How to breed cicadas?

Cicada is also called golden cicada , grasshopper cicada, cicada monkey, cicada monkey, etc. It is now a very popular delicacy, and the most common way to eat it is "fried golden cicada". Due to the high demand, artificial breeding is carried out in some areas. Here we will introduce to you the techniques of breeding cicadas.

1. Breeding varieties

Golden cicada refers to the general term for all cicada nymphs, but not all cicadas are suitable for breeding. Some species have low yields and reproduction rates. Currently, only the black cicada has the largest population and the highest reproduction rate.

2. Obtaining eggs

If you want to find branches with wild cicada eggs, you should look for them during the period when the cicadas are chirping the most, especially on branches near where the cicadas are chirping the most. Since the time of emergence of cicadas varies across the country, it can be determined based on local conditions. In Guangxi, cicadas emerge in early May, and the further north you go, the later it is. In Henan, a little further north, it is around August.

3. Feed supply

Choose healthy tree species with well-developed root systems, lush growth and rich juice, such as poplar, elm, willow, tung or various fruit trees in the orchard . In addition, intercrop some root and tuber plants, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, etc.

4. Planting egg branches

Dig a 3 cm deep trench in a suitable location, bury the egg branches, cover with soil and tamp it down. The temperature for hatching cicada eggs should be controlled at 25-35℃. It should not be too high, otherwise it will cause the death of the eggs. During the hatching process, a sprayer can be used to moisturize the eggs, which can keep the eggs at a suitable humidity and increase the hatching rate of cicadas.

5. Breeding management

After burying the eggs on the branches for 2-3 years, the cicadas will gradually grow and mature. They are best harvested during the summer solstice, especially after the rain. The cicadas will come out of the ground at 4 to 5 in the morning and look for branches to crawl up. Between 2 and 4 o'clock, they will shed their skin and become cicadas. If the rains have not arrived for a long time, you can water the artificial breeding grounds to induce the cicada monkeys to come out of the ground. To ensure successful emergence of the cicadas, you can wrap tape around the tree trunk to prevent the cicadas from escaping.

That’s it