VietNamNet Bridge – Scientists have warned farmers that the Chinese superworm (Zaphobasmorio), an omnivorous insect not included on the list of domestic animals permitted to be bred in Vietnam, should not be used as fish and bird feed.
Analysts said purchases of Chinese superworms had risen dramatically because of the high demand for its use as feed for ornamental birds and fish.
Tuan Hung, 29, on Hang Luoc Street, said mediocre fish or birds, valued at tens or hundreds of thousands of dong, can be fed with industrial feed, while highly valuable fish and birds need fresh food.
“Imagine that you have a nightingale valued at tens of millions of dong. You will certainly devote a lot of care to the precious bird, and feed it with the best food,” he said.
The high demand for fresh food for birds has helped create a new career: worm farmers.
Hung said a bird needs VND500,000-700,000 worth of insects every month, while fresh worms are birds’ favorite food.
According to Nguyen Van Khuong, one of the biggest worm distributors in Hanoi, the worms are from China, and are imported into Vietnam through border gates.
“I go to Tan Thanh and Huu Nghi border gates in Lang Son Province once every two weeks to collect worms,” Khuong said. “I collect 10 trays of worms (7 kilos a tray) every trip. I have to pay VND10,000 for every kilo and I can sell at VND15,000-17,000 in Hanoi,” he said.
“I can sell all the worms within four days. I am sure the worms are from China. But I don’t know how they are caught or bred,” he said.
Nam, the owner of an ornamental animal shop on Hoang Hoa Tham Street in Hanoi, confirmed that he can sell 3 kilos of worms a day.
He said the Chinese worm is omnivorous and voracious, and can eat everything, from tree leaves, bran to fruit and meat of different kinds. They are strong and can live under different weather conditions, he said.
Huynh Ngoc Thanh, an ornamental creature collector in Hanoi, said in general, people don’t buy worms every day, but buy enough worms to feed birds and fish for one month.
“The worms are so strong that they can live for months even if they are not fed,” he said. “You can put the worms that are left over in the refrigerator to store them. The worms will revive when they are taken out of the refrigerator,” he added.
Second “yellow snail” peril
Chinese superworms are popular with Vietnamese shop owners, who can earn big money from the worm trade, and with pet collectors, who can save money by feeding their pets with the worms.
However, scientists have warned that the “Chinese superworm movement” in Vietnam may create another “yellow snail” disaster.
Some years ago, Vietnamese imported yellow snails from China for domestic breeding for commercial purposes.
Only when the snails multiplied rapidly, ate rice and damaged rice fields did the Vietnamese realize that the snails were harmful.
Local authorities and farmers had to spend big money to clear the snails, but they still can be found in Vietnam.
The Lam Dong Provincial Agriculture Sub-department has warned that if superworms enter the natural environment, they could affect agricultural production and harm the environment.
An official of the sub-department said it was illegal to trade and breed the superworms because they are not on the list of animals allowed to be bred in Vietnam.
VNN/Dat Viet
Đăng ký: VietNam News
