How Long Does Golden Cicada Farming Take to Reach Harvest? A Detailed Guide to New Techniques
The golden cicada is what we commonly call the "zhiliaohou" (cicada nymph), a fairly common animal. In recent years, people have become increasingly aware of the value of the golden cicada, so more and more people have started farming it. Before farming, however, most people surely want to have a comprehensive understanding of its farming techniques, right? Let's take a look together below!
New Techniques for Golden Cicada Farming
1. Feed supply. Choose healthy tree species with well-developed root systems, vigorous growth and abundant sap, such as poplar, elm, willow, paulownia, or various fruit trees in orchards. In addition, interplant some root and tuber crops, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, Chinese yam, etc.
2. Environmental conditions. For the cicada (Cryptotympana atrata), the "seeding" depth should preferably be 30-50 cm, facing the sun and protected from freezing, with soft, fertile, pollution-free soil; it must not be too dry, nor have excessive water content or waterlogging, ensuring the host plant's root system grows and develops normally, tender, well-developed and juicy. In winter, the seeding area should be covered with wheat straw, rice straw, corn stalks, etc., to maintain ground temperature.
3. Disease prevention preparation. The emerged nymphs (cicada turtles) and the adults after eclosion have many natural enemies, such as toads, snakes, rodents, hedgehogs, wild cats, sparrows and mantises, all of which like to eat the nymphs (cicada turtles); microorganisms such as Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and entomogenous algae fungi (cicada flower) also parasitize and harm them. In addition, floods and pollution from pesticides and chemical fertilizers also cause great harm to the nymphs (cicada turtles) or cicadas, so attention and protection are needed during farming. The most important seasons are the egg stage on trees, the "cicada ant" occurrence period, and the emergence period of mature nymphs. The natural enemies during the egg stage on trees and the cicada ant occurrence period are mainly ants and the red flower bug; the treatment measure is to soak and wash the egg-bearing branches with a 100-fold solution of strong ammonia essence, or use DDVP, strong chlorine essence, etc., for soil treatment.
4. Breeding techniques. Build production facilities for adults and nymphs; besides naturally collecting cicada eggs, you can set up gauze mesh greenhouses to provide space for golden cicada adults to lay eggs. You can use fruit trees in abandoned orchards, replant fruit tree seedlings, set up a fence around them with cement posts or bamboo poles, then run wire in between, and cover the outside with nylon window screen mesh. Eclosed or collected adults mate and lay eggs inside; afterward, you can retain as many adults as needed, with no need to collect seed stock from the wild again.
How Long Does Golden Cicada Farming Take to Reach Harvest
From cicada egg-laying to harvesting cicada pupae takes three years. Egg collection is done after the golden cicada lays eggs in autumn, generally around the seventh lunar month, and larvae hatch in about fifteen days or so. At this time you will see some larvae crawling up and down on the branches. When about 20% of the larvae have hatched, they should be buried.
Disease Control of the Golden Cicada
1. The emerged nymphs (cicada turtles) and the adults after eclosion have many natural enemies, such as toads, snakes, rodents, hedgehogs, wild cats, sparrows and mantises, all of which like to eat the nymphs (cicada turtles); microorganisms such as Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and entomogenous algae fungi (cicada flower) also parasitize and harm them. In addition, floods and pollution from pesticides and chemical fertilizers also cause great harm to the nymphs (cicada turtles) or cicadas, so attention and protection are needed during farming.
2. The most important seasons are the egg stage on trees, the "cicada ant" occurrence period, and the emergence period of mature nymphs. The natural enemies during the egg stage on trees and the cicada ant occurrence period are mainly ants and the red flower bug; the treatment measure is to soak and wash the egg-bearing branches with a 100-fold solution of strong ammonia essence, or use DDVP, strong chlorine essence, etc., for soil treatment.
Harvesting and Processing of the Golden Cicada
June each year is the best time to harvest golden cicadas, and concentrated harvesting can be done until August. Harvesting is best especially after rain, when some nymphs crawl out of the freshly moistened soft soil and then climb onto branches for a short period of activity. Because they like to be active at night, we can harvest them at night using a flashlight.
When farming golden cicadas, you must pay attention to the environment and also do a good job of feed supply. Disease control of the golden cicada is also very important; observe at the right times and carry out timely prevention and control. Only by doing this work well can you ensure it grows healthily.