Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-destructive method for quantitatively determining at least one performance indicator in rearing a population of live insects in a complex medium, the method comprising the following steps: (i) a step of irradiating the complex medium comprising the population of live insects with a light comprising one or more wavelengths within a range from 420 nm to 2500 nm, (ii) a step of collecting the light reflected by the complex medium to obtain a reflectance spectrum of the medium; and (iii) a step of correlating said spectrum with a quantitative value of at least one performance indicator. The present invention also relates to the uses of the method and to the use of a spectrophotometer to quantitatively determine at least one performance indicator of a population of live insects in a complex medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a gel block comprising the following steps:—providing an alginate and calcium carbonate preparation (S1),—providing a buffer solution (S2),—mixing (E4) the alginate and calcium carbonate preparation (S1) with the buffer solution (S2) using a mixing tee comprising an outlet duct, and subsequently,—gelling said mixture in a gelator formed by the outlet duct, and/or a duct connected to the outlet duct, to form a gel block.

Abstract: The invention relates to a Coleoptera powder for using in the treatment of vibriosis, which particularly affects the white shrimp.

Abstract: The invention relates to chitin, a hydrolysate and a method for the production of at least one desired product from insects. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for the production of at least one desired product from insects, comprising an insect cuticle pressing step, followed by the enzymatic hydrolysis of the insect cuticles using a proteolytic enzyme.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tray for farming insects, comprising a solid bottom (2) that defines a substantially horizontal plane, and side walls (4) defining a peripheral enclosure (5) of the tray. The bottom (2) and the side walls (4) define a tray body. The tray comprises feet (6) that extend vertically from the bottom (2) of the tray to a level above the enclosure (5) of the tray. The feet make it possible for an identical insect farming tray to be stacked on top of the farming tray while creating a space between the bottom (2) of said identical tray and the enclosure (5) of the tray. The body of the tray has no sharp edges in order to limit disruption to a laminar air flow flowing around the tray. The invention also relates to a stack of multiple trays of this type.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for rearing termites comprising a tray (2) containing a bed of a substrate (3) suitable for the life of termites, and a set of frames. A lignocellulosic material is placed in each frame (4). The frames are mounted removably side by side in parallel and vertically in the tray such that a lower edge of each frame rests on the substrate bed. The lower edge has one or more openings configured to allow at least some termites to pass between the substrate bed (3) and the interior of the frame (4). The lignocellulosic material of each frame is separated from the lignocellulosic material of the adjacent frame(s) (4) by at least one lateral wall.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a system for producing a textured edible protein product derived from insect larvae or worms. The process comprises a) reducing the insect larvae or worms in size to obtain a pulp, b) mixing the pulp with a hydrocolloid that gelates with metal cations in aqueous solution to form a protein-hydrocolloid slurry, and c) injecting the protein-hydrocolloid slurry into an aqueous solution of a metal cation with a valency of at least 2 to form the textured edible protein product. In step c) the protein-hydrocolloid slurry is jetted under pressure from outside of the aqueous solution of a metal cation with a valency of at least 2 into the aqueous solution at an oblique angle with respect to a liquid surface of the aqueous solution, thereby producing flakes of the textured edible protein product in the aqueous solution, in which flakes substantially all hydrocolloid has been gelated with the metal cations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chitin with a differential purity of more than 97.75% and to a process for producing chitin and/or chitosan by the enzymatic and chemical pathway.

Abstract: The present invention relates to chitin with a differential purity of more than 97.75% and to a process for producing chitin and/or chitosan by the enzymatic and chemical pathway.

Abstract: An insect breeding system (1) for the breeding of insect larvae, comprising a multitude of similar, stackable crates (20, 30, 40), a climate housing (2), and crate stacking equipment (3), wherein the multitude of similar, stackable crates each have a same width (D1), a same length (D2), a same corner structure (4) that comprises complementary lower elements (5) and upper elements (6), configured to allow stacking of the crates on top of each other by allowing the upper elements of a lower crate to interact with lower elements of an upper crate, and a containment area (7) defined by the width, the length, and a height of the crate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and facility for breeding insects. According to the invention, the insect breeding facility comprises a spawning area comprising spawning containers which are adapted to receive adult insects and insect food, wherein at least one spawn structure is provided in each spawning container, in which spawn structures the mother insects will spawn their eggs. Furthermore a hatch area is provided in which the eggs will hatch and which allows periodical harvesting of baby larvae from the hatch area. The hatch area comprises a plurality of hatching chambers corresponding in number with the number of batches of spawning containers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of sorting insects comprising the successive steps of: providing (S1) a mixture comprising nymphs, and sieving (S3) enabling separation of the nymphs from the rest of the mixture comprising sieving said mixture with a sieve having a screen of plastic material (S4). This method may be complemented by densimetric sorting. The invention also relates to a corresponding insect sorting device.

Abstract: An insect sorting device, machine, and use thereof, which improves sorting efficacy by prompting the insects to cling onto the belt, comprising a belt conveyor (2) having an upper surface (5) and a lower surface (6) formed by the belt (3) of the conveyor (2). When the belt (3) is turned over to pass onto the lower surface (6) of the conveyor (2) all or some of the insects of a mixture remain attached to the belt (3) while the rest of the mixture falls by gravity. The upper surface (5) of the conveyor (2) being substantially flat and horizontal over a majority of its length between the first end (7) and the second end (8), it comprises an end portion (14), adjacent the second end (8), having a downward inclination, comprised between 20° and 90° relative to the rest of the upper surface (5) of the conveyor (2).

Abstract: A system controls the air climate in an insect rearing climate housing. The system has an insect rearing climate housing with clusters of one or more stacks of crates with insects. The crates have at least two ventilation openings associated with each crate. An aeration system has an air control unit with a database having a reference table with conditioned air properties in relation to input parameter(s). Aeration devices are connected to the air control unit adjacent to each stack of crates, and have a plurality of exit openings that provide airstreams over the insects. The method retrieves input parameter(s) for the air control unit per cluster of crates, the air control unit determines appropriate conditioned air properties of the airstreams based on the retrieved input parameter(s), and for each individual cluster of crates separately, the air control unit sets the determined conditioned air properties of the airstreams.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for breeding insects, comprising growth phases during which the insects are stored in a controlled environment, said growth phases alternating with operating sequences during which at least one specific breeding operation is performed. The method comprises a sequence, referred to as synchronization sequence, during which a batch of insects is sorted and divided into a plurality of size or maturity categories in separate containers, then said containers (31, 32) are grouped together to form basic breeding units (UE) comprising a predefined number of containers (31, 32), a basic breeding unit (UE) comprising only insects of the same category.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for obtaining chitin and/or chitosan from insect cuticles. More particularly, the method according to the present invention comprises a first enzymatic hydrolysis of insect cuticles using at least one endopeptidase, separation from the hydrolysis medium of the hydrolyzed cuticles resulting from the first enzymatic hydrolysis, and a second enzymatic hydrolysis of the hydrolyzed cuticles using at least one endopeptidase, excluding exopeptidase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a powder made of insects, for use in the prevention or reduction of stress in fish being farmed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a beetle powder containing at least 67% by weight protein and at least 5% by weight chitin, the weight percentages relating to the total weight of the beetle powder. The invention is also directed to a method for preparing the beetle powder and to the uses thereof, in particular in human or animal nutrition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating insects, comprising the separation of the cuticles from the soft part of the insects, the maturation of the soft part of the insects, followed by the separation of the soft part of the insects into an oil fraction, a solid fraction and an aqueous fraction. The invention further relates to powders, in particular a powder obtainable by the method of treating insects according to the invention, and to the use of these powders in food.

Abstract: The invention concerns an insect-breeding facility comprising a climatic zone (Z1, Z2) for storing the insects. The facility comprises an air-conditioning zone (Z4) comprising an air-conditioning system, for bringing air to a first temperature, and simultaneously for bringing air to a second temperature (T2). A first set of pipes (C1) is configured to transport the air at the first temperature from the air-conditioning zone (Z4) to the climatic zone (Z1, Z2) and to deliver it there, a second set of pipes (C2) is configured to transport the air at the second temperature from the air-conditioning zone (Z4) to the climatic zone (Z1, Z2) and to deliver it there. The facility also comprises a device for extracting air from the climatic zone (Z1, Z2). The invention also concerns a corresponding method for air conditioning in a climatic zone (Z1, Z2) of an insect-breeding facility.