Etude préliminaire orientée vers la production des chenilles consommables par l'élevage des papillons (Anaphe infracta : Thaumetopoeidae) à Lwiro, Sud-Kivu. République Démocratique du Congo

Abstract

Preliminary Farming Study of Butterflies (Anaphe infracta : Thaumepoeidae) for the Production of Consumable Caterpillars at Lwiro, South Kivu, Democratie Republic of Congo. Anaphe infracta is one of the 3 wild butterfly species which produce every year in Lwiro region caterpillars consumed by local inhabitants. In captivity, it was observed that 56 ; 77 and 7 days respectively were required to reach the stage of larva, pupa and adult. The consumption index is over than 100. The mean weight gain in 49 days of caterpillars's feeding is 2.7 g for a 400 g total food consumed. Bridelia micrantha's leaves were given to caterpillars every day as food. Under rearing conditions, this insect can reproduce itself. By farming more than 12 pairs of adult butterflies in a cage in nature, we can harvest 9.32 kg of caterpillars.

Keywords

• Butterflies rearing
• Consumable caterpillars production
• Bridelia micrantha
• Anaphe infracta
• Minilivestock
• Butterflies diversity conservation
• South
• Kivu