How to Raise Ground Beetles? Detailed Explanation of Breeding Methods and Key Technical Points
The ground beetle, also known as the ground turtle insect, has the effects of breaking blood and dispelling stasis, and reconnecting tendons and bones. It is used for traumatic injuries, tendon injuries and fractures, blood stasis amenorrhea, postpartum stasis abdominal pain, abdominal masses and lumps, etc. So, how do you raise ground beetles?
1. Breeding Site Construction
Ground beetles like to live in dark, humid, loose soil rich in humus, so when raising them the soil must be fully prepared. First, choose garden soil or sandy loam rich in humus, loose and fertile, add an appropriate amount of chicken manure, pig manure or plant ash, and place it in the sun to expose it before use. Because ground beetles fear light, they generally hide by day and come out at night. The suitable growth temperature is 28-30 degrees. Below 0 degrees or above 38 degrees will cause the death of ground beetles. Basin rearing, cabinet rearing and box rearing are all acceptable.
2. Larva Management
During breeding, larva rearing is very important. During incubation, the humidity of the rearing soil should be kept at about 40%, and the temperature at about 25-30 degrees. After one month, the larvae can break out of their shells. During the incubation period and the larva rearing period, the larvae and the mother insects must be raised separately, because the mother insects often eat the larvae and eggs. When the larvae are in the young stage, feeding is mainly with fine feed. When feeding, evenly scatter the feed on the rearing soil, then turn it into the soil layer to 2-3cm to prevent the larvae from escaping.
3. Feeding Management
Ground beetles are omnivorous animals. Plant-based feeds include wheat bran, rice bran, melons, fruits and vegetables, and so on, while animal-based feeds include earthworms, crickets, and so on. Ground beetles have strict requirements for temperature and humidity. The suitable growth temperature is 25-30 degrees. Below 8 degrees they enter hibernation, at 10 degrees they begin to move and feed, below 0 degrees they freeze to death, and above 38 degrees they die from heatstroke. Therefore, when breeding in summer, because the weather is hot, sufficient drinking water must be supplied, and water should often be sprayed into the breeding site to maintain the humidity of the rearing soil and lower the soil temperature. In winter, keep it dry and feed semi-dry and semi-moist feed. At low temperatures, straw and other materials can be used for warmth. In spring, humidity between 70%-80% can allow them to grow quickly.
4. Pest and Disease Control
During rearing, ground beetles will suffer harm from various pests, diseases and natural enemies. The main diseases are big belly disease and fungal infection disease. The control method for big belly disease is to regulate the dryness and humidity of the feed and rearing soil; the moisture should not exceed 10%. The control method for fungal infection disease is to replace the rearing soil, disinfect and sterilize in time, then grind 0.25 grams of tetracycline into powder and mix it into the feed for feeding, and it can be cured. The insect pests of ground beetles include mites, ants, as well as rats, cats, snakes, and so on. During breeding, attention should be paid to the defense and sealing off of the breeding site so as not to give other pests an opportunity. For small pests such as ants and mites, tung oil or sticky substances can be smeared on the pool walls, while mites can be controlled with pesticides.
Ground beetles have relatively high medicinal value, are not difficult to raise, and can bring good economic returns. Friends who want to breed them can give it a try.