Variable-scale, modular, easily manufacturable, energy efficient, reliable, and computer operated Insect Production Superstructure Systems (IPSS) may be used to produce insects for human and animal consumption, and for the extraction and use of lipids for applications involving medicine, nanotechnology, consumer products, and chemical production with minimal water, feedstock, and environmental impact. An IPSS may comprise modules including feedstock mixing, enhanced feedstock splitting, insect feeding, insect breeding, insect collection, insect grinding, pathogen removal, multifunctional flour mixing, and lipid extraction. An IPSS may be configured to be constructed out of a plurality of containerized modules.

The present disclosure provides a microfluidic device and system for measuring a composite electropharyngeogram (EPG) signal from a pool of multiple nematodes, wherein the composite EPG signal is measured from the pool of nematodes present in a single recording channel connected to two or more integrated electrodes. The microfluidic device includes an inlet port and outlet port directly connected to a single recording channel and two or more electrodes directly connected to the recording channel. The recording channel is configured to hold 10 to 10,000 nematodes.

A method for determination of a distance from an observation reference point to an object in a measurement volume that can be utilized in a passive optical remote sensing system, and optical remote sensing systems that utilizes the method.

The present disclosure provides transgenic nematode systems for assessing function of heterologous genes, their variants and drug discovery. The transgenic nematodes contain a heterologous gene that is inserted via homologous recombination at the native locus replacing and removing the nematode ortholog, wherein expression of the heterologous gene rescues function of the removed nematode ortholog and a transgenic control animal is provided. The heterologous gene may be further modified to provide a variant, such as a human clinical variant, whereby a transgenic test animal is provided. Those transgenic test animals are used in methods to assess function of the heterologous variant and drug screens to find therapeutic candidates reversing deviant activity back to wildtype.

The present disclosure provides a microfluidic device and system for measuring a composite electropharyngeogram (EPG) signal from a pool of multiple nematodes, wherein the composite EPG signal is measured from the pool of nematodes present in a single recording channel connected to two or more integrated electrodes. The microfluidic device includes an inlet port and outlet port directly connected to a single recording channel and two or more electrodes directly connected to the recording channel. The recording channel is configured to hold 10 to 10,000 nematodes.

A wasp feeding station (1) has a base frame (2) with a liquid food storage tank (3) mounted on the base frame (2) for storing liquid food for wasps. Mounted on top of the base frame (2) is a liquid food reservoir (4) which is supplied with liquid food from the storage tank (3). The storage tank (3) and the reservoir (4) have heaters which are operable to maintain the liquid food within a desired temperature range. A weather protection dome (5) is mounted on top of the reservoir (4). Access ports (8) on each side of the dome (6) allow through passage of wasps to feed at the reservoir (4).

The present invention relates to a modular lamp system for insect breeding and reproduction stimulation, which comprises lamps emitting light in the range of about 400-800 nm and at least one lamp with a peak emission lower than about 410 nm, wherein the light intensity measured 50 cm from the light source is not less than 5000 lx with an irradiance in the spectral range of 350-1000 nm at the level of 35-50 W/m2, wherein no less than 95% of the irradiance is in the range of 350-700 nm, and wherein the irradiance in the spectral range of 370-410 nm is 25-80% of irradiance in the range of 350-700 nm and is not less than 10 W/m2. The present invention also provides a method of insect breeding and use of the modular lamp system for stimulation of insect reproduction.

The present invention relates to a modular lamp system for insect breeding and reproduction stimulation, which comprises lamps emitting light in the range of about 400-800 nm and at least one lamp with a peak emission lower than about 410 nm, wherein the light intensity measured 50 cm from the light source is not less than 5000 lx with an irradiance in the spectral range of 350-1000 nm at the level of 35-50 W/m2, wherein no less than 95% of the irradiance is in the range of 350-700 nm, and wherein the irradiance in the spectral range of 370-410 nm is 25-80% of irradiance in the range of 350-700 nm and is not less than 10 W/m2. The present invention also provides a method of insect breeding and use of the modular lamp system for stimulation of insect reproduction.

An artificial feeding system for maintenance and growth of hematophagous insects is disclosed to comprise a blood-free diet formulation and a feeding device. The blood-free diet formulation comprises effective amounts of a protein source and a carbohydrate source, wherein the blood-free diet formulation is suitable for egg production and colony maintenance of hematophagous insects. The feeding device comprises a diet reservoir for receiving the blood-free diet formulation and a feeding platform for hematophagous insects to feed the blood-free diet formation from the diet reservoir.

An artificial feeding system for maintenance and growth of hematophagous insects is disclosed to comprise a blood-free diet formulation and a feeding device. The blood-free diet formulation comprises effective amounts of a protein source and a carbohydrate source, wherein the blood-free diet formulation is suitable for egg production and colony maintenance of hematophagous insects. The feeding device comprises a diet reservoir for receiving the blood-free diet formulation and a feeding platform for hematophagous insects to feed the blood-free diet formation from the diet reservoir.