Provided herein are agents, compositions, and methods for agricultural use, e.g., for altering the level, activity, or metabolism of one or more microorganisms resident in a host nematode or arthropod (e.g., honeybee or silkworm), the alteration resulting in an increase in the fitness of the host. The invention features a composition that includes an agent (e.g., phage, peptide, small molecule, antibiotic, or combinations thereof) that can alter the host's microbiota in a manner that is beneficial to the host. By promoting favorable microbial levels, microbial activity, microbial metabolism, and/or microbial diversity, the agents described herein may be used to increase the fitness of a variety of beneficial nematodes or arthropods, such as bees and silkworms, utilized in agriculture and commerce.

Provided herein are agents, compositions, and methods for agricultural use, e.g., for altering the level, activity, or metabolism of one or more microorganisms resident in a host nematode or arthropod (e.g., honeybee or silkworm), the alteration resulting in an increase in the fitness of the host. The invention features a composition that includes an agent (e.g., phage, peptide, small molecule, antibiotic, or combinations thereof) that can alter the host's microbiota in a manner that is beneficial to the host. By promoting favorable microbial levels, microbial activity, microbial metabolism, and/or microbial diversity, the agents described herein may be used to increase the fitness of a variety of beneficial nematodes or arthropods, such as bees and silkworms, utilized in agriculture and commerce.

The present disclosure provides recombinant microalgae that can deliver both pathogen protection and essential nutrition to honey bees. The microalgae can contain genetic modifications that result in the expression of RNA-interference (RNAi) inducing elements that target honey bee pathogens and endogenous honey bee genes.

The present disclosure provides recombinant microalgae that can deliver both pathogen protection and essential nutrition to honey bees. The microalgae can contain genetic modifications that result in the expression of RNA-interference (RNAi) inducing elements that target honey bee pathogens and endogenous honey bee genes.

Provided herein are defined bacterial co-cultures, and methods of generating the same. Further provided are methods of using the defined bacterial co-cultures as probiotics to prevent diseases or disorders in bees and bee colonies.

A feeding device for honeybees is described that can be used when open feeding honeybees using a container. The container is filled with liquid syrup. The feeding device can be placed over the liquid syrup. The feeding device includes several feeding holes on the surface of the liquid syrup. The honeybees can land on top of the surface of the feeding device and can drink the liquid syrup by reaching through the feeding holes on the feeding device. The feeding device prevents the honeybees from drowning in the liquid syrup and provides a safe surface for multiple honeybees to land on while open feeding.

A prophylactic and/or therapeutic food composition for control of deformed wing vims (DWV) in bees and/or bee larvae, and methods of using and making the same. Bee feed compositions comprising anti-DWV antibodies dispersed in an edible base composition. Use of recombinant VP1, VP2, VP3, and/or VP4 capsid proteins, or VLPs of deformed wing vims (DWV) to passively generate anti-DWV antibodies in chicken egg yolks, and use of such anti-DWV antibodies for prophylaxis or treatment of deformed wing virus in the bees and/or larvae.

The invention is a system and method for transforming food waste into a commercial cleaning product. The system is containable in an enclosed facility and installable in urban environments. Food waste is sorted and ground into uniformly sized particles, heated to an acceleration temperature, inoculated with an inoculant including lactic acid bacteria, which is mixed into the ground waste. The waste then undergoes sedentary fermentation for times as short as 24 hours or less. The fermented waste is separated into liquids and solids, and liquids are further separated into at least one distillation stream. Solids are dried to obtain a second distillation stream.

The invention is a system and method for transforming food waste into a commercial cleaning product. The system is containable in an enclosed facility and installable in urban environments. Food waste is sorted and ground into uniformly sized particles, heated to an acceleration temperature, inoculated with an inoculant including lactic acid bacteria, which is mixed into the ground waste. The waste then undergoes sedentary fermentation for times as short as 24 hours or less. The fermented waste is separated into liquids and solids, and liquids are further separated into at least one distillation stream. Solids are dried to obtain a second distillation stream.

The present invention relates to:—on one hand, a beetle powder including a percentage by weight of vitamin D3 greater than or equal to at least 0.00001% and a percentage by weight of calcium greater than or equal to at least 0.1%, the percentages by weight being given on the total weight of beetle powder, and—on the other, a method for rearing beetles for preparing such a powder, which includes a light treatment phase during which a UV source emits ultraviolet rays towards the beetles.