Methods for rearing the house cricket, Acheta domesticus (L.), along with baseline values for feeding rates, growth rates, development times, and blood composition

Abstract

The house cricket, Acheta domesticus, is an adaptable experimental animal, that can be inexpensively reared year round in a small temperature-regulated room. Growth is rapid and development occurs without diapause at 30 "C. Different size glass aquaria or any convenient containers can be used to house the crickets as long as the relative humidity in the container can be regulated to be high for hatchlings and about 50 % for older crickets. Reusable cardboard gallon cartons with screen lids provide excellent containers for groups of up to 15 crickets each. Purina@ Cricket Chow@ provides all essential nutrients for continuous generations of large, healthy crickets. Specific information is provided for colony management, and isolation of known age individuals. Some basic developmental, metabolic and physiological values for the house cricket are provided.Purina and Cricket Chon are registered trademarks of the Ralsron-Pu~-ina Co., St. Louis, hlissouri. ,q US. Copvright Clearance Center Code Statement

Growth and survival of reared Cambodian field crickets (Teleogryllus testaceus) fed weeds, agricultural and food industry by-products

“…There should be no potential hazards for people consuming crickets reared on cassava tops since hydrogen cyanide seems not to be accumulated or stored in blood and tissues (Simeonova and Fishbein, 2004). (Clifford and Woodring, 1990;Nakagaki and DeFoliart, 1991;Patton, 1963). Although there were considerable variations in nutrient content between the feeds tested in this study, there was no simple relationship between nutrient content and weight gain.…”

“…However, ambient temperature is one critical factor for survival. In another cricket species, A. domesticus, the ideal temperature appears to be around 30 °C (Clifford and Woodring, 1990;Makkar et al 2014;Roe et al, 1980). If that is relevant also for T. testaceus, the rearing conditions we provided were optimal with respect to mean temperature and could not have caused the high mortality.…”

“…According to Ghouri and McFarlane (1958) and Clifford and Woodring (1990), humidity should be below 50% for A. domesticus. A study of wild populations of field crickets in mung bean crops in Pakistan (Khan et al, 2011) also indicated that humidity is of significant importance.…”

“…Therefore, it is possible that the high humidity (around 70%) in our study could have increased mortality. Factors such as water availability, density of crickets (Clifford and Woodring, 1990;Clifford et al, 1977) and species strain (Ghouri and McFarlane, 1958) may also affect life cycle duration, but further studies are needed to evaluate how this affects T. testaceus. Interestingly, the hydrogen cyanide (poisonous) and tannins (anti-nutritional) most likely present in the fresh cassava tops (Awoyinka et al, 1995) had no apparent negative effect on the crickets in the present study.…”

Programmed cell death in flight muscle histolysis of the house cricket

“…Crickets were reared at 30°C with a L:D 14:10 photoperiod. Adult crickets were isolated at emergence and designated age Day 0 (Clifford and Woodring, 1991). White imagoes were isolated prior to cuticular tanning.…”