Sandra W. Woolfolk, woolfolk@entomology.msstate.edu1, David B. Smith2, Brian H. Sumrall2, R. Andrew Martin3, Donald A. Nordlund4, and Rebecca A. Smith5. (1) Mississippi State University, Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, P.O. Box 9655, Mississippi State, MS, (2) Mississippi State University, Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, P.O. Box 9632, Mississippi State, MS, (3) Mississippi State University, Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, P.O. Box 9632, Mississippi State, MS, (4) USDA-ARS, Office of Transfer Technology, Athens, GA, (5) USDA-ARS, Biological Control & Mass Rearing Research Unit, P. O. Box 5367, Mississippi State, MS
Green lacewings are among the most widely used and commercially available biological control agents for various insect pests. To meet the needs of growers, green lacewings have been mass-reared commercially around the world. A common salt shaker has been used on a regular basis to distribute eggs into Verticel® larval rearing units. This technique is time consuming and inefficient where the number of eggs distributed in each cell is inconsistent. We developed a new system that significantly improved egg distribution efficiency. This mechanical system reduced the labor and time involved in the process and would cost under $3,000. In addition, this new system could also be modified for distribution of other insect eggs.
Species 1: Neuroptera Chrysopidae
Chrysoperla rufilabris (green lacewing)
Keywords: Insect rearing, Verticel
®
