How to raise centipedes? A complete guide to centipede farming
(1) Living habits
Centipedes mainly live in low mountain areas with plenty of stones and little soil, and are only sparsely distributed in plains. Each year after Awakening of Insects, when the temperature turns warm, centipedes awaken from hibernation and begin to emerge and become active, preferring to live in damp, shady weed patches or gullies full of loose stones. From Grain in Ear to Summer Solstice, as the temperature gradually rises, they again gradually move into shady trenches, graveyards, field ridges, or cracks in earthen banks, avoiding the hot daytime. By late autumn, they mostly shelter under wind-sheltered, sun-facing loose-soil slopes or in warmer places such as tree holes and tree roots. In short, centipedes are afraid of light and shy away from brightness, hide by day and come out by night, and like to live in dark, damp, warm, ventilated burrows. Therefore, when farming centipedes artificially, it is necessary, according to their living habits, to try to create the living conditions they require. For example, planting trees and grass in the breeding site and placing bricks and tiles are among the measures taken to meet the centipede's requirements for its living environment. Centipedes generally come out at night and move about alone. Although they have 8 simple eyes, their eyesight is weak, especially in daytime when their eyesight is extremely poor. When moving alone, they only detour and avoid one another after their antennae touch. On clear, windless nights, 20:00-23:00 is their peak activity period. Their activity is characterized by more activity at night and less by day; more activity when the temperature is above 25°C, and less activity on days at 10-15°C; even less activity or even cessation of activity below 10°C; more activity on muggy nights and nights after rain, and less activity on nights with low temperatures; more activity on windless or slightly windy nights, and less activity on nights with strong wind (wind force above level six); more activity on nights after rain, and less activity on rainy nights. It can thus be seen that the frequency of centipede activity is closely related to meteorological factors such as temperature, air pressure, relative humidity, rainfall, and light intensity. Therefore, when farming centipedes artificially, attention must be paid to the effects of the above meteorological factors on their lives. At the same time, centipedes are very good at squeezing through cracks, so they can smoothly squeeze through crevices in rocks, earthen banks, and the like, and can live in these cracks. When the living density of centipedes is too high or they are disturbed too much, they are prone to killing one another and dying. However, under rearing conditions, with improvements in the living environment and rearing conditions, such as providing enough fresh feed and water and not increasing disturbances to their lives, even if the farming density is relatively high, it has little effect on their lives. In particular, centipedes produced by the same mother, because they have lived together since youth, can live together peacefully even when dozens of them curl up together after growing up. Therefore, providing enough fresh feed and water and maintaining a quiet environment are necessary conditions for artificially farming centipedes. (2) Catching Generally, it is better to catch them before Qingming Festival. Centipedes are oviparous insects. According to the centipede's living habits of preferring shade and moisture and quiet, and fearing strong light, choose places in dense woods with shade or on shady hillsides as catching sites. In these places, place chicken feathers, miscellaneous bones, or dry grass and leaves to attract centipedes to rest and lay eggs, and pick the eggs before Qingming Festival. When picking eggs, take them back together with soil, branches, and weeds, put them into a rearing pond or rearing jar, cover them, and then incubate them. During incubation, gently turn the covering material frequently to prevent invasion by other pests, so as to ensure the young hatch out smoothly and safely. (3) Feeding management 1) Feed: Centipedes are typical carnivorous insects and are rather fierce. With their jaw claws that can eject venom, they can prey on various small animals much larger than themselves. Centipedes have a wide range of food sources. Based on field observations, trial-rearing observations, and the rearing experience of various places, the main types of feed for centipedes are as follows: one type is various insects, such as adults, pupae, larvae, and eggs of crickets, locusts, tobacco beetles, scarab beetles, rice borers, longhorn beetles, cicadas, grasshoppers, dragonflies, spiders, flies, and bees. Another type is invertebrates such as worms, earthworms, snails, and slugs, as well as the muscles, bones, and internal organs of vertebrates such as frogs, snakes, lizards, geckos, sparrows, rats, and bats. Yet another type is that when the above food sources are insufficient, they also eat a small amount of tender green grass, shoot tips, root tips, and fruits such as watermelon and cucumber, as well as cooked products such as eggs, milk, and bread. In addition, artificially reared centipedes in Zhejiang mainly feed on loaches, rice-field eels, small fish, small shrimp, and small crabs. Although the centipede's food sources are broad and miscellaneous, it requires fresh food and does not eat putrid, smelly food. Therefore, during artificial farming, fresh feed must be given once every 2-3 days. Before feeding, thoroughly remove the leftover feed from the previous time. Centipedes eat a large amount at one time and have strong hunger tolerance. When hungry, the amount eaten at one time can reach 1/5-3/5 of their own body weight. After eating their fill, they will not starve to death even if not given food for ten days to half a month. At the same time, centipedes cannot endure thirst and need to drink water every day. Therefore, water containers must be placed in the breeding site, and the water must be changed regularly to keep the drinking water fresh and clean.