CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the National Stage of International Application No. PCT/IB2016/054508, filed on Jul. 28, 2016, and claims the benefit of priority to PL Application No. 413265, filed on Jul. 29, 2015, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a modular lamp system for insect breeding, particularly tropical insects. The object of the invention is also a method of insect breeding and the use of modular lamp system to stimulate insect reproduction.

BACKGROUND ART

The use ofhermetialarvaeHermetia illucens, a fly species originating from North America is increasing in the process of utilization and conversion of biomass and organic waste. Due to the specific environmental demands, natural occurrence of the species is limited to a relatively small area in the sub-tropical zone. Specific requirements of the species prevent a yearlong breeding ofhermetiain the climatic conditions of Central and Northern Europe.

This prevents uncontrolled spread ofhermetiaand its adaptation to the environment as a potentially invasive insect, allowing full control even in cultures on an industrial scale.

At the same time, these requirements impose the use of support systems for the insect reproduction. Similar problem applies to the breeding of other insect species that naturally occur in the Tropics, for example locusts, commonly used in amateur and professional breeding, as food for prosimians, reptiles, amphibians and birds.

From the perspective ofhermetiareproduction stimulation, key factors mentioned in literature are the intensity of light (Tomberlin J K, Sheppard D C. 2002. Factors Influencing mating and oviposition of black soldier flies (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) in a colony. Journal Entomological Science. 37: 345-352) and light spectral range (Zhang J., Sun M., L. Huang, Z. Liu, He J., Yu Z., Tomberlin J K (2010) An artificial light source influences mating and oviposition of black soldier flies,Hermetia illucens. Journal of Insect Science: Vol. 10|Article 202). In industrial conditions,hermetiabreeding is supported by using iodine-quartz lamps of high power and a very broad spectral range of 350-2500 nm, that goes far beyond the perception of insects—studies by Briscoe et al. (Briscoe A D Chittka L. 2001. The evolution of color vision in insects. Annual Review of Entomology 46: 471-510) indicate, insects perceive visible light in the range up to 700 nm. Said lamps are not dedicated for insect breeding and are not capable of selectively controlling individual spectral ranges.

Due to the emission of radiation in a broad spectral range, lamps are energy-consuming and emit large quantities of thermal radiation. The light of the iodine-quartz lamps is intermittent and importantly for the implementation inhermetiareproduction support, the lamp emission spectrum changes over time of use in an uncontrolled manner, while emission in the range of 350-455 nm is significantly reduced.

Alternatively, mesh aviaries in a volume of 2-6 m3are used with sunlight, this system however excludes a yearlonghermetiabreeding in temperate climate and prevents precise control of environmental conditions within the aviary (temperature and humidity).

The object of the invention is to provide an efficient system for insect breeding and reproduction stimulation, particularly for stimulation in breeding chambers, especially for insect species which do not originate from the temperate climate. This object has been achieved with the use of the modular lamp system for insect breeding according to the invention, which actively stimulates insects to reproduce and enables efficient breeding particularly forHermetia illucensand locusts, particularlyLocusta migratoriaand/orSchistocerca gregaria.

The inventors have found it is feasible to use a lamp system enabling control of irradiance and illumination intensity in individual spectral ranges to stimulatehermetiaand locusts reproduction, with the assumption that due to the characteristics of insect vision the spectrum will be limited to the wavelength range of 350-800 nm.

Research conducted by the Inventors of the present invention has shown that it is possible to use artificial light to effectively stimulate insect reproduction, including insect species not naturally occurring in temperate climates, in particular theHermetia illucensand locust species, such asSchistocerca gregariaandLocusta migratoria.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is a modular lamp system for insect breeding and reproduction stimulation which includes lamp emitting light in the range of 400-800 nm and at least one lamp with a peak emission below about 410 nm, wherein the light intensity measured 50 cm from the light source is not less than 5000 lx with irradiance in the spectral range of 350-1000 nm being at the level of 35-50 W/m2, wherein not 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 the irradiance in the range of 350-700 nm and is not less than 10 W/m2. The term “lamp” indicates a single device that may comprise a plurality of light sources emitting light at different wavelengths, especially in the range of 350-1000 nm.

Research conducted by the Inventors confirmed that lighting in the range below about 410 nm, in particular in the range of about 370-410 nm is crucial for the stimulation of insect reproductive behavior, particularly for tropical insects, particularlyhermetiaand locusts. White light in the range of about 400-800 nm have not stimulated insects flight flying and mating activities. As Inventors of present invention surprisingly discovered the addition of the at least one lamp with a peak emission below about 410 nm to the spectral range is sufficient to cause a rapid increase of activity observable after few minutes, and reproductive behavior. The use of the solution according to the invention increases reproduction efficiency by over 50% with respect to the one described in literature.

The essence of the solution according to the invention is the use of lamp module and/or a single lamp comprising a light source giving a sufficiently strong light in the range of 400-800 nm, comprising any lamp known in the art which gives so-called white, cool light, wherein the module further comprises at least one lamp with a peak emission below 410 nm, giving a sufficiently strong light in this range (irradiance in spectral range of 370-410 nm is 25-80% of the irradiance in the range of 350-1000 nm and is not less than 10 W/m2). One skilled in the art will appreciate that there are many possible construction methods of such a module. The module may be constructed in any convenient manner, also with commercially available lamps, preferably LED lamps, depending on the location requirements, the availability of power source, the quantity of insects breeding, etc., and it will fulfill its purpose as long as the lighting parameters are maintained as described above. Lamp parameters specified by the manufacturer were verified by a series of measurements made with the JETI device from Technische Instrumente GmbH.

The solution according to the invention enables easier control of the spectrum emission quality and the replacement of individual lighting modules without replacing the entire lighting installation.

Preferably, all lamps included in the module according to the invention are controlled independently, preferably in a manner allowing to control the intensity of illumination of each lamp in a manner known in the art. Said independent control of each lamp enables easier simulation of the lighting of the natural environment, in terms of both: light intensity and spectral range specific for the latitude of natural occurrence of the bred insect cultures, as well as to easily increase irradiance in the spectral range below about 410 nm, even above the level occurring in the natural environment.

Preferably, the lamps are LED lamps. For example, LED lamps with a nominal power of 20 W can be used. The Inventors have found that the implementation of the system according to the invention allows to reduce energy consumption by about 70% compared to the energy consumption with the use of iodine-quartz lamps with the simultaneous improvement of reproduction efficiency.

Preferably, the intensity of light emitted by the modular system according to the invention in the range of below 410 nm exceeds the intensity of sunlight in this range. As inventors surprisingly found, the total intensity of light and irradiance in the range of the visible spectrum are of secondary importance in insect reproduction stimulation, whereas the solution according to the invention enables achieving increased activity and reproductive behaviors of insects exceeding the values obtained for insects illuminated by sunlight.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one lamp has a peak emission of about 385 nm, that stimulates the insect reproductive behavior.

Preferably, the system according to the invention further comprises a lamp having a peak emission of about 405 nm, that provides additional stimulation for reproductive behavior.

In an embodiment, the system according to the invention comprises lamps of total nominal power of about 120 W.

In a preferred embodiment, the modular lamp system is composed of 6 lamps with a total nominal power of 120 W, including 4 LED lamps emitting “cool white” light in the range of 400-800 nm and 2 lamps with emission peaks respectively of 385 nm and 405 nm. The system provides a highly efficient stimulation of reproductive behavior.

In an embodiment, the system further comprises an additional lamp having a peak emission of about 455 nm, which is advantageous for breeding/rearing locusts.

In an embodiment, the system according to the invention further comprises a lamp having a peak emission of about 375 nm, which provides additional stimulation of reproductive behavior of insects.

Preferably, the system according to the invention is installed in closed breeding chambers, preferably with the height lower than 150 cm, more preferably lower than about 120 cm, more preferably lower than 100 cm, and/or having a bottom surface area in the range of 0.1-1 m2, preferably equal to or less than about 1 m2, 0.8 m2, 0.6 m2, 0.5 m2, 0.4 m2, 0.3 m2, 0.32 m2, 0.2 m2, 0.1 m2.

The object of the invention is also a method of breeding insects and stimulation of reproduction in breeding chambers, wherein the insects are provided with a light source with the use of the modular lamp system according to the invention.

Preferably, the insects are selected from the species native to subtropical and tropical climate zone, non-native to the temperate climate zone, particularlyHermetia illucensand locusts, especiallyLocusta migratoriaand/orSchistocerca gregaria. Insects can be grown for various purposes including the production of food and/or feed, for the recreational, scientific, industrial and other purposes.

In an embodiment, the insects are kept in closed breeding chambers, preferably of a height lower than 150 cm, more preferably lower than about 120 cm, more preferably lower than 100 cm, and/or having a bottom surface area in the range of 0.1-1 m2, preferably equal to or less than about 1 m2, 0.8 m2, 0.6 m2, 0.5 m2, 0.4 m2, 0.3 m2, 0.32 m2, 0.2 m2, 0.1 m2. The solution according to the invention enables significant reduction in the space required for the insect breeding that require proper lighting.

The object of the invention is also a use of a modular lamp system according to the invention for insect reproduction stimulation.

Preferably, the insects are selected from species non-native to the temperate climate zone, in particularHermetia illucensand locusts, especiallyLocusta migratoriaand/orSchistocerca gregaria.

