DOCSLIB.ORG

Pet African Hedgehogs a Complete Guide to Care Kimberly Goertzen Copyright © 2012 by Kimberly Goertzen

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Pet African Hedgehogs a Complete Guide to Care Kimberly Goertzen Copyright © 2012 by Kimberly Goertzen Pet African Hedgehogs A Complete Guide to Care Kimberly Goertzen Copyright © 2012 by Kimberly Goertzen All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means including photocopying, recording, or information stor- age and retrieval without written permission from the author. ISBN: 978-1-105-44823-2 Photo Credits: All photos are by Kimberly Goertzen unless listed below: Alyson Farquhar: page 6; Nancy Denny: pages 37, 38 (left), 40 (left), 95 (top), 116 (top); Larry Thomason: pages 58 (left), 59 (top); Christine Schramm: page 58 (right); Deneen Foelker: pages 59 (right), 96 (bottom two); Julie Pierce: page 61 (bottom); Anna L: page 115 (bottom); Anony- mous: page 116 (bottom); Anny H: page 117; Laura Ledet: pages 118, 119 (both), 120. Special thanks to Vicki McLean for sharing her hedgies Yazmeena and Cody as models, and to Christopher David for being the director of photog- raphy during the photo shoot for several of the photos in this book. A PDF version of this entire book is available for free download at the website listed below, as well as information on donating to the author if you find the free resource helpful. Book Website: www.westcoasthedgehogs.com/files/hedgehogbook/index.html Email: [email protected] CONTENTSCONTENTS Introduction 6 Preface 9 Quill Structure and Design 6 Hedgehog Fast Facts 10 Where Our Pets Came From Preparing for a Hedgehog 12 Is a Hedgehog the Right 19 Where to Get a Hedgehog Pet for You? 20 Male or Female? 14 Choosing a Veterinarian 21 Personalities 16 Shopping List Welcome Home 24 Bringing Hedgie Home 25 Keys to Settling In Living With a Hedgehog 28 Finding Time for Your 29 Traveling With or Without Hedgehog Your Hedgehog 29 Routines and Frequency 32 Capturing an Escapee Behavior and Handling 36 Interpreting Body 40 Biting Language 41 Hedgehogs and Other Pets 37 Anointing 42 Dealing with “Boy Time” 38 Quilling 43 Tips on Bonding Housing and Husbandry 46 Cage Heating and Lighting 63 Cage Accessories 52 Fabric vs. Particulate 65 Cleaning Bedding 65 Litter Training 54 Choosing a Cage 68 Housing Hedgehogs Together Nutrition 71 Choosing a Staple Diet 82 Vitamins and Supplements 74 Reading the Label 82 Insects 77 Commercial Hedgie Food 85 Treats 80 How Much to Feed 86 The “DIY” Diet 81 Switching/Adding Foods 92 Raising Mealworms Exercise 94 Choosing a Wheel 100 Going Outside 98 Toys 101 Helping an Overweight 99 Playpens Hedgie Lose Weight Hygiene 103 Trimming Nails 104 Bathing Health 108 The Importance of Keeping 112 Scruffing Frequent Records 113 Syringe Feeding 109 When to See a Vet 114 Common Health Issues 110 First Aid Kit 118 Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome 111 Hibernation 120 The Elderly Hog Resources 123 Helpful Pages and Charts 124 Hedgehog Websites, Forums, Mailing Lists and More Introduction 5 Preface Hedgehogs have been growing in popularity as pets every year. With so many ideas out there about proper care, it can be hard to know what to believe is the best for your pet. Remember that there is a lot of controversy over what works and what doesn’t for many aspects of hedgehog care. Always use your best judgment when making decisions regarding your pet, and never be afraid to ask questions! Doing your research is the key to becoming a great owner. The hedgehog community has experts and beginning owners alike that can help you with whatever questions you may have. This book is set up to explain in simple terms the care requirements of hedgehogs and what options owners have for each instance. I’ve done my best to give pros and cons to each choice and let you decide what works best in your situation. Remember that everything you do should be what is best for your hedgie, and not just what is easiest for you. It can be easy to take shortcuts or skimp on expensive things, but remember that you’ve taken a responsibility by owning a pet. Doing the right thing is always better for everyone in the long run! This is the second edition of Pet African Hedgehogs, the first completed in November 2009. I hope to release updated versions every few years as we learn even more about hedgehogs. I hope this book will help you get a better understanding of your current or future hedgie and his or her needs. -Kimberly & Inky Hedgehog Fast Facts Let’s start with the biggest misconception: hedgehogs are not porcupines, nor are they related. Though the two are often confused, there are very little similarities between them. Porcupines are ro- dents, and have long, detachable, barbed quills. Hedgehog quills are not made for “dropping” when afraid, and they don’t have a for- midable tail they can swipe at their predator. A hedgie’s main defense Porcupines look nothing like is rolling into a prickly ball and hedgehogs! hissing until the danger is passed. exactly the size they are supposed Pet African hedgehogs are not to be and have always been. The “pygmy” as they are often incor- name African Pygmy Hedgehog was rectly called. The term “pygmy” coined because of the size compari- implies that they are miniature, son between our pets and their wild which they are not. Our pets are European cousins. Sixteen species 6 of hedgehogs can be found wild in hedgie’s head enables him to cross Africa, Europe, and Asia. There his visor quills and is a part of the are no hedgies native to North ring of muscles that allows him to America, South America, Antarc- ball up when afraid. tica or Australia. Pet Hedgehog Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Erinaceomorpha Family: Erinaceidae Genus: Atelerix Species: A. albiventris The reverse mohawk (coronal parting). Hedgies were classified as Another thing that often con- insectivores before the order In- cerns new owners is the “hedgie sectivora was split in two, putting lump”. This is a small, pimple- hedgehogs in the new Erinaceomor- sized bump on a hedgie’s chin. It pha order. Naturally, the majority usually has a few hairs on it. If you of their diet consists of a variety of were to compare it to anything, it bugs. For millions of years, they somewhat resembles a billy goat’s also scavenged on carrion, other beard. Both male and females small mammals and birds (mainly have this lump. Any other lumps on unprotected young), eggs, and a hedgehog’s jaw are not normal small amounts of vegetation. In however and should be looked at by captivity most hedgies are given a a veterinarian immediately. diet that doesn’t replicate this ex- actly, but the difference in longev- ity and health shows that it’s still an improvement. An odd fact about hedgehogs is that in some parts of Africa they are considered a fertility charm. Wild hedgehogs are often buried with seeds or plants. Sometimes just a quill necklace is believed to help the wearer conceive a child. Hedgies have some unique The “hedgie lump”. anatomical traits that startle many The last physical oddity would new owners, but none are cause be the variation between the for alarm. The first would be the numbers of toes on the front feet. “reverse mohawk”. Hedgehogs While it appears all pet hedgies have a bald strip in the middle of have four toes on each back foot, their head, an inch or so back. This some have dewclaws on the front hairless, quill-less section of your feet and some do not. 7 The average lifespan of a Additionally, hedgehogs do not hedgehog is 3-5 years, with most make good class or office pets. falling towards the younger side of Along with never being awake for the spectrum. Often these hed- anyone to see them, hedgehogs gies could have lived longer if they are easily stressed and it would had been cared for differently or be cruel to subject them to such a received proper veterinary care. stressful, fluctuating environment. Unfortunately they are quite prone Heating, light schedules, power to cancer and in many cases it is outages, or lack of attention (or not removable. There are many too much attention) are only a few that have recovered from cancer huge reasons to choose a different, and lived years longer, however. more suitable species if you must Hedgehogs are not the best have an animal in the workplace. pet for kids. Young children usu- Hedgehogs are very scent ally quickly lose interest after the oriented and rely on their sense novelty wears off, or are put off of smell for many things. When by the animal’s quills or nocturnal bonding with your hedgie, it is im- lifestyle. Older kids and teens will portant that he can smell you and often change interests, as well as associate your scent with safety. schedules and may decide later on Using gloves, or even washing your that they can’t or don’t want to hands with a different soap can care for the hedgie for its whole confuse and possibly scare him. life. As a mature adult, is your re- Leather gloves are never a good sponsibility to be sure that any pet idea because they usually smell you bring into your home will be intimidating and will mask your well cared for as long as he lives. scent. The quills lay flat when the Hedgehog eyes do not have hedgehog is relaxed, and tense up cone cells, which enable when the hedgehog is threatened. animals to see in color. They are nocturnal, and at night when they are usually active, color vision would not be The tail is usually very useful; even animals hidden or barely who can see color will only visible.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Artikel-Preisliste Käfer
    [email protected] Artikel-Preisliste Tel.: +49 5043 98 99 747 Fax: +49 5043 98 99 749 Weitere Informationen zu unseren Produkten sowie aktuelle Angebote finden Sie in unserem Shop: www.thepetfactory.de Art.-Nr. Artikelbezeichnung Ihr Preis MwSt.-Satz * Käfer - Imagines METUFM Mecynorrhina torquata ugandensis FARBMORPHE - 79,50 € 1 PAAEMI Pachnoda aemula - Stückpreis 9,95 € 1 EUMOI Eudicella morgani - Stückpreis 14,50 € 1 PAMPI Pachnoda marginata peregrina - Stückpreis 3,95 € 1 METIM Mecynorrhina torquata immaculicollis - Stückpreis 34,50 € 1 CETSPK1 Pseudinca camerunensis - Stückpreis 14,95 € 1 PSEMAR Pseudinca marmorata 12,95 € 1 DIMIIM Dicronorhina micans - Pärchen 39,95 € 1 PASFI Pachnoda flaviventris - Stückpreis 6,95 € 1 PRFORMOI Protaetia formosana 11,95 € 1 JURUI Jumnos ruckeri 24,95 € 1 EUSPWI Eudicella schultzeorum pseudowoermanni - Stückpreis 16,95 € 1 COLORI Coelorrhina loricata Imago - Stückpreis 19,95 € 1 ANTSXMA Anthia sexmaculata - Stückpreis 19,50 € 1 PAPRASI Pachnoda prasina 29,95 € 1 PAISKUU Pachnoda iskuulka NEUE ART!!! 29,95 € 1 ZOMOIM Zophobas morio Käfer 3,95 € 1 PRPRPad Protaetia pryeri pryeri 14,95 € 1 CESPECYAAD Cetonischema speciosa cyanochlora 49,95 € 1 - 1 GRAPTRILBRSA 24,95 € 1 ORYSPECRSA Oryctes spec. RSA Paar 49,95 € 1 PASFIRSA Pachnoda flaviventris RSA WC 11,95 € 1 DISRUFRSA Dischista rufa RSA WC 14,95 € 1 PORHEBRSA Porphyronota hebreae RSA 29,95 € 1 PLAPLARSA Plaesiorrhinella plana RSA 12,50 € 1 ANTBIGUVRSA Anthia biguttata var. RSA 29,50 € 1 ANTBIGURSA Anthia biguttata RSA 29,50 € 1 CYALRSA Cypholoba alveolata RSA 44,95 € 1 ANSCULRSA Anomalipus sculpturatus RSA 24,50 € 1 ANTMAXRSA Anthia maxillosa RSA 44,95 € 1 CYPGRAPRSA Cypholoba graphipteroides RSA 22,50 € 1 TEFMEYRSA Tefflus meyerlei RSA 27,95 € 1 PLATRIVRSA Plaesiorrhinella trivittata RSA 12,50 € 1 ANELERSA Anomalipus elephas RSA 24,50 € 1 GONOTIBRSA Gonopus tibialis RSA 24,50 € 1 PSAMVIRRSA Psammodes virago TOKTOK RSA 29,95 € 1 ANSPEC1RSA Anomalipus spec.
    [Show full text]
  • Antimicrobial Effect of Zophobas Morio Hemolymph Against Bovine
    microorganisms Article Antimicrobial Effect of Zophobas morio Hemolymph against Bovine Mastitis Pathogens Mengze Du y, Xiaodan Liu y, Jiajia Xu , Shuxian Li, Shenghua Wang, Yaohong Zhu and Jiufeng Wang * Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; [email protected] (M.D.); [email protected] (X.L.); [email protected] (J.X.); [email protected] (S.L.); [email protected] (S.W.); [email protected] (Y.Z.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +86-1355-221-6698 These authors contributed equally to this work. y Received: 2 September 2020; Accepted: 25 September 2020; Published: 28 September 2020 Abstract: Coliforms and Staphylococcus spp. infections are the leading causes of bovine mastitis. Despite extensive research and development in antibiotics, they have remained inadequately effective in treating bovine mastitis induced by multiple pathogen infection. In the present study, we showed the protective effect of Zophobas morio (Z. morio) hemolymph on bovine mammary epithelial cells against bacterial infection. Z. morio hemolymph directly kills both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria through membrane permeation and prevents the adhesion of E. coli or the clinically isolated S. simulans strain to bovine mammary epithelial (MAC-T) cells. In addition, Z. morio hemolymph downregulates the expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor family member pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), caspase-1, and NLRP6, as well as inhibits the secretion of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18, which attenuates E. coli or S. simulans-induced pyroptosis. Overall, our results suggest the potential role of Z. morio hemolymph as a novel therapeutic candidate for bovine mastitis.
    [Show full text]
  • Zophobas Morio Zophobas Morio ) Are a 2” Long Larva That Is a Very Popular) Area2”Longlarvathatisvery © Do Not Copy Withoutpermission© Donotcopy
    Superworm Zophobas morio By Cody Castellanos General Information: Superworms ( Zophobas morio ) are a 2” long larva that is a very popular feeder for reptiles. Because of their size and movement they’ll easily catch the attention of your animals. They are naturally large and have no growth hormones unlike the giant mealworm. They are native to tropical Central and South America. The total life span for a superworm is a little over a year from egg to beetle. Housing: They can be placed in any container that you may have. Make sure that the container is high enough so they can’t climb out. Usually tubs 5”+ high is suffi cient. I’ve found that plastic Rubbermaid tubs usually work best. Heat & Light - Lighting is not needed as they like darkness. The best temperatures are in the mid 70s to the low 80s. If superworms are overheated you will notice a signifi cant die off. Also never refrigerate superworms! They can’t take cold temperatures and death will be the result. Food & Water: Superworms will eat just about anything. Keep them in 1-4” of wheat bran, oats or a highly nutritious gutload. Make sure to gutload all food items for 24 hours prior to feeding. Gutloading is feeding very nutritious/high quality foods to prey prior to feeding to your animals. There are also many commercially available products that are in powder form. I make and use Pro Gutload for all my feeders. Gutloading will ensure a healthier insect and in the long run a healthier animal. Water - Things like carrots, potatoes, fruits etc are all suitable for moisture.
    [Show full text]
  • Zoo Med Laboratories, Inc
    ZOO MED LABORATORIES, INC. ZOO MED LABORATORIES, Zoo Med’s entire UVB Lamp Collection transmitts beneficial UVB lasting a full year allowing you to change bulbs less often. 2019 PRODUCT CATALOG See page 30 for help on choosing the proper UVB Lamp for your application. ZOO MED LABORATORIES, INC. ZOO MED EUROPE Visit Our Website To View Our 3650 Sacramento Dr. [email protected] Complete Product Line, Contests, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Events And Care Information! 1-805-542-9988 (Customer Service) ZOO MED JAPAN CO. LTD. [email protected] TEL 054-626-1145 www.zoomed.com FAX 054-626-1132 www.zoomed.jp Welcome to Zoo Med Laboratories Here at Zoo Med, animals are our passion, and for over 40 years we have made it our mission to supply the very best in exotic pet foods, reptile products, and reptile habitats. As a company made up of reptile hobbyists, we strive to provide the supplies and knowledge needed to successfully care for reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects and other exotic pets to keep them happy and healthy. The reptile supplies, accessories, and tools we manufacture are first tested at our facilities on the large collection of reptiles & aquarium fish we house at Zoo Med. Many of us have desk pets, and many of those desks are wedged into places in-between the 200+ terrariums, aquariums, paludariums, and other habitats at our facility. Inside our Animal Room, we house over 90 species ranging from chameleons, geckos, skinks, frogs, fish, newts, tarantulas, and beetles. Outside in our Turtle Nirvana Greenhouse, we care for 30 species of turtles and tortoises, several of which are endangered.
    [Show full text]
  • Sensory and Chemical Characteristic of Two Insect Species: Tenebrio Molitor and Zophobas Morio Larvae Affected by Roasting Processes
    molecules Article Sensory and Chemical Characteristic of Two Insect Species: Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio Larvae Affected by Roasting Processes Anna K. Zołnierczyk˙ * and Antoni Szumny Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: The volatile compounds from insects (Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio larvae) roasted at 160, 180, or 200 ◦C and fed with potato starch or blue corn flour were isolated by solid-phase microextraction (SPME), and identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In the tested material, 48 volatile compounds were determined. Among them, eight are pyrazines, aroma compounds that are formed in food products during thermal processing due to the Maillard reaction. Eleven of the identified compounds influenced the roast, bread, fat, and burnt aromas that are characteristic for traditional baked dishes (meat, potatoes, bread). Most of them are carbonyl compounds and pyrazines. To confirm the contribution of the most important odorants identified, their odor potential activity values (OAVs) and %OAV were calculated. The highest value was noted for isobuthylpyrazine, responsible for roast aroma (%OAV > 90% for samples roasted at lower temperatures), and 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, responsible for burnt aroma (%OAV > 20% for samples Citation: Zołnierczyk,˙ A.K.; Szumny, roasted at the highest temperature). According to the study, the type of feed did not significantly A. Sensory and Chemical affect the results of the sensory analysis of roasted insects. The decisive influence was the roasting ◦ Characteristic of Two Insect Species: temperature. The highest scores were achieved for Tenebrio molitor larvae heat-treated at 160 C.
    [Show full text]
  • Superworm Fact Sheet
    Superworm Fact Sheet Common Name: Superworm, King Worms, Morio Worms, Zophobas Scientific Name: Zophobas Morio Wild Status: Least Concern Habitat: Ground dwelling, found in barns and grain containers Country: Tropical regions of Central and South America and have spread across the world Shelter: Under rocks and logs Life Span: Many months in this stage Size: 1 1/2 to 2 1/4 inches Details Superworms are the larvae stage of a species of darkling beetle. They are a common and popular food for all different animals. The superworm has a very strong bite so sometimes it's necessary to crush the head before feeding them to any pets. According to humans who have eaten the superworm, it tastes like almonds. Their diet consists of fresh and decaying vegetation like rotting wood and dead leaves. In the larval stage they will molt anywhere from 9 to 20 times before forming a pupa. When they emerge they are white and will gradually darken to a black color. Superworms are rarely found in the wild. If they are around they will most likely be found in grain storage areas and barns. Cool Facts • Superworms are not worms • If superworms are left without food or in confinement they can become cannibalistic. • Superworms are the larval form of the Zophobas beetle and will complete a full metamorphosis. • Females lay eggs in rotting carcasses, soil, decaying vegetation and decaying trees • Superworms curl inward and create cocoons made of silk that harden to protect them when they pupate. • All different animals such as birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects and even hedgehogs enjoy a tasty superworm as a snack.
    [Show full text]
  • TETZLAFF-DISSERTATION-2019.Pdf
    THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX: EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT AND REARING DURATION ON HEAD-STARTING SUCCESS OF BOX TURTLES BY SASHA JAMES TETZLAFF DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences in the Graduate College of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2019 Urbana, Illinois Doctoral Committee: Associate Professor Robert L. Schooley, Chair Adjunct Assistant Professor Jinelle H. Sperry, Director of Research Dr. Brett A. DeGregorio, University of Arkansas Associate Professor Michael P. Ward Professor Bruce A. Kingsbury, Purdue University Fort Wayne ii ABSTRACT Translocation is the deliberate movement and release of animals and a common management technique in wildlife conservation programs. However, efforts are often unsuccessful because relocated animals have low survival, precluding population establishment. I reviewed studies using antipredator training, environmental enrichment, and soft release as pre- release behavioral conditioning in translocation programs, and I quantitatively synthesized how these approaches affect post-release success. I then conducted experiments using captive-reared juvenile eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina) raised with or without naturalistic environmental enrichment to better understand mechanisms influencing habitat preferences in captivity. Next, I investigated if enrichment encouraged natural behaviors before turtles were released into the wild and how being raised in enriched environments affected growth over differing rearing periods (nine vs. 21 months). Finally, I examined how enrichment and captive- rearing duration affected the turtles’ post-release growth, behavior, and survival. Meta-analysis conducted on 108 effect sizes from 41 studies investigating the effects of pre-release behavioral conditioning on translocation outcomes revealed conditioned animals had higher survival, reduced movement, and greater site fidelity than unconditioned individuals.
    [Show full text]
  • 2021 Finalist Directory
    2021 Finalist Directory April 29, 2021 ANIMAL SCIENCES ANIM001 Shrimply Clean: Effects of Mussels and Prawn on Water Quality https://projectboard.world/isef/project/51706 Trinity Skaggs, 11th; Wildwood High School, Wildwood, FL ANIM003 Investigation on High Twinning Rates in Cattle Using Sanger Sequencing https://projectboard.world/isef/project/51833 Lilly Figueroa, 10th; Mancos High School, Mancos, CO ANIM004 Utilization of Mechanically Simulated Kangaroo Care as a Novel Homeostatic Method to Treat Mice Carrying a Remutation of the Ppp1r13l Gene as a Model for Humans with Cardiomyopathy https://projectboard.world/isef/project/51789 Nathan Foo, 12th; West Shore Junior/Senior High School, Melbourne, FL ANIM005T Behavior Study and Development of Artificial Nest for Nurturing Assassin Bugs (Sycanus indagator Stal.) Beneficial in Biological Pest Control https://projectboard.world/isef/project/51803 Nonthaporn Srikha, 10th; Natthida Benjapiyaporn, 11th; Pattarapoom Tubtim, 12th; The Demonstration School of Khon Kaen University (Modindaeng), Muang Khonkaen, Khonkaen, Thailand ANIM006 The Survival of the Fairy: An In-Depth Survey into the Behavior and Life Cycle of the Sand Fairy Cicada, Year 3 https://projectboard.world/isef/project/51630 Antonio Rajaratnam, 12th; Redeemer Baptist School, North Parramatta, NSW, Australia ANIM007 Novel Geotaxic Data Show Botanical Therapeutics Slow Parkinson’s Disease in A53T and ParkinKO Models https://projectboard.world/isef/project/51887 Kristi Biswas, 10th; Paxon School for Advanced Studies, Jacksonville,
    [Show full text]
  • Darkling Beetles a CAROLINA™ Caresheet
    Darkling Beetles A CAROLINA™ CareSheet Care and handling Darkling Beetles are the adult stage of over 20,000 species; however, we use Darkling Beetle to refer to the adult of the Superworm (Zophobas morio). If you are interested in the adult of Tenebrio molitor, see the Mealworm CareSheet. The larval stage of Zophobas is known as the Superworm and has its own CareSheet. Habitat A terrarium makes a good habitat for this beetle. Put 1 ½ to 2” of potting soil in the bottom of the tank. Cover the surface with paper towels, leaf litter, or bran meal/oat flakes. They do best in dark, cool, dry places. Maintenance These beetles extract water from their food. Additionally, their hard carapace is covered with a wax-like substance that prevents water from evaporating from their bodies. If you wish to give supplemental water, place a moistened sponge or cotton wick into the habitat Adult Darkling Beetles are scavengers, eating both fresh and decaying vegetation. In nature, they feed on dried or rotting plant matter. In captivity, they feed on bran meal, apples, oranges, potatoes, cucumber, romaine lettuce, and pears. Remove uneaten food before it molds. Darkling beetles are active both during the day and at night. With simple care, they can live from three months to over a year. FAQ’s Can these beetles bite? No, they are completely harmless. Their only defense is to release a mildly offensive odor. Can Darkling Beetles be held in a refrigerator? No, temperatures below 15.5ºC (60ºF) may kill the beetles. Can these beetles be released? No, they are native to South and Central America.
    [Show full text]
  • Edible Insects
    1.04cm spine for 208pg on 90g eco paper ISSN 0258-6150 FAO 171 FORESTRY 171 PAPER FAO FORESTRY PAPER 171 Edible insects Edible insects Future prospects for food and feed security Future prospects for food and feed security Edible insects have always been a part of human diets, but in some societies there remains a degree of disdain Edible insects: future prospects for food and feed security and disgust for their consumption. Although the majority of consumed insects are gathered in forest habitats, mass-rearing systems are being developed in many countries. Insects offer a significant opportunity to merge traditional knowledge and modern science to improve human food security worldwide. This publication describes the contribution of insects to food security and examines future prospects for raising insects at a commercial scale to improve food and feed production, diversify diets, and support livelihoods in both developing and developed countries. It shows the many traditional and potential new uses of insects for direct human consumption and the opportunities for and constraints to farming them for food and feed. It examines the body of research on issues such as insect nutrition and food safety, the use of insects as animal feed, and the processing and preservation of insects and their products. It highlights the need to develop a regulatory framework to govern the use of insects for food security. And it presents case studies and examples from around the world. Edible insects are a promising alternative to the conventional production of meat, either for direct human consumption or for indirect use as feedstock.
    [Show full text]
  • Method for Zero-Waste Circular Economy Using Worms for Plastic Agriculture: Augmenting Polystyrene Consumption and Plant Growth
    Article Method for Zero-Waste Circular Economy Using Worms for Plastic Agriculture: Augmenting Polystyrene Consumption and Plant Growth Samuel Ken-En Gan 1,2,* , Ser-Xian Phua 2, Joshua Yi Yeo 2 , Zealyn Shi-Lin Heng 2 and Zhenxiang Xing 3 1 APD SKEG Pte Ltd., Singapore 439444, Singapore 2 Antibody & Product Development Lab, EDDC & BII, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore; [email protected] (S.-X.P.); [email protected] (J.Y.Y.); [email protected] (Z.S.-L.H.) 3 Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR, 2 Fusionopolis Way, #08-03, Singapore 138634, Singapore; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +65-81137725 Abstract: Polystyrene (PS) is one of the major plastics contributing to environmental pollution with its durability and resistance to natural biodegradation. Recent research showed that mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) and superworms (Zophobas morio) are naturally able to consume PS as a carbon food source and degrade them without observable toxic effects. In this study, we explored the effects of possible food additives and use of worm frass as potential plant fertilizers. We found that small amounts of sucrose and bran increased PS consumption and that the worm frass alone could support dragon fruit cacti (Hylocereus undatus) growth, with superworm frass in particular, supporting better growth and rooting than mealworm frass and control media over a fortnight. As known fish and Citation: Gan, S.K.-E.; Phua, S.-X.; poultry feed, these findings present worms as a natural solution to simultaneously tackle both the Yeo, J.Y.; Heng, Z.S.-L.; Xing, Z.
    [Show full text]
  • Darkling-Beetles.Pdf
    Zophobas morio Darkling Beetles Class: Insecta. Order: Coleoptera. Family: Tenebrionidae. Other Names: Darkening Beetle, Stink Bug (beetle) Over 350,000 species of beetles are assigned to the Order Coleoptera, which is the largest order of insects. Beetles represent a fifth of all living organisms! Along with this species richness, beetles have an amazing range in form and body size. The Order Coleoptera not only contains some of largest and dazzling of all insects but also contains some of the smallest and dull. This diversity is also apparent in the range of life cycles and ecological interactions that are seen in beetles. In North America alone, there are at least 1,300 species of darkling beetle. And that's just a fraction of the number of all beetle species in North America: more than 30,000! Physical Description: Darkling beetles are approximately 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) in length. They have chewing mouthparts and one pair of antennae. The antennae are often segmented into 11 parts and are thread-like, bead-like or slightly cubed. Darkling beetles don’t have any major distinguishing characteristics. There are no bumps or outgrowths, as they are uniformly smooth and black. Wings of the darkling beetle are fused, rendering this beetle flightless. Diet in the Wild: Fresh and decaying vegetation, such as dead leaves or rotting wood. Diet at the Zoo: Monkey biscuits, kale, and sweet potatoes. Habitat and Range: Darkling beetles (also known as darkening beetles) are a family of beetles found worldwide, estimated at more than 20,000 species. Normally they are found under rocks and logs during the day.
    [Show full text]