Larvae: long cylindrical, mature larvae can reach 3.5 cm long.
The growth and development of black powder insect is much slower than that of Tenebrio molitor. When the average temperature is 25C, the development cycle takes 8 months. Larvae molting 14 pupation takes 14 weeks. After half a month, the pupa emerged as an adult, and the adult was 3 months.
Adults begin to lay eggs after half a month, and each female can lay 400 eggs. The eggs hatch into larvae after 15 days. Larval stage is long, which takes about 6 months.
Habit: Wild black powder insect is found in indoor garbage dump. Larvae and adults lurk in the garbage during the day and climb to the surface for food at night. Adults crawl fast and generally can't fly. Black powder insect is omnivorous, eating all kinds of grains, oilseeds, by-products of grain and oil processing and all kinds of litter, but the leaves of leguminous plants, mulberry leaves and plane leaves are the favorite foods, followed by all kinds of dead and rotting insects.
Feeding method: It is basically the same as Tenebrio molitor, except that it is not as dry-resistant as Tenebrio molitor, and the humidity requirement is particularly strict. Generally, the relative humidity of air is 60%-75%, and the water content of feed is 14%- 16%. The adaptive range of temperature is also relatively narrow, and the suitable development temperature of black powder insect is 25-30e. Raising black powder insect indoors, the output is very low, which can't meet the demand. Using the rule of outdoor brick supply can greatly improve the output.
Special attention should be paid to: when feeding the adults and larvae in black powder insect, in addition to the feed eaten by Tenebrio molitor, a large number of leaves should be added to the nest, and the thickness should be kept at 10 ~ 20cm, which should be supplemented in time with black powder insect's continuous eating. China Organic Agriculture Network