Hong Kong caterpillars are widely used as feed for birds, fish, reptiles and other pets. If you have several pets that eat Hong Kong caterpillars, it makes sense to raise them yourself. Starting a Hong Kong caterpillar farm isn't as expensive as you might think, and you can get it up and running in no time.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Getting Started
Step 1. Gather supplies:
- Oatmeal/dried oatmeal.
- Source of organic moisture that doesn't mold quickly. Carrots are fine, but you can also use fruits and vegetables such as sliced or sliced potatoes or apples.
- Three plastic jars with air holes on top.
- Several cartons of egg carton or toilet paper filling.
- Hong Kong caterpillar, also known as darkling beetle larvae. Start with 1,000 heads.
Step 2. Pour in the oatmeal until the layer is 2.5 cm above the bottom of the plastic jar
This layer becomes the base and food for this Hong Kong caterpillar in several stages of growth.
Step 3. Store some chopped vegetables in each jar
You can use fruit or vegetables such as celery, lettuce, potatoes or apples. Carrots take longer to mold than other fruits and vegetables. If you choose another vegetable or fruit as another source of moisture, make sure you replace it frequently.
Step 4. Put live Hong Kong caterpillars into one of the jars
Some Hong Kong caterpillar breeders also put a few slices of bread and cereal or dry dog food into the jar.
Step 5. Place a few pieces of cardboard on top of the oatmeal
This insect likes the dark.
Step 6. Give the jar an appropriate label
One is for the caterpillar (larvae), one for the pupa (cocoon), and one for the adult beetle.
Step 7. Close the jar and place it in a warm, dark area
Warmth will speed up the caterpillar's growth process, so the caterpillar will pupa (cocoon) faster if it lives in a warm area.
Part 2 of 2: Maintenance
Step 1. Maintain the jar regularly
Some breeders check every day, and some once a week.
- Remove any rotten vegetables, dead insects or mold in the oatmeal.
- Add vegetables or oatmeal if needed, and stir the layers to prevent mold from growing.
Step 2. Observe the pupae in the caterpillar jar
Depending on the temperature and age of the caterpillar when you buy it, it can take anywhere from a week to two months to go into a pupa.
- The maturity of the caterpillar at each stage of its cycle is marked by its darkening color.
- The pupae start from very pale white in color and look more like a curled up beetle rather than a caterpillar.
- You will notice that the caterpillar molts several times before turning into a pupa. This is a normal thing.
Step 3. Separate the pupae right away when you find them
You can use tweezers if you feel disgusted.
- Pupae do not move much and do not need food at all. Moisture in the form of vegetables or fruit can be added to the jar, but the pupae will not eat it.
- It is very important to separate the pupa from the larvae and beetles because the pupa cannot defend itself and run from the risk of being eaten before the cocoon opens.
- The pupal stage lasts from one to several weeks depending on temperature. You'll notice it as it gets closer to opening the color will darken.
Step 4. Keep checking the jar regularly to see how the growth is progressing
This becomes more important as you have more beetles in the cycle.
Step 5. Remove the adult beetles from the pupa jar as soon as you find them
They will start eating other pupae if not removed immediately.
Put the adult beetles in a different jar with the same arrangement as the caterpillar. You can add more oatmeal to give it more nesting space
Step 6. Check the adult beetle jar regularly and look for eggs
The eggs will increase as more beetles are in the jar. Eggs can usually be found at the bottom of the jar.
- You don't have to move the eggs, but their presence means you will have larvae (Hongkong caterpillars) soon.
- An adult female will lay 500 eggs at a time.
- Eggs will hatch in 4-19 days depending on temperature.
Step 7. Transfer the caterpillars from the adult beetle habitat to the caterpillar jar (larvae)
Since the female lays a large number of eggs you will often move the larvae as the eggs hatch.
Step 8. Keep checking daily or weekly
This includes changing food and moisture sources (fruit or vegetables), keeping beetles separated according to their developmental stage, removing dead beetles and regularly shuffling oatmeal layers.
If you notice that you have produced more Hong Kong caterpillars than you need to feed your pet, take some adult beetles and release them into their natural habitat away from where you are raising them. You can also feed the pupae as food for the adults, or place more caterpillars in the bird feeder in your yard for wild birds
Tips
- Don't forget to replace old and moldy food with new and fresh food.
- If you have fewer caterpillars, you can store them in a smaller jar
- Storing caterpillars in the refrigerator will slow their growth. So if you prefer to feed your pet the caterpillars over the beetles, store them in the refrigerator.
- You can use this guide to keep superworms or large Hong Kong caterpillars, but don't store them in the refrigerator. Because these caterpillars are tropical insects, they prefer room temperature.
- In order for the superworm to grow into a pupa, you must transfer it to a different jar
- Try not to put too many caterpillars in one jar.
- You don't have to clean the nest too often.
- Keep the jar cool. Caterpillars prefer it.
