PRODUCTION OF LIVE INSECT "MINI-LARVAE" AND USE THEREOF FOR FEEDING AQUARIUM FISH, ALEVINS OF FARM FISH AND PETS

• US 20110081452A1
• Filed: 04/07/2009
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Agency Marine Affairs and Fisheries and Fisheries Research And Development Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries
• Original Assignee: Institut De Recherche Pour Le Development
• Inventors: Fahmi, Melta Rini, Hem, Saurin
• Application Number:
  US12/988,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20110081452A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/61
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 67/033 Rearing or breeding invertebrates; New breeds of invertebrates
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/80 for aquatic animals, e.g. fish, crustaceans or molluscs
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/90 for insects, e.g. bees or silkworms
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/818 Alternative feeds for fish, e.g. in aquacultures

Abstract

Method for obtaining insect larvae kept alive and use thereof as food for fish with an oral orifice having a diameter of between 1.2 and 4 mm, in particular aquarium fish and alevins of farmed species, and also for pets.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A method for obtaining insect larvae which are kept alive, with a maximum diameter between 1-4 mm, notably ca. 2 mm, and whose maximum body lengths, between 4-12, notably between 5-12, notably between 4-8 mm, notably 9 mm, notably 6 mm, are maintained approximately constant during at least 4 weeks, notably 6 weeks, said method comprising the following steps :

1) incubation of insect eggs in a culture medium comprising a mixture of water, cereals and/or oil cakes, and possibly a fermentation agent, said incubation being carried out until the eggs are hatched and larvae are obtained, in order to obtain a composition comprising a culture medium, said medium comprising a mixture of water, cereals and/or oil cakes, and possibly a fermentation agent, and insect eggs and/or larvae which have been incubated in said culture medium.

2) dehydration of said composition until a water content below 15% (weight/weight), ideally 10% (weight/weight) is obtained,

3) collection, from said composition, of living insect larvae, with a maximum body diameter between 1-4 mm, notably ca. 2 mm, and a maximum body length between 5-12, notably between 4-8 mm, notably 9 mm, notably 6 mm, and,

4) transfer of said living larvae as collected in an environment without feed, where they are maintained alive, in the dark, during at least 4 weeks, notably 6 weeks, under a relative humidity between 60-80% and at a temperature between 12-18°

C., notably 15°

C.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the eggs of insect are obtained from insect populations confined in a cage which isolates them totally from the outside environment and protects them from predation by other insects or by animals, said cage being arranged in such a manner that it reproduces as nearly as possible the natural habitat of insects which are kept there.

24. A method according to claim 22, wherein the insects belong to the holometabolic group, in particular Hermetia illucens, reared within a cage in an atmosphere whose relative humidity and temperature are maintained, respectively, between 70-80% and 27-30°

C., advantageously in presence of plants belonging to Sphagneticola sp.

25. A method according to claim 22, wherein insect pupae are placed inside the cage in plastic exuviation trays containing ca. 5,000-10,000 pupae per plastic tray.

26. A method according to claim 22, wherein insect eggs are laid in artificial crevices which are specially created to that effect in the immediate vicinity of a culture medium.

27. A method according to claim 22, wherein the cereals and/or oil cakes undergo a fermentation, in the dark or in free air, during 1 week and at a temperature between 27-40°

C., notably between 27-32°

C.

28. A method according to claim 22, wherein the water/cereals or water/oil cakes weight ratio in the culture medium is between 1-3, notably 1-2.2 and preferably 2.

29. A method according to claim 22, wherein the water/cereals+oil cakes weight ratio is between 1-3, preferably 2.

30. A method according to claim 22, wherein the culture medium comprises a fermentation agent which is added at a rate of between 0-2 weight% in relation to the cereals and/or oil cakes dry weight.

31. A method according to claim 22, wherein the culture medium includes oil cakes, and is totally devoid of any added fermentation agent.

32. A method according to claim 22, wherein the culture medium includes a fermentation agent which is chosen from among bacteria and microscopic fungi as chosen within the group comprising yeasts.

33. A method according to claim 22, wherein the culture medium comprises cereals, said cereals being chosen from among wheat, spelt, maize, barley, winter barley, rice, millet, rye, sorghum and oats.

34. A method according to claim 22, wherein the culture medium comprises oil cakes, said oil cakes being chosen from among soy, groundnuts, rape, sunflower, flax, grape pip, olive, sorgho and palm kernel oil cakes.

35. A method according to claim 22, wherein the insect egg incubation and hatching step in the culture medium is carried out during 1-3 days, notably 2 days, at a temperature between 24-35°

C., notably between 27-32°

C., ideally 29°

C.

36. A method according to claim 22, wherein the living larvae are maintained, before the dehydration step, at a temperature between 24-35°

C., notably between 27-32°

C., ideally 29°

C., during 3-6 days after insect egg hatching, notably 4 days.

37. Aquarium fish and domestic animal feed comprising insect larvae as obtained according to claim 22.

38. Method of using insect larvae obtained by the method according to claim 22, for the preparation of a feed for fry and fishes with an oral diameter between 1.2-4 mm, notably between 2-3 mm.

39. Composition comprising a culture medium which includes a mixture of water, cereals and/or oil cakes, and possibly a fermentation agent, insect eggs and/or larvae which have been incubated in said culture medium, wherein the cereals and/or the oil cakes have undergone a fermentation, in the dark or in free air, during 1 week and at a temperature of 27-40°

C., notably 27-32°

C.

40. Composition according to claim 39 comprising insect eggs which have been incubated at a rate of 0.5-1.5 g/kg culture medium, notably 1 g/kg culture medium.

41. Composition according to claim 39, comprising insect larvae with a maximum body diameter between 1-4 mm, notably 2 mm, and a maximum body length between 4-12, notably between 5-12, notably between 4-8 mm, notably 9 mm, notably 6 mm.

42. Composition according to claim 39, wherein the eggs and/or larvae have been obtained from Hermetia illucens.