Russian scientists have patented a unique method of breeding ladybugs

Russian scientists have patented a unique method of breeding ladybugs



Ladybugs are an effective weapon in the fight against aphids.

An effective method of breeding Сoccinella septempunctata or seven-spotted ladybugs was developed at the Samara State Agrarian University. Recently, scientists have protected their invention with a patent.

As one of the authors of the invention, Dean of the Faculty of Biotechnology and Veterinary Medicine Vladimir Zaitsev, told MK, the university began to breed ladybugs at the request of local farmers. The fact is that ladybugs are a very effective weapon against aphids, most of which cause serious damage to agriculture and forestry. And in order not to spray plants with pesticides, seven-point predators can be released against pests. The choice fell on them, because they breed well and feel comfortable in our latitudes.

In order for the cows to develop and breed even better, a special diet and housing were developed for them. After a series of experiments, scientists found that the best result can be achieved if, in spring and autumn, the insects are fed twice a day with wet and dried raisins, parts of apples, and cotton wool soaked in 10% sugar syrup. A special microclimate is also needed - the ambient temperature should be 12-14 ° C, air humidity - 40-60%; illumination - 20-30 degrees. There are also certain conditions for housing: it must be kept in a plastic, glass or wooden box with a perforated lid. For each square centimeter of the lid, there should be 4-5 holes 1-2 mm in size. At the bottom of the “house” there is a litter of sawdust, leaves and stems of plants, the thickness of such a soft floor is 3-4 cm.

There are 250-400 eggs in one clutch of a ladybug, and when they are laid in such conditions, they survive and develop well. After 7 days, 95% of the eggs hatch into larvae, another month later, 92% of the larvae develop into pupae, 98% of which, after another week, become full-fledged ladybugs, ready to be destroyed by aphids.



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