Bernd N Blossey

US Patent:

62932233, Sep 25, 2001

Filed:

May 19, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/573886

Inventors:

Bernd Blossey - Groton NY
Debra Eberts - Evergreen CO

Assignee:

Cornell Research Foundation, Inc. - Ithaca NY
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the
Interior - Washington DC

International Classification:

A01K 2900
A23L 3005

US Classification:

119 65

Abstract:

A diet for mass rearing of insects that feed on hard, woody plant tissue, e. g. , beetles including weevils that feed on hard, woody plant tissue, comprises a homogeneous mixture of first portion which is subjected to sterilization in an autoclave comprising water, agar and salt mix and optionally also yeast extract, casein and a sugar, and of a second portion which is not subjected to sterilization in an autoclave which comprises host plant part fed on by insect larvae, vitamin mix, and antimicrobial agent(s). A method for mass rearing of insects that feed on hard, woody plant tissue, e. g. , weevils, e. g. , Hylobius transversovittatus or Cyphocleonos achates Fahraeus, comprises placing first instar insect larvae on an artificial diet comprising ground host plant part, incubating the larvae on the diet in darkness at a temperature ranging from 15 to 30. degree. C. and a relative humidity ranging from 50 to 90%, and retrieving adults as they emerge.