Biosecurity and Preventing Outbreaks

The Sickness Checklist: What to Look For

You must inspect your bins every morning. A healthy cricket is active, jumps when disturbed, and has a firm body.

1. Cricket Paralysis Virus (CPV)

This is the most common “farm-killer.”

The Signs: Crickets look “drunk” or shaky. They fall on their backs and can’t get up. Their legs twitch uncontrollably.
The Action: There is no cure. You must immediately remove the bin from the room, “cull” (kill) the contents, and disinfect the bin with a strong bleach solution.

2. Fungal Outbreaks (Nosema/Mold)

Usually caused by too much humidity and poor airflow.

The Signs: Crickets look “fuzzy” or have white/green spots on their joints. The bin smells “sour” or like rotting socks.
The Action: Immediately reduce humidity. Remove all damp egg trays and replace them with bone-dry ones. Increase ventilation.

The 3-Step Biosecurity Protocol

Foot and Hand Hygiene: Before entering your cricket room, dip your shoes in a “footbath” (a shallow tray with disinfectant) or change into “farm-only” slippers. Always wash your hands with soap before touching a new bin.
Tool Separation: Never use the same scoop or brush for the “Adults” and the “Pinheads.” If the adults have a mild virus, they might survive it, but the babies will die instantly.
The Dead-on-Arrival Rule: If you see a dead cricket, remove it with a pair of tweezers immediately. Do not let the others eat it.

Case Study: The Borrowed Brush Disaster in Gulu

An agripreneur in Gulu, Uganda, had 100 thriving bins. One day, he noticed a few dead crickets in Bin #5. He brushed them out using his main cleaning brush and then proceeded to clean all 100 bins with that same brush. Within four days, every single bin was silent. The virus had hitched a ride on the bristles of his brush. He lost his entire stock – over 200,000 crickets. He learned the hard way that a $2 brush can destroy a $2,000 business. Now, he uses disposable cardboard “scrapers” for each bin.

Important Things to Keep in Mind

The Nose Knows: If a bin smells “bad,” something is wrong. A healthy cricket farm smells like dry grass or grain, not rot.
Quarantine New Arrivals: If you buy new “breeder” crickets from another farmer, keep them in a separate room for 10 days to ensure they aren’t carrying a “hidden” virus.
Bleach is Your Best Friend: Every bin must be scrubbed with a 10% bleach solution and dried in the sun between every harvest cycle.