Cicada farming is booming, how can you farm them with twice the result for half the effort?

Summary: Cicada farming is gradually gaining popularity, how do you raise cicadas well?

The time for catching cicadas has now passed, and every summer cicadas enjoy a spell of popularity. Every summer, in our village, many adults and children team up to catch cicadas. The price of cicadas has been rising year after year, because there really are a lot of people who like to eat them. Cicada farming has gradually begun to attract people too.

How are cicadas farmed?

Cicada farming is actually nothing new these days, but raising cicadas well still requires a certain level of skill, so that the harvest of cicadas can be guaranteed later on.

First, let us understand the living habits of the cicada. The cicada, that is, the nymph of the cicada, lays its eggs each summer on the branches of one-year-old wood, and then the branches are damaged and usually soon wither. At this point the eggs fall to the ground with the branches, the eggs hatch on the branches, and after hatching the nymphs enter the ground. Generally the nymphs of the cicada stay underground for three to five years before crawling out of the ground.

However, artificial farming of cicadas greatly shortens the growth time of cicadas, which can increase cicada yields. Artificial farming generally requires choosing a good farming site; the best farming sites are poplar groves, willow groves or orchards that are more than three years old, all of which are suitable. In addition, the sowing quantity of cicadas should be reasonably matched to the age of the trees, otherwise the growth of the trees is easily affected.

As for soil, cicadas prefer sandy soil, though neutral soil is also acceptable. In addition, the soil must not be too dry, and watering should be done in time. Next, the orchard's drainage must be good, with no waterlogging; after heavy rain, drainage must be done promptly. Cicada eggs can be bought or collected yourself; some farmers build nets in the grove to collect cicada eggs more effectively.

Generally cicada eggs are on two-year-old branches, usually near the tips, and branches with eggs turn withered and yellow. Egg collection is generally done each autumn. When collecting eggs, about thirty centimeters of the branch is usually cut off, the dead twigs on the branch are trimmed away, and it is properly disinfected; around thirty branches are tied together, placed in a basin, and lightly sprayed with clean water to keep the branches moist.

Generally after about two weeks the cicada nymphs will hatch out, and when roughly 20% of the nymphs have hatched, they are about ready to be buried. When burying them, it is best to choose a spot with plenty of tree roots. Normally, tuber crops such as sweet potato and Chinese yam can be planted under the grove to provide food for the cicadas as well. Generally they can be harvested in fifteen to eighteen months. (R)

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