Woman raises cockroaches to open up a new path to wealth, with annual income reaching 100,000 yuan
Li Xiuhua introduces the living habits of Periplaneta americana to reporters.
When cockroaches are mentioned, many people hate them deeply; once there are cockroaches at home, no matter how you try to kill them, you cannot kill them all. Because of their tenacious vitality, cockroaches are jokingly called "unkillable Xiaoqiang." On April 19, reporters learned from interviews that in Rizhao, nearly a hundred breeders already make a living by raising Periplaneta americana (commonly known as cockroaches), and more and more people have seen the prospects of Periplaneta americana.
Visit
Breeders like raising Periplaneta americana
On April 19, the reporter came to Li Xiuhua's home in Kuishan Subdistrict. The reporter saw that she was wearing an apron and had short hair, looking very refined, and it was hard to connect her with raising cockroaches. She took the reporter inside to see the Periplaneta americana. In a room of less than 10 sq m, sheets of asbestos tiles were neatly and orderly placed on shelves, and the Periplaneta americana lived among them. Their food was placed on top, and the reporter noticed cornmeal, fishmeal and bananas.
In this regard, Li Xiuhua told the reporter that she is used to calling Periplaneta americana "Xiaoqiang." They like eating vegetables and fruits. Apart from not liking chili peppers, they like all other vegetables, and they especially like eating potatoes. Because potatoes are expensive, recently she has not been willing to buy potatoes for "Xiaoqiang," but "Xiaoqiang" does not like eating rotten food. When food is put out for "Xiaoqiang," they will crawl out to eat.
Li Xiuhua lifted a piece of asbestos tile, and the reporter saw Periplaneta americana crawling everywhere. Unlike the cockroaches commonly seen in residents' homes, Periplaneta americana are large, with very long antennae and agile movement. There were black Periplaneta americana, and also quite a few yellow ones, though the yellow ones did not look as sturdy as the black ones. "These yellow ones will slowly turn black," she said.
Characteristics
They like humid environments and are afraid of light
Last year, Li Xiuhua heard from a friend that raising Periplaneta americana could make money, so she invested 20,000 yuan to start raising them. Li Xiuhua told the reporter with a smile that she is actually timid and afraid of insects, but what is especially strange is that she does not dislike Periplaneta americana. Now, when she feeds them every morning, she says: "Babies, I'm here." When Periplaneta americana hear this, they also respond and crawl out to eat the food. Li Xiuhua said that Periplaneta americana like dark and humid environments. Indoor humidity needs to be maintained at around 70 degrees Celsius, and the temperature kept at around 26 to 30 degrees Celsius. In order to maintain the indoor temperature, she placed a carbon crystal heating wall in the room. From egg to larva takes about 1 month, and from larva to adult takes about four months. After that, the adults can lay eggs again, and so the cycle repeats. Because "Xiaoqiang" have tenacious vitality, no medicine is needed during the breeding process, nor is epidemic prevention needed. "Some, even after being crushed, can still live for several more days."
"I can't bear to part with them, so I only eat more than 10 a day," Li Xiuhua said. Seeing the reporter's frightened expression, Li Xiuhua laughed. She told the reporter that at first she did not dare to eat them either, but later she gradually came to like eating "Xiaoqiang," because during the breeding process she found that "Xiaoqiang" are very clean, do not eat rotten food, and are not fed feed or pesticides, and they are rich in protein and highly nutritious.
Happy
Many breeders have already tasted the benefits
Afterward, the reporter came to the home of Mr. Zhang, a resident of Wenhui Community. The reporter noticed that Periplaneta americana were looking for food and crawling around freely in the room. He began breeding in April last year, and now, in addition to having recovered his capital, he has also made 20,000 to 30,000 yuan. "My wife and I are in poor health. Raising Periplaneta americana is also for treating illness. Now we eat Periplaneta americana every day, and our health is much better than before," Mr. Zhang said.
During the interview, Mr. Yan, general manager of Rizhao Yaoqi Industry and Trade Co., Ltd., told the reporter that Rizhao City began to have breeders raising Periplaneta americana last year, and it has now developed to nearly a hundred households. Periplaneta americana can be made into fertilizer, can also be developed into medicine, and can also be made into food. At present, quite a few restaurants also choose Periplaneta americana as a high-end specialty dish.
According to the introduction, the initial purchase of breeding insects costs 20,000 yuan, and they can be sold after 4 months. Periplaneta americana can reproduce on their own, so the one-time investment cost is low. The current market price is 80 yuan/jin. Calculated at the market selling price of 80 yuan, after deducting costs in the first year, one can earn 30,000 to 40,000 yuan. Starting from the second year, they can be sold every month, and about 80 jin can be harvested in 1 month. Based on this calculation, annual income can even reach about 100,000 yuan.