Egg-laying medium for insects comprising a texturing substrate
The breeding of insects and the separation of insect eggs from other constituents of an egg-laying medium. An egg-laying medium for insects, comprising at least 75% by weight of a non-consumable texturing substrate in the form of particles, at least 85% by weight of said particles having a size of less than 0.5 mm, and at least 5% by weight of a nutrient substrate, wherein the weight percentages are given in relation to the total weight of the insect egg-laying medium. A laying tray and uses of the laying tray, particularly in a method for collecting insect eggs.
1. An egg-laying medium for insects comprising:
at least 75% by weight of a non-consumable texturing substrate intended to not be consumed by the insects, said non-consumable texturing substrate being in a form of particles, at least 85% by weight of said particles having a size smaller than 0.5 mm, said non-consumable texturing substrate having a moisture content of 0% to 10%,
at least 5% by weight of a nutrient substrate having a moisture content of 3% to 60%, and
at least 2% by weight of an aqueous gel
wherein the percentages by weight are given in relation to a total weight of said egg-laying medium for insects.
2. The egg-laying medium for insects according to claim 1 , wherein the nutrient substrate has a moisture content of 3% to 40%.
3. The egg-laying medium for insects according to claim 1 , wherein the nutrient substrate has a moisture content of 3% to 15%.
4. The egg-laying medium for insects according to claim 1 , wherein the aqueous gel comprises:
at least 90% by weight of an aqueous solution,
0.3 to 2% by weight of a gelling agent, and
0.1 to 5% by weight of a preservative,
wherein the percentages by weight are expressed in relation to the total weight of the gel.
5. The egg-laying medium for insects according to claim 1 , wherein the non-consumable texturing substrate is constituted by sanitized excrement of insect larvae.
6. The egg-laying medium for insects according to claim 1 , wherein the nutrient substrate is in a form of particles and said particles have a size larger than 0.5 mm.
7. The egg-laying medium for insects according to claim 1 , wherein the nutrient substrate is a solid co-product or mixture of co-products from a cereal, oilseed, protein-oil crop, or protein crop industry.
8. A laying tray comprising a container and, on a bottom of said container, an egg-laying medium according to claim 1 .
9. A method for breeding coleopterans and/or lepidopterans comprising using the egg-laying medium according to claim 1 .
10. The egg-laying medium for insects according to claim 1 , wherein said aqueous gel is a nutritional gel.
11. The egg-laying medium for insects according to claim 1 , wherein the nutrient substrate is a solid co-product or mixture of co-products from the cereal, oilseed, protein-oil crop, or protein crop industry.
12. A laying tray comprising a container and, on a bottom of said container:
0.12 to 6.75 g/cm 2 of a non-consumable texturing substrate intended to not be consumed by the insects, said non-consumable texturing substrate being in a form of particles, at least 85% by weight of said particles having a size smaller than 0.5 mm, said non-consumable texturing substrate having a moisture content of 0% to 10%,
0.0014 to 0.105 g/cm 2 /d of a nutrient substrate having a moisture content of 3% to 60%, and
0.0016 to 0.095 g/cm 2 /d of an aqueous gel.
13. The laying tray according to claim 12 , wherein the aqueous gel is a nutritional gel.
14. A laying tray comprising a container and, on a bottom of said container:
0.12 to 6.75 g/cm 2 of a non-consumable texturing substrate intended to not be consumed by the insects, said non-consumable texturing substrate being in a form of particles, at least 85% by weight of said particles having a size smaller than 0.5 mm, said non-consumable texturing substrate having a moisture content of 0% to 10%,
0.01 to 0.75 g/cm 2 of a nutrient substrate having a moisture content of 3% to 60%, and
0.006 to 0.325 g/cm 2 of an aqueous gel.
15. A method for obtaining insect eggs, comprising steps of:
obtaining a laying tray by providing a container and filling said container with:
a non-consumable texturing substrate intended to not be consumed by the insects, said non-consumable texturing substrate being in a form of particles, at least 85% by weight of said particles having a size smaller than 0.5 mm, said non-consumable texturing substrate having a moisture content of 0% to 10%,
a nutrient substrate having a moisture content of 3% to 60%, and at least 2% by weight of an aqueous gel
in order to obtain a laying tray,
introducing adult insects into the laying tray, and a subsequent step of
collecting the insect eggs.
16. The method for obtaining insect eggs according to claim 15 , wherein the step of filling the container with a non-consumable texturing substrate is effected by supplying 0.12 to 6.75 g/cm 2 of non-consumable texturing substrate into the container.
17. The method for obtaining insect eggs according to claim 15 , wherein the step of filling the container with a nutrient substrate is effected by supplying 0.0014 to 0.105 g/cm 2 /d of nutrient substrate.
18. The method for obtaining insect eggs according to claim 15 , wherein the step of filling the container comprises introducing an aqueous gel in a supply of from 0.0016 to 0.095 g/cm 2 /d.
19. The method for obtaining insect eggs according to claim 18 , wherein the aqueous gel is a nutritional gel.
20. The method for obtaining insect eggs according to claim 15 , wherein the step of introducing the adult insects into the laying tray is effected in an areal density comprised between 0.01 and 1.0 g/cm 2 .
21. The method for obtaining insect eggs according to claim 15 , wherein the subsequent step of collecting the insect eggs is effected by an automated sorter.
22. The method according to claim 21 , wherein said automated sorter is a tumbler screening machine or a linear screening machine.
23. The method for obtaining insect eggs according to claim 15 , wherein the adult insects are coleopterans and/or lepidopterans.
24. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the aqueous gel is a nutritional gel.