(i) Rearing environment
Container selection
Suitable rearing containers should be chosen according to the size and habits of the insects. For small insects, transparent plastic boxes or glass bottles can be used for easy observation. For large insects, such as unicorns and stag beetles, you need to choose larger rearing boxes, preferably made of wood or plastic, with enough space for them to move around.
The rearing containers should be well ventilated. You can punch holes in the lids or use mesh lids to ensure air circulation and prevent insects from dying due to lack of oxygen.
Environmental arrangement
According to the living habits of the insects, arrange a suitable environment in the rearing container. For example, for insects that like moist environment, you can lay a layer of moist paper towel or sponge at the bottom of the container; for insects that need to climb, you can place some branches, wooden blocks, etc. inside the container for them to perch and move around.
Care should be taken to keep the rearing environment clean and hygienic, and regularly clean up the faeces and leftover food in the containers to avoid breeding bacteria and parasites, which may affect the health of the insects.
(ii) Food Selection
Understanding the food habits of insects
Different insect pets have different food habits, some are phytophagous, some are carnivorous and some are omnivorous. Before feeding, it is important to understand the food habits of the insects you are keeping and choose the right food to feed them.
For example, butterflies mainly feed on nectar and can be fed with sugar water or honey water; unicorns and spadefoot beetles like to suck the sap of trees, so you can provide them with some fresh fruits or twigs; and caddisflies feed on the leaves of plants, so you can feed them with some fresh vegetables, such as carrots and cabbages.
Quality and freshness of food
The quality and freshness of the food provided to insects should be ensured to avoid feeding expired, spoiled or contaminated food. Fresh food is not only rich in nutrients, but also has a good taste and can meet the growth and development needs of insects.
For some insects that need special food, such as gophers that need to be fed live insects such as aphids, they can be obtained by collecting or purchasing them in the field, but attention should be paid to the safety and hygiene of the source.
(iii) Temperature and humidity control
Temperature requirements
Insects are sensitive to changes in temperature, and different insects have different suitable temperature ranges. Generally speaking, most insect pets are suitable to live in an environment with a temperature of 20 – 30℃. A thermometer can be used to monitor the temperature of the breeding environment during the breeding process, and the temperature can be adjusted by heating pads, air conditioners and other equipment if necessary.
Care should be taken to avoid excessive high or low temperatures that may harm the insects. In high summer temperatures, care should be taken to cool down the rearing containers, which can be placed in a cool and ventilated place; in low winter temperatures, care should be taken to keep them warm, which can be done by using equipment such as heating mats, but care should be taken to control the temperature to avoid scalding the insects.
Humidity requirement
Humidity is also one of the important factors affecting the growth and development of insects. Different insects have different humidity requirements. Generally speaking, insects that prefer humid environments, such as the larvae of butterflies, need higher humidity, while some insects that prefer dry environments, such as stag beetles and caddisflies, need lower humidity.
Humidity can be monitored by placing a hygrometer in the rearing container and adjusted according to the needs of the insects. For insects requiring high humidity, water can be sprayed or wet cloths can be placed inside the containers to increase humidity; for insects requiring low humidity, desiccants can be placed inside the containers or well ventilated to reduce humidity.
(iv) Safety and Health Management
Prevention of Escape
Although insect pets are small in size, some insects have strong flying ability or crawling ability and can easily escape. During the rearing process, make sure that the lid of the rearing container is closed or sealed tightly to avoid insects escaping. If the insects escape indoors, they may cause some impact on the home environment and may even pose a threat to human health.
Prevention of diseases and parasites
Care should be taken to keep the rearing environment clean and hygienic, and the rearing containers and tools should be sterilised regularly to prevent the breeding of diseases and parasites. If abnormal symptoms of insects are found, such as loss of appetite, reduced mobility and body discolouration, etc., isolate them promptly and consult professionals for diagnosis and treatment.
Wash your hands promptly after coming into contact with insect pets to avoid bringing bacteria and parasites from the insects onto your body. At the same time, care should be taken to avoid children accidentally eating insects or coming into contact with insect faeces, etc. to avoid health problems.
