High density rearing system for larvae

• US 5,351,643 A
• Filed: 07/19/1993
• Issued: 10/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Inc.
• Inventors: Hughes, Patrick R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US08/093,982
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 119/6, 119/6.5, 119/15, 119/21, 119/35, 119/37
• US Class Current: 119/6.5
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 67/033 Rearing or breeding invertebrates; New breeds of invertebrates

Abstract

Method and apparatus for rearing insects is disclosed. Information concerning the physical and dietary needs of the insect as well as behavioral characteristics are utilized to maximize the number of larvae reared per unit surface area of diet and per unit of rearing area while minimizing the amount of labor and materials required. An enclosed rearing unit is provided which can be located within an appropriate environment for rearing the insects. There are three sections within the rearing unit: 1) a diet space, 2) a larval space, and 3) a frass space. The diet space includes an appropriate diet medium for the insects. The larval space is located below the diet space and includes a series of vertical partitions perpendicular to and in contact with or nearly in contact with the diet medium such that the insect larvae are able to disperse themselves over the partitions. The frass space is located below the larval space such that any frass collects within the frass space as it is produced and does not interfere with the larval space or the diet space. The rearing system can further include an emergence pan including an outlet for allowing emerging adults to enter an oviposition cage. The emergence pan replaces the frass collection pan when all of the larvae have pupated. The rearing unit is turned upside down such that the emergence pan is located above the larval space and the diet space.

Claims

1. A method of rearing insect larvae, comprising the following steps:

a. providing an enclosed rearing unit located within an appropriate environment for rearing said insect larvae;

b. providing a diet space within said rearing unit including an appropriate diet medium for said insects;

c. providing a larval space within said rearing unit located below said diet space and including larval attaching surfaces such that said insect larvae are able to disperse themselves over said surfaces;

d. providing a frass space within said rearing unit located below said larval space wherein any frass collects within said frass space as it is produced and does not interfere with said larval space or said diet space;

e. determining a maximum larval density for said insect larvae within said rearing unit at a particular desired stage of larval development wherein said maximum larval density is based upon spatial behavior of said insect larvae and the amount of said surfaces within said larval space;

f. placing eggs of said insect larvae or early stage insect larvae within said rearing unit such that any emerging larvae from said eggs or early stage insect larvae are able to move into said larval space of said rearing unit and the amount of eggs or early stage insect larvae placed within said rearing unit is dependant upon the maximum larval density for said insect larvae; and

g. allowing said larvae to grow to said desired stage of development.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said frass space is provided with means for controlling air passage through said rearing unit such that said insect larvae can not escape through said means for controlling air passage yet excess moisture from said frass can escape.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said insect larvae are lepidopterous insects.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said rearing unit includes a removable frass collection pan and said method further comprises the steps of:

h. replacing said frass collection pan with an emergence pan including an outlet for allowing emerging insects, formerly pupated insect larvae, to enter an oviposition cage; and

i. inverting said rearing unit when all of said larvae have pupated such that said emergence pan is located above said larval space and said diet space.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of applying viral inoculum to the diet medium at a time and concentration appropriate to cause the larvae to die as last instar larvae.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said larval attaching surfaces are provided by vertical edge posts perpendicular to said diet such that said larvae attach themselves to said edge posts.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said larval attaching surfaces are provided by a series of vertical partitions perpendicular to and in contact with or nearly in contact with said diet medium.

8. An insect larvae rearing system, comprising:

a. an enclosed rearing unit;

b. a diet space within said rearing unit including an appropriate diet medium for said insect larvae;

c. a larval space within said rearing unit located below said diet space and including larval attaching surfaces such that said insect larvae are able to disperse themselves over said surfaces; and

d. a frass space within said rearing unit located below said larval space wherein any frass collects within said frass space as it is produced and does not interfere with said larval space or said diet space.

9. The rearing system of claim 8 wherein said frass space is provided with means for controlling air passage through said rearing unit such that said insect larvae can not escape through said means for controlling air passage yet excess moisture from said frass can escape.

10. The rearing system of claim 8 wherein said rearing unit includes side walls which provide a substrate for emerging larvae to move across and into said larval space of said rearing unit.

11. The rearing system of claim 8 wherein said enclosed rearing unit includes a removable frass collection pan.

12. The rearing system of claim 11 further comprising an emergence pan including an outlet for allowing emerging adults, formerly pupated insect larvae, to enter an oviposition cage wherein said emergence pan replaces said frass collection pan when all of said larvae have pupated and said rearing unit is turned upside down such that said emergence pan is located above said larval space and said diet space.

13. The rearing unit of claim 8 wherein said larval attaching surfaces are vertical edge posts perpendicular to said diet such that said larvae attach themselves to said edge posts.

14. The rearing unit of claim 8 wherein said larval attaching surfaces are a series of vertical partitions perpendicular to and in contact with or nearly in contact with said diet medium.

15. A method of producing virus, comprising the following steps:

a. providing an enclosed rearing unit located within an appropriate environment for rearing insect larvae;

b. providing a diet space within said rearing unit including an appropriate diet medium for said insects;

c. providing a larval space within said rearing unit located below said diet space and including larval attaching surfaces such that said insect larvae are able to disperse themselves over said surfaces;

d. providing a frass space within said rearing unit located below said larval space wherein any frass collects within said frass space as it is produced and does not interfere with said larval space or said diet space;

e. determining a maximum larval density for said insect larvae within said rearing unit at a particular desired stage of larval development for inoculation wherein said maximum larval density is based upon spatial behavior of said insect larvae and the amount of said surfaces within said larval space;

f. placing eggs of said insect larvae or early stage insect larvae within said rearing unit such that any emerging larvae from said eggs or early stage insect larvae are able to move into said larval space of said rearing unit and the amount of eggs or early stage insect larvae placed within said rearing unit is dependant upon the maximum larval density for said insect larvae;

g. allowing said larvae to grow to said desired stage of development;

h. inoculating said larvae with said virus by spraying a vital suspension including said virus over at least said diet medium; and

i. harvesting said virus from said larvae once said inoculated larvae are sufficiently infected by said virus.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said frass space is provided with means for controlling air passage through said rearing unit such that said insect larvae can not escape through said means for controlling air passage yet excess moisture from said frass can escape.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said insect larvae are lepidopterous insects.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said extraction of virus, comprises the steps of:

1. blending said harvested larvae with water to form a slurry,

2. centrifuging said slurry to form a first pellet,

3. pouring off any non-pellet material after centrifuging and resuspending said first pellet in a solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate,

4. centrifuging said resuspending pellet to form a second pellet, and

5. resuspending said second pellet to form a suspension of said virus.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said larval attaching surfaces are provide by vertical edge posts perpendicular to said diet such that said larvae attach themselves to said edge posts.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein said larval attaching surface are provided by a series of vertical partitions perpendicular to and in contact with or nearly in contact with said diet medium.