HOW TO Cultivating/Raising CONSUMPTION locusts from Scratch to Harvest

Summary

This video tutorial explores the process of farming grasshoppers for consumption, starting from preparation to harvest. It covers essential steps such as setting up a breeding environment with ventilated containers, providing proper humidity, and ensuring a suitable diet for the grasshoppers. The script also explains how to identify healthy breeding pairs, encourage mating, and care for the young grasshoppers as they grow. With practical tips on feeding, rehoming, and managing stress in the insects, the guide offers a comprehensive approach to grasshopper farming, ultimately contributing to economic growth in local communities.

Takeaways

• 😀 Grasshoppers are herbivores and prefer open, humid areas with grass and low plants.
• 😀 The most common grasshoppers raised for consumption are larger, rounder, and different from wild grasshoppers.
• 😀 The first step in farming grasshoppers is to prepare containers like jars or aquariums with ventilation holes.
• 😀 Moist sand should be placed at the bottom of the container to encourage egg-laying, creating a humid environment.
• 😀 Grasshoppers should be fed chopped vegetables like carrots and leafy greens during the breeding process.
• 😀 The breeding process involves selecting healthy male and female grasshoppers, ensuring no deformities.
• 😀 Mating is stimulated by placing the breeding containers in dark environments like covered jars or aquariums.
• 😀 Grasshopper eggs hatch into larvae within 2-3 days, and these larvae need proper care until they mature.
• 😀 After 3 weeks, larvae become young grasshoppers, and at this stage, they should be moved to larger containers.
• 😀 Grasshopper farming requires regular replacement of old sand and ensuring consistent humidity with water spray.
• 😀 After about 75 days, grasshoppers reach maturity and can be harvested using gloves and tools, starting with the larger ones.

Q & A

What is the primary type of grasshopper farmed for consumption?

The primary type of grasshopper farmed for consumption is the 'branch grasshopper' or 'consumption grasshopper', which differs from the wild grasshoppers typically found in open fields.

What are the main characteristics of the consumption grasshopper?

Consumption grasshoppers are larger in size and have a more rounded body compared to the wild grasshoppers found in open areas.

What is the ideal environment for grasshoppers?

Grasshoppers prefer open, humid areas with plenty of grass and other low-lying plants. Some species, however, live in dense forests.

What materials are needed to begin farming grasshoppers?

To start farming grasshoppers, you need a container such as a jar or aquarium with ventilation holes, sand for the base, water for moistening the sand, and branches for protection.

Why is the sand moistened in the grasshopper farming process?

Moistening the sand helps create a humid environment, which accelerates the grasshopper's egg-laying process.

How do you differentiate male and female grasshoppers?

Male grasshoppers have two antennae at the tail end of their body and a more elongated shape, while female grasshoppers lack antennae and have a more rounded and larger body.

What is the purpose of placing branches in the grasshopper farming container?

The branches serve as shelter for the grasshoppers, providing a natural environment that helps protect them.

What food should be provided for grasshoppers during farming?

Grasshoppers can be fed chopped vegetables like carrots and leaves, ensuring a steady supply of food for the breeding process.

When should grasshoppers be moved to a new container?

Grasshoppers should be moved to a new container after three weeks, when the larvae have matured into young grasshoppers. This helps reduce stress and prevents death.

How is the harvesting of grasshoppers carried out?

Grasshoppers are harvested using tools and gloves, with priority given to larger grasshoppers first. There is no special technique required for this process.