How do you cultivate a bedbug predator according to the usage instructions? - briefly
Follow the supplier’s protocol: keep the habitat at 25‑28 °C with 70‑80 % relative humidity, provide a diet of live bedbug eggs or nymphs in a sealed container, and replace substrate weekly while monitoring predator health. Ensure all instructions are applied consistently to maintain a stable breeding environment.
How do you cultivate a bedbug predator according to the usage instructions? - in detail
To raise an organism that preys on Cimex lectularius, follow the protocol supplied with the product. Begin with a clean, well‑ventilated enclosure that maintains a temperature of 24‑27 °C and relative humidity of 60‑70 %. Provide a substrate of fine sand or peat, sterilized by autoclaving for 30 minutes at 121 °C. Introduce the predator eggs or larvae onto the substrate, spacing individuals 2–3 cm apart to prevent crowding.
Supply a diet consisting exclusively of live bedbugs. Place a fresh supply of 10–15 insects per predator per day, adjusting quantities as the predator matures. Ensure prey are free of pesticide residues; otherwise, toxicity may impair predator development. Remove uneaten prey after 24 hours to avoid mold growth.
Maintain a photoperiod of 12 hours light and 12 hours darkness. Use low‑intensity LED lighting to simulate natural conditions without stressing the insects. Monitor water availability by providing a moist cotton wick; replace the wick daily to prevent bacterial contamination.
Record growth metrics weekly: larval length, molting events, and mortality rate. Adjust environmental parameters if growth deviates from expected benchmarks provided in the instruction sheet. For example, increase humidity to 75 % if molting delays occur.
When predators reach adulthood, transfer them to a larger breeding chamber with the same temperature and humidity settings. Continue feeding with live bedbugs, increasing the prey load to 20–30 insects per adult per day to support reproduction. Separate sexes for controlled breeding, if required, using the identification keys included in the manual.
Dispose of spent substrate and dead insects by autoclaving before discarding. Clean the enclosure with a dilute bleach solution (0.5 % sodium hypochlorite), rinse thoroughly, and allow to dry before reuse. Following these steps ensures a stable population of bedbug predators that can be deployed for biological control programs.