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Has anyone had experience feeding Bamboo?


spidermonkey79

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I was curious if anyone had any experience feeding bamboo to their colonies. I have a decent size bunch of bamboo growing in my backyard. all completely free of pesticides or fertilizers that I was considering feeding. Also if you have fed has there been any difference or benefit to feeding fresh versus the dried leaves. I anticipate there are no real issues but was hoping someone has had some experience and can verify for me.

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A few years ago I purchased something called a "winter bamboo shoot" from a local Asian foods store. Upon opening the can I discovered it wasn't the grab-and-go delicacy I had expected. With a big lump of bamboo in my hands I figured it was too much food to simply throw away, so I put it in with my orangehead colony. The nibbled it away in about a week's time; I'd expect they may have been more interested in the salt/preservatives than the root itself so fresh stuff may be a different story.

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  • 4 weeks later...

When I lived in the Midwest I grew a few species of cold hardy bamboo. I never once saw any signs of leaves or culms being eaten by any type of insect. I have read from several reliable sources that the comparatively high silica content in bamboo may be why it is avoided by most insects. I have never tried feeding bamboo, but it makes sense that the most palatable form of bamboo would be the new spring shoots, which have not hardened yet and have a lower silica content.

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you can try it, but crush it up for them that way it is easier for them to eat said bamboo.

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