Development Of A Modified Aspirator For Collecting Insects

Résumé: Mass and laboratory rearing of insects is a key component of several integrated pest management strategies. Indeed, aspirators were widely used in the past to collect malaria vectors. A car vacuum cleaner, which has been modified into an insect aspirator, is proposed for the capture of adults of Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Lepidoptera : Pyralidae) for biological experiments. It is powered by a 6 volts adapter transformer or by four 1.5 volt batteries It is safe and effective to use. Compared to manual capture, this device allowed to collect an average of 10.47 adults mn-1. Also, based on visual observations, moths are apparently unharmed as they are mobile and population levels increase rapidly following infestation. Although initially designed for use with moths, this device might be used for collecting other small insects such as parasitoids of moths (Bracon hebetor Say and Phanerotoma flavitestacea Fischer). Consequently, the present aspirator, and after further improvements, will allow in the future to researchers increasing the size of experiments on toxicity efficacy and other tests. Because of its portability, it will also permit efficient collection of wild insects in fields.

Publié dans la revue: Journal Algérien des Régions Arides