Hello!

[Lunarhope]

I actually hadn't thought of that. I guess it would be best to stick to the foods sources I know to be safe. Thank you for your response and for the welcome!

[flybyferns]

Thanks Carlos !

Hello again Lunarhope,
Unfortunately, it's best not to feed insects from the garden because of the very real chance of pesticides.
In some areas of the country we have to worry about aerial mosquito spraying as well ; of which has just about decimated the monarch butterflies here on Long Island.

Some people field sweep in areas that are safe.
However, this requires really good insect identification skills.

You might think about doing a FF search for raising dubia roaches?
They would also love the moths from cultured wax worms?

Lots of information and instruction available for both here on FF and on the wonderful www !

Wax worms culture slowly , but it's worth it. The moths make a great treat.
If you should have any ? about the wax worms, let me know.
Tip - wax worms like to be crowded.
I use fruit fly containers, the honey bran recipe and rolled wax paper- not crumbled wax paper.

[nirotorin]

Hello Lunarhope! Welcome to this forum.

I would be careful about feeding too many beetles. They have fairly tough exo-skeletons.

As for the whole pesticide thing. Others may not agree with me, but I've been thinking about it lately. I believe that a seemingly active healthy insect can't have all that much pesticide in it's system. Also I've known people who use a lot of pesticides on their plants for years, and have beautiful yards complete with thriving toad colonies. So what's up with that? I'm not saying don't worry about it, but maybe it's not as risky as we think.