Abstract: A pet bowl with insect repellent including a bowl portion having a generally frustoconical configuration. The bowl portion has a narrow upper end and a wide upper end. The narrow upper end has a food holding recess extending downwardly therein. A cover portion is dimensioned for covering the bowl portion while leaving the food holding recess exposed. The cover portion has a generally frustoconical configuration. The cover portion has a narrow open upper end and wide open lower end. The narrow open upper end has an inwardly extending peripheral flange. The peripheral flange rests on the narrow upper end of the bowl portion. A circular poison band is removably positioned around the bowl portion.

Abstract: This invention is a trap to collect worms or fly larvae to be used as feed or fowl. Putrid meat is placed inside a a box on top of a metal screen. It is desired to have flies be attracted to the putrid meat and lay their eggs on it. Underneath the meat on top of the screens, warm, wet humus or newspaper is placed and serves as nourishment for the worms when they are hatched. When the larvae are feeding, the screen can be removed in a way to keep the larvae on top and serve as feed for poultry.

Abstract: The present invention teaches method for culturing nematode pesticidal compositions, to produce at a high yield, and generate biotic compositions that are effective as insecticides with high pesticidal activity and preventive effects.

Abstract: An improved artificial diet or growth medium for rearing entomophages (predatory arthropods and parasitic insects). The diet also finds use as a bait and feeding stimulant for entomophages, and as use as a supplement for artificial diets for phytophagous pests that also display some insect consumption. The growth medium is composed of a mixture of (a) an adherent, fibrous retention substrate, (b) a protein-lipid paste, and (c) a liquid, and provides nutrients in a stabilized form in amounts and proportions effective to support growth of entomophages. An exemplary formulation is a mixture of adherent, fibrous cooked whole egg, ground beef and beef liver protein-lipid paste, and water. The growth medium is suitable for mass production of entomophages at a reasonable cost for use as biological control agents, and is well suited for rearing entomophages that feed by the process of extra-oral digestion.

Abstract: An improved artificial diet or growth medium for rearing the insect parasitoid Catolaccus grandis is disclosed. The growth medium is composed of amino acid, mineral, vitamin, lipid, and carbohydrate fractions which are present in amounts and proportions effective to support growth of Catolaccus grandis, and the amino acid fraction includes alanine, glutamic acid, histidine and proline at concentrations of about 3.0-5.0%, 8.4-9.4%, 10.0-15.1% and 11.7-12.8%, by weight, respectively. The growth medium is suitable for mass propagation of C. grandis from egg to adult for their subsequent release as biocontrol agents. Alternatively, the growth medium may be used to support growth of adult female wasps of C. grandis for use as breeding stock for continued mass propagation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a bioassay system for retaining hematophagous arthropods, such as, but not limited to, fleas, ticks and flies, in a microenvironment which mimics the natural conditions of unconfined hematophagous arthropods feeding on an animal. The bioassay system of the present invention comprises a container and an attachment means capable of maintaining hematophagous arthropods under conditions such that the fecundity of the retained hematophagous arthropods is substantially equivalent to the fecundity of unconfined hematophagous arthropods. The container is attached to an animal by an attachment means capable of immobilizing the container to the animal in such a manner that hematophagous arthropods can feed undisturbed from the animal through the container. In one embodiment, hematophagous arthropods are retained in a container comprising a retaining means penetrable by the mouth parts of hematophagous arthropods and a gas exchange means.

Abstract: An improved artificial diet or growth medium for rearing entomophages (predatory arthropods and parasitic insects). The growth medium is composed of a mixture of (a) an adherent, fibrous retention substrate, (b) a protein-lipid paste, and (c) a liquid, and provides nutrients in a stabilized form in amounts and proportions effective to support growth of entomophages. An exemplary formulation is a mixture of adherent, fibrous cooked whole egg, ground beef and beef liver protein-lipid paste, and water. The growth medium is suitable for mass production of entomophages at a reasonable cost for use as biological control agents, and is well suited for rearing entomophages that feed by the process of extra-oral digestion.

Abstract: A tray suitable for use in mass raising insect larva, particularly flys (flies), in and artificial environment from incubation through hatching and growth and including a smooth bottom and four upwardly extending sides being open about fifty percent (50%) of the total height to provide sufficient ventilation to maintain a predetermined temperature to satisfy the developing process. The trays are stackable and have ribs at their corners to provide structural strength.

Abstract: An aeration incubator achieves a high atmospheric humidity in the interior working space of the incubator by placing a heated water tub in the working space. In order to avoid condensation on the walls of the incubator tank, a condensate tub is also placed in the working space. The condensate tub is maintained at a temperature which is slightly lower than the temperature of the working space. The condensate tub produces a defined coldest location in the working space, so that condensation occurs primarily in the condensate tub.

Abstract: A novel entomopathogenic nematode of the genus Steinernema, which is effective as a biopesticide for the control of insects, and particularly the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea, and the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. This nematode has been identified as Steinernema riobravis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing probiotic bacteria into the digestive tract of a bird in order to exclude undesirable bacteria therefrom, and inoculated eggs produced thereby, are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a fertile bird egg is administered a Salmonella competitive exclusion culture. The culture is preferably administered into the air cell of the egg in an amount effective to colonize the digestive tract of the embryonic bird contained within the egg, and the culture preferably comprises at least one anaerobic bacteria of intestinal origin.

Abstract: A system for breeding fleas comprises a blood reservoir with a feeding membrane and a cage adjacent to the feeding membrane and containing a screen which supports the fleas during feeding, divides the cage into a feeding chamber and an egg collection chamber and provides access by the fleas between these chambers. The fleas are confined in the cage and stand on the screen to feed by penetrating the membrane with their mouth parts to obtain blood from the reservoir. The access between the feeding and egg collection chambers allows the cage to contain more fleas than if such access were not provided and open interiors of the feeding and egg collection chambers allow easy cleaning and egg collection.

Abstract: A system for breeding fleas comprises a blood reservoir with a feeding membrane and a cage adjacent to the feeding membrane and containing a screen which supports the fleas during feeding, divides the cage into a feeding chamber and an egg collection chamber and provides access by the fleas between these chambers. The fleas are confined in the cage and stand on the screen to feed by penetrating the membrane with their mouth parts to obtain blood from the reservoir. The access between the feeding and egg collection chambers allows the cage to contain more fleas than if such access were not provided and open interiors of the feeding and egg collection chambers allow easy cleaning and egg collection.