CATDOLL : CATDOLL: How do locusts live in summer?

Please, grasshoppers can only live for less than a year. This season is their growth and reproduction season. The weather is suitable, there is more food, and of course there are more of them.

They are gone in autumn. Grasshoppers in autumn can only jump for a few days. Drought causes locusts to reproduce in large numbers and grow rapidly, which leads to disasters for two reasons. On the one hand, in drought years, due to the drop in water level, the soil becomes more solid, the water content is reduced, and the vegetation on the ground is sparse, the number of eggs laid by locusts increases greatly, sometimes up to 4,000 to 5,000 egg masses per square meter of soil, each egg mass contains 50 to 80 eggs, that is, 200,000 to 400,000 eggs per square meter. At the same time, in drought years, the surface of rivers and lakes shrinks, and low-lying areas are exposed, which also provides more suitable places for locusts to lay eggs. On the other hand, plants growing in arid environments have lower water content, and locusts feed on them, grow faster, and have higher fertility. On the contrary, rainy and humid environments have many adverse effects on the reproduction of locusts. The high water content of plants that locusts feed on will delay the growth of locusts and reduce their fertility. Rainy and humid environments will also cause locusts to spread diseases, and rain and snow can directly kill locust eggs. In addition, the increase in natural enemies such as frogs will also increase the mortality rate of locusts. When a locust is touched on a certain part of its hind legs, it will change its original solitary habit and become gregarious. Locusts are usually timid and like to live alone, and their harm is limited. But sometimes they change their habits and like to live in groups, eventually gathering in large numbers and migrating collectively, forming a terrifying locust plague, causing great damage to agriculture. Scientists at Oxford University said that they conducted experiments on desert locusts in the solitary stage, repeatedly touching multiple parts of the locust's body to find out whether there are certain tactile factors that cause locusts to change their habits. Preliminary preparations for locust breeding: Step 1: Site selection. The locust breeding shed should be built in a place away from pesticide pollution, with drainage, ventilation and light. Locusts like sunlight, so it is best to choose it outdoors. Step 2: The construction of the locust shed is not limited to any shape, and the materials used should be sturdy, and the screens should be sturdy and anti-aging. The height is 1.7 meters, the width is about 5 meters, and the length should not exceed 20 meters. Step 3: Plant wheat in the greenhouse first, and then plant when the wheat grows to 10 cm high. But you also need to plant corn grass in other fields. For 1 mu of locusts, you need 2.5 mu of corn grass. Step 3: Planting. Locust seeds are divided into eggs and seedlings. Eggs can be transported over long distances and by express delivery, while seedlings can be transported up to 10 kilometers. They die for three consecutive days, resulting in large losses.

Living environment of adult locusts:

Locusts are distributed on all continents except Antarctica. There are three subspecies in my country: the East Asian migratory locust is mainly distributed in the eastern monsoon region, the Asian migratory locust is mainly distributed in the arid and semi-arid grassland areas of the northwest, and the Tibetan migratory locust is mainly distributed in many river valleys and lake shores in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

2. Living habits of adult locusts:

Adults and nymphs are nocturnal and come out during the day, with no obvious phototaxis. When the density of locust nymphs is high, they will sense each other and form a conditioned reflex, which intensifies their activity. They tend to form groups, lie still, crowd together, and then jump and migrate in a certain direction.



Additional information

Locusts are a worldwide agricultural pest. Their damage is characterized by periodic population explosions and long-distance migration. Years of research have shown that the transformation of locusts from scattered individuals to individuals who prefer to live in groups is the biological basis for locusts to form large-scale groups, migrate long distances, and cause disasters.

In addition to eliminating the negative impact of locust plagues, locusts also have an advantage. They have edible and medicinal value. Now they can be seen on the dining table and are a delicious dish that most people love.

Grasshoppers, also known as locusts, used to be pests that destroyed crops, but now they have become a delicacy on the table.

Grasshopper breeding greenhouses are mostly east-west oriented, with a height of 2 meters, a width of 5 meters, and a minimum length of 10 meters for a standard greenhouse. However, the length can be increased according to the terrain and personal breeding experience and breeding habits.

The grasshopper farm should be built in a relatively quiet environment with good lighting and timely drainage in a sandy area to facilitate the grasshoppers to lay eggs and reproduce. Before building the farm, remove the natural enemies of grasshoppers such as mice, mole crickets, and ants. To facilitate the grasshoppers to feed, you can plant corn grass in the shed before or after building the shed. The specific situation depends on the time you release the grasshoppers.

The temperature suitable for grasshoppers to grow and develop is 16℃ to 35℃. When the temperature is too high in summer, a shade net should be added above the greenhouse. Grasshopper breeding is a one-time purchase of seeds, which naturally reproduce dozens of times. Eggs hatch locusts, locusts lay eggs, and the cycle repeats. Long-term breeding and selling are profitable, and no secondary investment is required.

As long as the temperature and humidity are adapted, grasshoppers will begin to shed their first skin about 6 days after hatching, and will shed every 5-7 days thereafter. The first molting is called the first instar. Grasshoppers from the first to the third instar eat less food and are fed twice a day, at 10 noon and 3 pm. They are mainly monocot leaves, and some wheat bran can also be placed in the shed to enrich the nutrition of grasshopper food.

After the third instar, grasshoppers gradually increase their food intake, and if conditions permit, feed them three times a day. Ensure sufficient food so that adult grasshoppers can grow large and have good commercial performance.

Grasshoppers become adults after the fifth instar and can generally be caught and sold at night after being fed for about 10 days.

In the summer, locusts of course eat grass leaves, which are their means of survival.