Locust Farming Greenhouse Construction Plan and Key Building Points Explained
Locusts are an agricultural pest that like to eat agricultural products such as wheat, corn, rice, various leaves, etc. Locust plagues can even bring devastating disasters to agricultural products. Although locusts are pests, they are rich in nutritional value, and both their edible and medicinal value are very high. Below, the editor will talk about locust farming techniques.
Locust Farming Greenhouse Construction Plan
Locust farming greenhouses are generally built in a ventilated and sunny place, and should be about ten cm above the ground to help with drainage. The simplest locust farming construction method is to use two thick panels with a post added in the middle. This construction method is relatively simple, the cost is relatively low, and covering it with plastic sheeting is also more convenient. If conditions permit, a vegetable warm-shed style farming greenhouse can also be used. This kind of farming greenhouse has a relatively high cost, but its insulation performance is very good and it can effectively prevent locusts from freezing to death.
The soil inside the locust farming greenhouse should use sandy loam that does not easily clump, as this can help with picking up locust eggs. In the locust farming greenhouse, some wheat or corn can be planted for the locusts to eat. A zipper should be installed outside the farming greenhouse to prevent locusts from escaping.
Construction and Materials for a Locust Shed
For building a locust shed, the generally economical materials are wooden sticks, gauze, bamboo poles, bamboo strips, etc. Waste vegetable greenhouses, idle houses, etc. can also be used. It is recommended to build an arched shed, which has strong wind resistance and a simple structure. The scale of the shed can be adapted to local conditions. The length of the shed generally should not exceed 15 m, the width should not exceed 6 m, and the height should be 2 m, so as to facilitate feeding forage, cleaning the shed, catching locusts, etc. During construction, use 2 bamboo strips at 1 m intervals to make arches extending in sequence, connect them together with materials such as wooden sticks and bamboo poles to form a frame, and use cold cloth to make a shed cover like a mosquito net, hang it on the shed frame, bury the bottom edge underground, leave a doorway, and install zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners, etc. on the doorway. This device is meant to keep locusts from escaping and to make it convenient to enter the shed for feeding and management.
Locust Farming Management
The starting development temperature for locusts is 15°C, the maximum development temperature is 40°C, the suitable development temperature is 25°C~32°C, the relative air humidity is 85%~92%, and the soil moisture content is 15%~18%. Below 14°C or above 40°C, locusts stop eating and die. When the temperature is 28°C~30°C, locust eggs hatch. First prepare non-toxic soil and sawdust mixed evenly at 1:2, with a moisture content of 20%~30%. Spread 3~5 cm of soil in a container and pat it firm, distribute the locust eggs evenly on the soil, and cover with 1 cm of mixed soil. Cover the container with plastic film and check once every half day. After finding small locusts, use a soft brush to move them onto the food inside the shed.
Hatching is completed in 10~15 days. Small locusts like to eat fresh and tender wheat seedlings, corn seedlings, weeds and other monocotyledonous plants, and their food intake is very small. Locusts at 1~3 instars should be protected from rain. At 27~35 days of age they grow into adults. During this period they molt once every 5~7 days, for a total of 5 molts. Each locust lays 70~100 eggs. Locusts have the habit of liking group living and migration. Group living and migration are for feeding and reproducing by laying eggs. Therefore, after locusts emerge as adults and before egg laying, appropriate artificial disturbance should be given to make them migrate within the shed, so as to increase the quantity and quality of egg laying. The eggs laid should be covered with wheat bran, weeds, etc. before freezing to keep them warm and moist. Adult locusts that are not kept for breeding should be sold in time. New farmers can buy breeding locusts or eggs from farms (households). Locusts are a special type of farming. If there are no orders and no reliable sales channels, farming must be done cautiously.
Profit Analysis of Locust Farming
For the first time, calculated on the basis of introducing ten thousand locusts, about 1200 yuan is needed (including 1000 yuan for introduction and 200 yuan for shed construction). Calculated at the lowest hatching rate of ninety percent, 9000 adults can be obtained, half male and half female. Each female can lay 40—90 eggs; calculated at the lowest 40 eggs, 180000 adults can be obtained, plus 4500 males, for a total of 184500. At about 300 per jin, the total is 615 jin. Calculated at a conservative estimate of 8 yuan per jin, 4920 yuan can be obtained. Subtracting the 1200 yuan for introduction and shed construction, the income is 3720 yuan. Then subtracting about 500 yuan for later shed expansion and 200 yuan for forage (cutting grass in the wild yourself costs almost nothing), locust farming can yield a net income of more than 3000 yuan.
Control Methods for Locusts
1. Chemical control. When the occurrence is relatively large, 2.5% trichlorfon powder, 3.5% jiadi powder, or 4% dima powder can be selected for dusting, with a dosage of 30kg/hm; 50% malathion emulsion, 40% dimethoate emulsion, 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate, etc. can also be used for ultra-low-volume spraying.
2. Poison bait control. Mix 100 parts wheat bran (rice bran), 100 parts water, and 2 parts 1.5% trichlorfon powder (or 0.15 parts 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate, etc.) evenly, with an application rate of 22.5kg/hm; 100 parts fresh grass can also be chopped and mixed with 30 parts water and then mixed into the above agents, with an application rate of 112.5kg/hm. Mix and use immediately; do not leave it overnight. It should not be used during rain, strong wind, or when the temperature is too high or too low.
3. Manual capture. Manual capture can be carried out in combination with cultivation management. When only a small number occur, insect nets can be used to catch them, so as to reduce the damage and reduce the base number of the pest source.
As mentioned above, although locusts are pests, they can also bring people quite good economic benefits. Many people also particularly like to eat locusts, and the cooking methods are also varied. There is also a lot of room for use in medicinal applications. Farming locusts can be considered a relatively good project; at least the profit and prospects are quite objective.