to early August (around the Start of Autumn) is the better season for harvesting cicadas in the field. It is generally more concentrated in early July or after rainy weather. In the wet, soft ground, nymphs use a pair of front legs like saw teeth to dig through the soil and emerge from their holes.
2. After crawling out of the ground, they move briefly on the ground surface, and finally crawl onto tree trunks or greenhouse frames to prepare for molting. They emerge as cicadas from 4-6 in the morning the next day. At this time, a flashlight can be used for lighting to search for and catch them under trees on the ground and on tree trunks at night, or in the morning the tender newly emerged cicadas can be caught on the trees.