SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BREEDING AND HARVESTING INSECTS

• US 20170042131A1
• Filed: 10/31/2016
• Published: 02/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Livin Farms Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Livin Farms Ltd.
• Inventors: Unger, Katharina
• Granted Patent: US 9,642,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/00 Other apparatus for animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 67/033 Rearing or breeding invertebrates; New breeds of invertebrates

Abstract

In an aspect, a system for breeding and harvesting insects is provided and includes an egg-producing chamber structure configured to receive insect pupae for pupation and to permit emerged adult insects to mate and oviposit insect eggs, at least one oviposition region in the egg-producing chamber structure configured to receive the insect eggs and apertured to permit at least one of the insect eggs and neonates of the insect eggs to pass therethrough, at least one larvae-growth chamber in communication with the at least one oviposition region so as to be configured to receive the at least one of the insect eggs and neonates of the insect eggs, wherein the larvae-growth chamber is further configured to permit the at least one of the insect eggs and neonates of the insect eggs to transition into larvae and to hold feed material for the larvae, a harvesting receptacle positioned to hold larvae, and an inclined surface positioned to receive larvae from the at least one larvae-growth chamber, and to provide a passageway for the larvae to travel to the harvesting receptacle.

Claims

1. A system for breeding and harvesting insects, comprising:

an egg-producing chamber structure configured to receive insect pupae for pupation and to permit emerged adult insects to mate and oviposit insect eggs;

at least one oviposition region in the egg-producing chamber structure configured to receive the insect eggs and apertured to permit at least one of the insect eggs and neonates of the insect eggs to pass therethrough;

at least one larvae-growth chamber in communication with the at least one oviposition region so as to be configured to receive the at least one of the insect eggs and neonates of the insect eggs, wherein the larvae-growth chamber is further configured to permit the at least one of the insect eggs and neonates of the insect eggs to transition into larvae and to hold feed material for the larvae;

a harvesting receptacle positioned to hold larvae; and

an inclined surface positioned to receive larvae from the at least one larvae-growth chamber, and to provide a passageway for the larvae to travel to the harvesting receptacle.

2. The system for breeding and harvesting insects of claim 1, wherein the egg-producing chamber structure includes a pupation chamber having at least one aperture configured to allow the emerged adult insects to exit the pupation chamber.

3. The system for breeding and harvesting insects of claim 2, wherein the egg-producing chamber structure includes a mating and oviposition chamber in communication with the pupation chamber.

4. The system for breeding and harvesting insects of claim 1, further comprising a light source configured to expose the emerged adult insects with light including at least one wavelength of light conducive to mating between the emerged adult insects.

5. The system for breeding and harvesting insects of claim 1, wherein the egg-producing chamber structure includes a compartment for holding a hydrating fluid for the emerged adult insects.

6. The system for breeding and harvesting insects of claim 1, wherein the at least one oviposition region includes at least one egg-receiving aperture sized to allow the at least one of the insect eggs and the neonates of the insect eggs to pass therethrough.

7. The system for breeding and harvesting insects of claim 1, wherein the inclined surface is inclined generally between 25 to 90 degrees to a horizontal datum.

8. The system for breeding and harvesting insects of claim 1, wherein the inclined wall includes at least one helical projection connecting the bottom to the top of the inclined wall to assist the larvae in climbing the inclined surface.

9. The system for breeding and harvesting insects of claim 1, further comprising a frame structure positioned to receive the at least one larvae-growth chamber on support plates of the frame structure.

10. The system for breeding and harvesting insects of claim 9, further comprising a microclimate control system including:

a heat source, a fan, a temperature and humidity sensor arrangement which monitors the temperature and humidity in the at least one larvae-growth chamber, and a control sub-system programmed to control a microclimate in the at least one larvae-growth chamber using the heat source, the sensor arrangement, and the fan.

11. The system for breeding and harvesting insect of claim 10, wherein the heat source transmits heat to at least one larvae-growth chamber through the support plate.

12. The system for breeding and harvesting insect of claim 11, wherein the sensor arrangement and a microswitch attached to the frame and automatically insert into at least one larvae-growth chamber through an aperture on the at least one larvae-growth chamber when the at least one larvae-growth chamber enters the frame.

13. The system for breeding and harvesting insect of claim 10, wherein the fan is operable to exchange air between outside and the at least one larvae-growth chamber through a carbon filter.

14. The system for breeding and harvesting insect of claim 1, further comprising at least one larvae motivation element selected from the group of larvae motivation elements consisting of:

a heat element, a vibration element, a mechanical agitator, and a light element, wherein the at least one larvae motivation element is positioned and activated to act on larvae to urge the larvae to leave the passageway.

15. A method for breeding and harvesting insects, comprising:

providing an egg-producing chamber structure configured to receive insect pupae for pupation and to permit emerged adult insects to mate and oviposit insect eggs;

receiving the insect eggs in at least one oviposition region of the egg-producing chamber structure;

providing at least one larvae-growth chamber in communication with the at least one oviposition region so as to be configured to receive at least one of the insect eggs and neonates of the insect eggs from the at least one oviposition region, wherein the at least one larvae-growth chamber is configured to permit the at least one of the insect eggs and neonates of the insect eggs to transition into larvae and is configured to hold feed material for the larvae; and

providing an inclined surface positioned to receive larvae from the at least one larvae-growth chamber and provide passageway to permit the larvae to travel to a harvesting receptacle.

16. The method for breeding and harvesting insects of claim 15, further comprising:

providing hydration structures in the egg-producing chamber structure configured to provide a hydrating fluid to the emerged adult insects.

17. The method for breeding and harvesting insects of claim 15, further comprising actuating a microclimate control system including:

a heat source, a fan, a temperature and humidity sensor arrangement which monitors the temperature and humidity in the at least one larvae-growth chamber, and a control sub-system programmed to control a microclimate in the at least one larvae-growth chamber using the heat source, the light source, the sensor arrangement, and the fan.

18. The method for breeding and harvesting insects of claim 15, further comprising operating the fan to exchange air between the at least one larvae-growth chamber and outside the at least one larvae-growth chamber through a carbon filter.

19. The method for breeding and harvesting insects of claim 15, further comprising:

providing a separation area positioned to hold larvae and detritus from the at least one larvae-growth chamber, and

operating at least one larvae motivation element selected from the group of larvae motivation elements consisting of;

a heat element, a vibration element and a light element, wherein the at least one larvae motivation element is positioned and activated to act on larvae urging the larvae to leave separation area and enter the passageway.

20. A system for breeding and harvesting insects, comprising:

an egg-producing chamber structure configured to receive insect pupae for pupation and to permit emerged adult insects to mate and oviposit insect eggs;

at least one oviposition region in the egg-producing chamber structure configured to receive the insect eggs and apertured to permit at least one of the insect eggs and neonates of the insect eggs to pass therethrough;

at least one larvae-growth chamber in communication with the at least one oviposition region so as to be configured to receive the at least one of the insect eggs and neonates of the insect eggs, wherein the larvae-growth chamber is further configured to permit the at least one of the insect eggs and neonates of the insect eggs to transition into larvae and to hold feed material for the larvae;

a separation area positioned to hold larvae, and detritus from the at least one larvae growth chamber;

a harvesting receptacle positioned to hold larvae;

a passageway for the larvae to travel from the separation area to the harvesting receptacle;

at least one larvae motivation element selected from the group of larvae motivation elements consisting of;

a heat element, a vibration element, a mechanical agitator, and a light element, wherein the at least one larvae motivation element is positioned and activated to act on larvae to urge the larvae to leave the separation area and enter the passageway.