In Neubrandenburg: Katja breeds butterflies and ladybugs at home!

In Neubrandenburg: Katja breeds butterflies and ladybugs at home!

In Neubrandenburg, insect life thrives in a very special setting. Katja Voigt has made it her mission to set up a breeding facility for various types of insects in her apartment. Her passion for painted ladies and ladybirds in particular makes people sit up and take notice. The first stage of this colorful journey begins with the arrival of caterpillars and larvae, which are delivered in a postal package. “It always gets exciting when the postman arrives!” says Katja, happy when the little creatures find their place in the cups to eat and grow. After three to five weeks, the first painted lady butterflies finally hatch.

This small insect farm was supported with a lot of love not only by Katja, but also by her mother Gisela Voigt. “The caterpillars are clumsy at first, but they really develop into beautiful creatures,” she reports. During this colorful hustle and bustle, Lilly the cat is also interested in the butterflies that will soon populate the butterfly net. The ladybird larvae have also found a home in Katja's apartment and within a short time they become useful beetles that eat up aphids and spider mites in the garden.

Insect breeding on a small scale

Breeding insects is a topic that is gaining more and more followers. “Insects are not just pests, they can also do a lot of good things,” explains Katja. The idea of ​​offering breeding kits for different species of insects is being appreciated by more and more people. These sets are not only intended for hobby breeders, but also for children, kindergartens and schools and offer valuable guidelines for breeding and care.

The numbers speak for themselves: There are around 10 million species on earth, of which around 6 million belong to the class of insects. These small creatures play an important role in various ecological processes. They accelerate decomposition, pollinate plants, react sensitively to environmental changes and are even at the beginning of many food chains. These characteristics reinforce the goals of initiatives like smartbugs.de, which see insects not as enemies, but as a valuable resource.

Sustainability and nutrition

Insect farming could even play a central role in food production in the future. The 2013 FAO report has sparked developments in the industry, and more and more companies are interested in this sustainable practice. Insects require only a fraction of the feed compared to traditional livestock and have a smaller environmental footprint, making them a promising option. More than 2 billion people worldwide already eat insects - a trend that looks set to continue given growing interest in sustainable alternatives.

The challenges of insect farming include high capital costs and the need to develop technologies. Nevertheless, the sector shows promising growth prospects, with an investment forecast of USD 1.65 billion in insect farming by 2025, as agtecher.com reports. This innovative strength and growing demand could make insect farming even more popular in the coming years.

The exciting world of insect breeding in Neubrandenburg dispels the myth that insects are only pests. Rather, examples like Katja Voigt's breeding show how much benefit there is in these small creatures. Breeding, caring for and observing – the experience with insects could not only be an attractive hobby for many, but could also make an important contribution to our environment.