Nature's Tiny Gardeners: Exploring Beetles as Eco-Friendly Fertilizers

almost 2 years ago

This particular plant enemy can be one of the most challenging threats, capable of severely damaging the roots of your plants if wood chaff is used as a natural soil fertilizer. In the Philippines, we call it Uang or Salaginto in English is beetle.

This type of insect is commonly found on coconut trees, and they are larger in size compared to the ones typically found in dried cow dung. But unlike the insects commonly found in dried cow dung, this particular insect is considered clean as it resides and can be observed in wooden chaff or occasionally in rice chaff.

In the Philippines, this type of small insect is highly sought after as a favorite food by chickens and lizards. Being rich in protein and highly nutritious, it contributes to the health and well-being of these animals, often resulting in their robustness and plumpness.

Large types of beetles are commonly consumed as food in Thailand, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The beetles are typically washed and have their wings removed before preparation. They can be enjoyed in various ways, including frying and grilling. I personally had the opportunity to taste this unique food once when I was 8 years old.

In the Philippines, there is a specific type of beetle that is harvested from the Santol tree or Cashew tree, and it is this particular beetle that I had the opportunity to taste.

When using wood chaff, I would carefully remove these insects one by one to ensure that none were left behind to harm the plants. Additionally, the presence of lizards in the garden proved helpful in reducing the population of these insects.

In this month of July 2023, I am excited to begin planting watermelon and sweet potato once again, as they are in season. It is the perfect time to cultivate them before the arrival of winter in November, ensuring an optimal harvest.

As for these insects, I collected them and allowed them to dry inside a jar until they perished. Afterward, I crushed them and transformed them into soil fertilizer.

Perfect! Right!? ^_^

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5 comments

@hivebuzz 74

almost 2 years ago

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