The present invention in general relates to the field of biological crop protection by use of predatory mites. More particularly the present invention relates to a mite composition comprising a predatory mite and a prey. Such a mite composition is suitable for rearing the predatory mite and/or for crop protection using the predatory mite. The prey in the composition comprises individuals of at least one Astigmatid mite species, wherein at least a fraction of the Astigmatid individuals is immobilized. The composition is characterized in that immobilized Astigmatid individuals are contacted with a fungus reducing agent.

The present invention in general relates to the field of biological crop protection by use of predatory mites. More particularly the present invention relates to a mite composition comprising a predatory mite and a prey. Such a mite composition is suitable for rearing the predatory mite and/or for crop protection using the predatory mite. The prey in the composition comprises individuals of at least one Astigmatid mite species, wherein at least a fraction of the Astigmatid individuals is immobilized. The composition is characterized in that immobilized Astigmatid individuals are contacted with a fungus reducing agent.

The present invention relates to a system and method of cultivating Cordyceps, specifically, provided herein is a system of cultivating Cordyceps comprising: a Hepialus moth trapping device; a Hepialus moth eggs screening device, wherein the device is connected with the Hepialus moth trapping device; an ascospores-collecting device; a mycelia-preparing device; a conidia-preparing device; an infection device, wherein the device is connected with the ascospores-collecting device, the mycelia-preparing device and the conidia-preparing device; and a feeding device, wherein the device is connected with the Hepialus moth eggs screening device and the infection device. And also provided is a method of using the system to cultivate Cordyceps.

The present invention relates to a system and method of cultivating Cordyceps, specifically, provided herein is a system of cultivating Cordyceps comprising: a Hepialus moth trapping device; a Hepialus moth eggs screening device, wherein the device is connected with the Hepialus moth trapping device; an ascospores-collecting device; a mycelia-preparing device; a conidia-preparing device; an infection device, wherein the device is connected with the ascospores-collecting device, the mycelia-preparing device and the conidia-preparing device; and a feeding device, wherein the device is connected with the Hepialus moth eggs screening device and the infection device. And also provided is a method of using the system to cultivate Cordyceps.

The current invent relates to the construction and application of a three-line breeding system in the Peruvian scallop×bay scallop hybrids. The said three-line consists of a male sterile line, a maintainer line and a restorer line of the bay scallop×Peruvian scallop hybrids. Herein the Peruvian scallop×bay scallop hybrids are hybrids resulted from the eggs of the Peruvian scallops fertilized with sperm of the bay scallops. In constructing the three-line, male sterile individuals are selected from F.sub.1 inter-specific hybrid families and continuously backcrossed with sperm of the selling family of the sperm-providing bay scallops of the F.sub.1 hybrid to obtain a combination of male sterile line and maintainer line whose hybrid progenies are all male sterile. Then selected individuals from the male sterile line are continuously backcrossed with sperm from the selfing family of a bay scallop until the resulted progenies are all hermaphroditic and exhibit excellent production traits. Commercial male sterile brood stocks are produced by backcrossing the eggs of the male sterile line with the sperm of the maintainer line and commercial Peruvian scallop×bay scallop hybrid spats are produced by backcrossing the eggs of the male sterile line and sperm of the restorer line. This invent establishes the three-line breeding system in animals for the first time and efficiently overcomes the barrier of self-fertilization in the hybridization between hermaphroditic scallops. The yield of the hybrid scallops can be increased by over 50% compared with the bay scallops.

The current invent relates to the construction and application of a three-line breeding system in the bay scallop×Peruvian scallop hybrids. The said three-line consists of a male sterile line, a maintainer line and a restorer line. A combination of male sterile line and maintainer line is obtained by continuously backcrossing the male sterile individuals selected from F.sub.1 inter-specific hybrid families with sperm of the selfing family of the sperm-providing Peruvian scallops until the progenies are all male sterile. The restorer line is obtained by continuously backcrossing selected individuals from the male sterile line with sperm of the selfing family of a Peruvian scallop until the progenies are all hermaphroditic and exhibit excellent production traits. Commercial male sterile brood stocks are produced by backcrossing the male sterile line with the maintainer line and commercial hybrid spats are produced by backcrossing the male sterile line and the restorer line.

The system includes a feeding vessel having an inlet, an outlet, and a membrane positioned across an opening in the vessel. Parasites (preferably ticks) are allowed to attach themselves to the membrane so that as a feeding fluid (preferably blood) is circulated through the vessel, the parasites feed on the feeding fluid through the membrane.

The system includes a feeding vessel having an inlet, an outlet, and a membrane positioned across an opening in the vessel. Parasites (preferably ticks) are allowed to attach themselves to the membrane so that as a feeding fluid (preferably blood) is circulated through the vessel, the parasites feed on the feeding fluid through the membrane.

The present invention discloses predatory mite population comprising Phytoseiulus predatory individuals, wherein at least 10% of female individuals of the population is capable of reproduction on a non-tetranychid arthropod prey, preferably on an immobilized non-tetranychid arthropod prey, such as on a non-phytophagous prey, preferably on an Astigmatid prey, most preferably on an immobilized Astigmatid prey, such as an immobilized Astigmatid prey, in particular a Carpoglyhus prey, having immobilized life stages comprising immobilized eggs. Methods for rearing the same are further disclosed.

The present invention discloses predatory mite population comprising Phytoseiulus predatory individuals, wherein at least 10% of female individuals of the population is capable of reproduction on a non-tetranychid arthropod prey, preferably on an immobilized non-tetranychid arthropod prey, such as on a non-phytophagous prey, preferably on an Astigmatid prey, most preferably on an immobilized Astigmatid prey, such as an immobilized Astigmatid prey, in particular a Carpoglyhus prey, having immobilized life stages comprising immobilized eggs. Methods for rearing the same are further disclosed.