How to Breed a Pet Insect

Observing how butterflies, the praying mantis, cockroaches and other insects raise their young is not something everyone has the chance to do. Breeding insects can be an educational experience as well as a financially rewarding one. Certain types of insects are sought-after for use as feeding stock or pest control, others are wanted as pets. Crickets make good feed stock for other insect pets and some snakes. Fly predators are used by horse owners to reduce the number of flies in their stable and lot areas.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Containers
• Covers for the containers
• Bedding (sand or newspaper)
• Watering sponge
• Misting spray bottle
• Vegetation
• Fluorescent lighting

Setting the Mood

1. Check local ordinances for restrictions on breeding insects.
2. Research your insect to know in what conditions they prefer to live and their breeding season.
3. Set up your tank to reflect those conditions, keeping in mind humidity levels, lighting and vegetation changes that are specific to the breeding season.
4. Choose one representative from each gender of the insect you wish to breed.
5. House the male and female in separate containers until it is time to breed.

Making Babies

6. Keep the female well-fed prior to mating. Otherwise, she may eat her mate during or after the event.
7. Introduce the male into the female's container; or else things could get unpleasant between the two.
8. Give solitary species the lighting and privacy requirements suitable for that species.
9. Remove the male and give the female time to settle once mating is complete.
10. Watch the female for changes in her behavior after a few days. This may indicate a successful mating.

Tips & Warnings

• For a higher level of humidity in the container use plastic wrap over the openings. Experts say for 50 percent more humidity, cover 50 percent of the openings. Use the mist sprayer to keep things moist.
• Incandescent light bulbs may dry out the habitat and the insect.
• Try putting a screen divider in the tank for species such as the praying mantis. This will allow fertilization, but prevent the male from becoming a post-coitus snack.
• Butterfly larvae are caterpillars. They will need to be raised in larvae rearing cups.
• For colony insects, the more crowded the better chance for fertilization to occur.
• To keep your abode from becoming overrun with dozens of baby scorpions or millipedes after the blessed event, ensure the container has no openings large enough for them to pass through.
• Do not disturb the female tarantula after she creates a safe zone and webs herself in. She may not even eat during the short time before the babies emerge. Do not moisten the watering sponge, but continue to mist the tank. She may destroy the egg sac if she feels threatened or anxious.