Detailed Explanation of New Golden Cicada Farming Techniques, Practical Farming Methods Shared
The cicada is also known as zhi liao, ma ji liao, hei lao wa wa. In its larval stage it is called pa la hou, chan hou, zhi liao hou, jie le hou, rou niu, jie le gui, shen xian or chan gui. It is a medium-to-large insect of the family Cicadidae, order Homoptera, with about 2000 species. Body length 2-5 cm (0.8-2 in), with two pairs of membranous wings, prominent compound eyes, and 3 simple eyes. The family Tettigarctidae has two species, commonly known as hairy cicadas, distributed only in southern Australia.
Obtaining Seed Stock
Eggs, nymphs, and adults can all be collected as seed stock. From July to September, all stages can be collected; August to September is the best season for collecting nymphs; September is the best time for collecting cicada egg-bearing branches, and they can be collected in the field year-round. Collecting egg-laying branches should be the main method for obtaining seed stock. Using fruit-tree shears or a long pole with a hook at the tip, gently remove from the tree the 1-2 year old slender dead branches killed by cicada egg-laying. Any branch that is flat and withered on one side with an incomplete surface and a large number of milky-white oblong eggs embedded in the wood beneath the bark is a cicada egg branch. Cut off the excess egg-free dead tips above the egg-laying scar, leave 10-15 cm of egg-free branch below the egg-laying scar, tie about 50 branches into a small bundle, and place them in a plastic bag for later use.
Inoculation
After collecting the branches with cicada eggs, remove the dried leaves, cut off both ends, tie 30 branches into a bundle, spread a layer of sand in the bottom of a large washbasin, place the bundled branches upright in the basin, maintain the temperature at 28-34°C, and keep the humidity moist, that is, spray whenever dry, using a sprayer aimed at the branches until thoroughly wet. After about 15 days, larvae will hatch. At this point you will see some larvae crawling up and down on the branches. When about 20% of the larvae have hatched, they must be buried. Choose an area with many fine soft root hairs for the burial pit so that the larvae can absorb nutrients from the roots; it is best to choose a plot where honeysuckle is planted.
Rearing
Choose healthy tree species with well-developed lateral root systems, vigorous growth, and abundant sap. In addition, interplant some root and tuber crops, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and Chinese yam. The suitable inoculation depth for cicadas is 30-50 cm. The site should face the sun and be protected from freezing, with soft, fertile, unpolluted soil. It must not be too dry, nor have excessive water content or standing water, ensuring that the host plant root system grows and develops normally, tender and rich in sap. In winter, cover the inoculation area with wheat straw, rice straw, corn stalks, etc., to maintain ground temperature.
Breeding
In addition to naturally collecting cicada eggs, gauze-net greenhouses can be built to provide space for adult cicadas to lay eggs.
You can use fruit trees in abandoned orchards, or replant fruit tree seedlings. Set up a fence around them using concrete posts or bamboo poles, stretch wire in between, and cover the outside with nylon window screen. Adults that have emerged or been collected mate and lay eggs inside. Afterward, the number of adults to keep can be determined as needed, and there is no need to collect seed stock from the wild again.
Pest and Disease Control
Nymphs that have emerged from the soil (zhi liao gui) and adults after emergence have many natural enemies, such as toads, snakes, rodents, hedgehogs, wild cats, sparrows, and mantises, all of which like to eat nymphs (zhi liao gui). 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 nymphs (zhi liao gui) 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 main natural enemies during the egg stage on trees and the cicada ant occurrence period are ants and red small flower bugs. Treatment measures include soaking egg-bearing branches with 100-fold diluted strong ammonia solution or treating the soil with tiantian VP, strong chlorine, etc.
Cicadas are actually quite familiar to everyone in daily life, but many people do not particularly understand them, knowing only that they are a kind of insect. In fact, the nutritional value of cicadas is very high. They are rich in protein, so they are also a dish that many people like in daily life.