R&D

INSECT REARING

RESEARCH and DEVELOPMENT

at NCSU

REARING RESEARCH ON DIET DEVELOPMENT AND ESTABLISHING NEW AND IMPROVED REARING SYSTEMS

  • Development of artificial diets and rearing systems for many species of insects has been our specialty.

  • We use a variety of techniques to help us develop appropriate diets, including analysis of the natural foods, feeding biology of the target insects, bioassays, biological/biochemical testing, and analysis of internal biology.

Some of our recent and current projects are below:

Here are cactus moth larvae (Cactoblastis cactorum: Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) developing on one of our newest artificial diets developed for USDA, APHIS and Florida Department of Plant Industry.
Here are cactus moth larvae (Cactoblastis cactorum: Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) developing on one of our newest artificial diets developed for USDA, APHIS and Florida Department of Plant Industry.

pmtobacco

The above electron microscope image shows the peritrophic matrix (PM) of a tobacco budworm fed plant parts from its natural diet: note the multiple layers formed in response to a natural food.

honeybee
Gut contents and peritrophic matrix of a honey bee. We use digestive system structure and function to help develop new diets and to assess how well your insects are responding to diets.

PM of a tobacco budworm fed artificial diet. Note the simple, single layer of PM produced in response to an easy to digest diet. Which PM reflects the healthiest insect?

PM of a tobacco budworm fed artificial diet. Note the simple, single layer of PM produced in response to an easy to digest diet. Which PM reflects the healthiest insect?

SOME CURRENT and RECENT REARING PROJECTS:

INVASIVE WEED CONTROL

  • USDA-ARS: Diet development for weed-eating insects for biological control of invasive weeds (Arundo donax).
  • USDA Forest Service: Mile-a-Minute control.

HEMLOCK  and CHRISTMAS TREE PROTECTION

  • NC State University: We are funded to develop artificial diets and rearing systems for hemlock woolly adelgids and balsam woolly adelgids (in cooperation with Dr. Fred Hain, NCSU).  Current projects
  • USDA Forest Service: Development of artificial diets and rearing systems for predators of hemlock woolly adelgids (in cooperation with Dr. Carole Cheah, State of Connecticut).  Current project
  • USDA SBIR CSREES, 2008: grant to mass-rear predators for augmentative biological control of Balsam Woolly Adelgids in Fraser Fir (Christmas tree) plantations in North Carolina (in cooperation with Dr. Fred Hain, Department of Entomology, NCSU).
  • USDA, Forest Service: Development of quality control and process control for mass-rearing predators of hemlock woolly adelgids (in cooperation with Dr. Carole Cheah, State of Connecticut).

Acid orange test of protein in hemlock woolly adelgids                                     Example of a high quality (high protein/high carbohydrate) adelgid prey

Test of soil textures for rearing HWA pedators (Laricobius)

  • USDA, APHIS: Development of artificial diet and rearing system for emerald ash borer (post doctoral research associate to be named shortly).  In cooperation with USDA, APHIS, Cape Cod.

    OUR PROJECT IN MICROBIAL MANAGEMENT

    Although nearly every artificial diet for insects includes anti-microbial agents of some kind, especially anti-fungal agents, we still know very little about the direct effects of such compounds as methyl paraben, sodium propionate, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, and other commonly used antifungal agents.  Our current study is based on:

    1. published studies of potentially adverse effects of several anti-microbial compounds
    2. preliminary observations that the compounds mentioned above have an impact on the feeding biology of many species of Lepidoptera.  The results that were observed include modified rates of food intake and of frass production as well as changes in growth rates.

    ANTI-FUNGAL AGENTS IN INSECT DIETS

    Our approaches to clarifying the actions of anti-microbial chemicals include 1) study of the classic nutritional ecology parameters as indicated by the nutritional indices shown on the following page and 2) tracking the metabolic fate of anti-microbial agents in the insects that we are testing.

    HYPOTHESIS FOR ANTI-FUNGAL (MPB) PROJECT

    Observation: we find that in many insect species diets with methyl paraben (MPB) seem to cause larvae to grow more slowly than diets free of MPB.

    Question: how (by what mechanism) does MPB slow the growth?      

    • Hypothesis 1: It reduces feeding rates (amounts eaten).
    • Hypothesis 2: It reduces digestive efficiency.
    • Hypothesis 3: It reduces metabolic efficiency.
    • Hypothesis 4: It reduces growth efficiency.

     

     

    Graduate Student, CHEN ZHA

    Chen is working on the biological and metabolic effects of anti-fungals in silkworms & hornworms.

    He came to NCSU from the University of Science & Technology of China.


    PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION

    • USDA, APHIS: Project to develop an artificial diet and rearing system for sterile insect techniques for control of cactus moths

    HONEYBEE HEALTH

    • Honeybee diet patent issued in April, 2011

    VARIOUS PROPRIETARY PROJECTS WITH PRIVATE COMPANIES