What are the soil requirements for raising ground beetles? With a rearing soil formula
Ground beetles cannot do without soil throughout their lives. The rearing soil is the place where ground beetles live and reproduce, and also a shelter where they escape from adverse factors. The quality of the rearing soil and the substances it contains are directly related to whether they can grow and develop smoothly.
Time to collect soil Generally, soil is collected in winter, when there are very few pathogenic microorganisms, pests and insect eggs in the soil, making it easy to purify.
Soil collection requirements The soil texture should be loose and breathable. The advantages of loose soil texture are, first, sufficient oxygen, and second, it is easy for ground beetles to burrow in and out, which is beneficial to their growth and development. The acidity and alkalinity of the soil should preferably be neutral or slightly alkaline, and the particle size should be suitable, making it easy to sieve out egg sheaths in the later stage of ground beetle growth.
Sterilization and pest elimination Sterilization: first prepare the sterilizing drug into a solution, 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 used to mix 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 on the rearing soil, turning it while spraying so that it is distributed as evenly as possible. Then cover it with plastic film, press down the edges well to prevent air leakage, pile it for about 1 week, then open 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 liquid, stand on the windward side, and livestock on the leeward side should also be driven elsewhere to prevent poisoning.
Add fillers Lime powder can be added to the soil, first, to supplement the calcium consumed by ground beetles during egg laying and molting, promoting their rapid growth, and second, to play a role in disinfection and sterilization.
Rearing soil formulas First, 40% rice husk ash and 60% pure soil (with low impurity content), mix thoroughly. Second, 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.