How to prepare rearing soil for ground beetle farming
The ground beetle cannot do without soil throughout its entire life. The rearing soil is the place where the ground beetle lives and reproduces, and also a haven where it escapes from adverse factors. The quality of the rearing soil and the substances it contains are directly related to whether the ground beetle can grow and develop smoothly.
Soil is generally collected in winter, when there are very few pathogenic microorganisms, pests and pest eggs in the soil, making it easy to purify.
The soil collected should be loose and breathable. The advantages of loose soil are, first, sufficient oxygen, and second, it is easy for the ground beetle to burrow in and out, which is beneficial to its growth and development. The soil acidity and alkalinity should preferably be neutral or slightly alkaline, with suitable particle size, which makes it easy to sieve out egg capsules in the later stage of ground beetle growth.
Sterilization and pest elimination. Sterilization: first prepare a solution of the sterilizing agent, then mix it into the rearing soil, pile it up and let it sit for a certain period before use. For sterilizing the rearing soil, a 0.1%-0.2% potassium permanganate solution can be mixed into the soil; a 0.1% benzalkonium bromide solution, a 0.1%-0.2% copper sulfate solution, etc. can all achieve the desired effect. Pest elimination: for each cubic meter of rearing soil, use 100 grams of 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate, dilute it 100 times, and spray it evenly onto the rearing soil, turning the soil while spraying so that it is distributed as evenly as possible. Then cover it with plastic film, press down the edges well to prevent gas leakage, pile it for about 1 week, then uncover it and let it air out for 10-15 days before use. The higher the ambient temperature, the better the pest elimination effect. Note that when spraying the medicinal solution, stand on the upwind side, and drive livestock on the downwind side elsewhere to prevent poisoning.
Adding fillers. Lime powder can be added to the soil, first to supplement the calcium consumed by the ground beetle during egg laying and molting, promoting its rapid growth, and second to play a role in disinfection and sterilization.
Rearing soil formula one: 40% rice husk ash and 60% pure soil (with low impurity content), mix thoroughly. Formula two: 90% pure soil and 10% plant ash. Pure soil can also be used directly. Both of the above formulas can prevent the breeding of pathogens.