Field catching, short-term storing and feeding device for blood sucking midges and using method of field catching, short-term storing and feeding device

Abstract

The invention discloses a field capturing, short-term storing and feeding device for blood sucking midges and a using method thereof. The device is composed of a living body maintaining pipe, a sealing cover and a base. The living body maintaining tube is placed on the base; and a sealing cover is arranged at the top of the living body maintaining tube. The use method comprises the following steps: capturing living blood sucking midges in the field by utilizing the capturing state of the device; the device is converted into a feeding state, that is, a rubber plug fixed with an insect inlet unit and an air suction unit is removed, and a threaded semi-sealing cover with a feeding filter screen is installed; nutrient solution is provided for the gnat in the living body maintaining pipe through the feeding filter screen. The field catching, short-term storage and feeding integrated device overcomes the defects that an existing blood sucking midge collecting device cannot give consideration to the high catching rate, the high survival rate and the short-term storage and feeding function, and is simple in structure, convenient and fast to operate and capable of remarkably improving the survival rate of gnat from the catching stage to the laboratory stage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of midge collection and rearing equipment, specifically to an integrated device for the field capture, short-term live storage and rearing of blood-sucking midges. Background Technology

[0002] Blood-sucking midges are an important group of vector insects in the family Midgeidae of the order Diptera. They transmit various zoonotic pathogens, such as Japanese encephalitis virus and bluetongue virus, by sucking blood, posing a persistent threat to public health and animal husbandry. Effective monitoring of blood-sucking midge populations and accurate detection of the pathogens they carry are crucial for the early warning and control of vector-borne diseases. The reliability of the results is highly dependent on the quality of the midge samples obtained, especially the survival rate and integrity of live samples.

[0003] Methods for collecting midges in the wild can be mainly divided into active and passive collection methods. Active collection methods (such as net sweeping) are flexible, but suffer from low capture efficiency, poor targeting, and are prone to causing physical damage to these small and fragile insects during capture, resulting in low sample survival rates. Passive collection methods (such as light traps and mosquito net traps) allow for unattended, batch collection, but the collected samples are usually exposed to harsh environments for extended periods (such as dehydration, crushing, and nutrient deficiency), leading to extremely high mortality rates upon retrieval. Furthermore, these devices are designed primarily for "capture," neglecting the need for "liveliness maintenance."

[0004] Research on midges (such as virus isolation and observation of biological characteristics) urgently requires high-quality live specimens. Current technology lacks a bridging tool that connects "wild capture" with "laboratory rearing." After capture from the wild, specimens must undergo a complex transfer process before entering the rearing environment. This transfer step causes secondary stress and mechanical damage to the insects, a major cause of failure in live experiments. Therefore, there is an urgent need in this field for an innovative device that can not only efficiently capture midges but also provide suitable living conditions from the moment of capture, achieving a seamless transition from the wild to the laboratory, thereby overcoming the technical bottleneck of low survival rates of live specimens captured in the wild. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to overcome the shortcomings of existing midge collection devices that cannot simultaneously achieve high capture rate, high survival rate, and short-term storage and rearing functions. It provides a technical problem of an integrated device for field capture, short-term storage and rearing that is simple in structure, easy to operate, and can significantly improve the survival rate of midges from capture to laboratory stage.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A device for capturing, storing and raising blood-sucking midges in the wild, consists of three parts: a live-keeping tube, a sealing cap, and a base; the live-keeping tube is placed on the base; and the top of the live-keeping tube is provided with a sealing cap.

[0007] The bottom of the live insect maintenance tube is equipped with a base structure containing moisturizing material to maintain humidity inside the tube. A filter paper sheet is placed above the moisturizing material, and a resting device is placed obliquely inside the live insect maintenance tube above the filter paper sheet to provide midges with a familiar resting place, reducing flight stress and energy consumption caused by having nowhere to land. The tube wall of the live insect maintenance tube has ventilation holes to ensure air circulation.

[0008] The sealing cap consists of a rubber stopper, an insect inlet tube, an insect inlet end hose, a funnel-shaped insect inlet, a short rigid plastic tube, an air intake end hose, and an air intake tube. The rubber stopper has the insect inlet tube and the short rigid plastic tube inserted into it. One end of the insect inlet tube is connected to one end of the insect inlet end hose, and the other end of the insect inlet end hose is connected to the funnel-shaped insect inlet. One end of the short rigid plastic tube is connected to one end of the air intake end hose, and the other end of the short rigid plastic tube is equipped with an escape-proof filter. Through artificial inhalation, a negative pressure is generated inside the insect inlet tube, gently drawing the midges into the maintenance tube. The other end of the air intake end hose is connected to the air intake tube. The other end of the insect inlet tube extends to the lower part of the live midge maintenance tube, maintaining a certain buffer distance from the bottom of the tube to prevent the inhaled midges from impacting the bottom at high speed.

[0009] The sealing cap is a threaded semi-sealed cap, which is threadedly connected to the top of the live organism maintenance tube; a feeding filter is provided in the middle of the threaded semi-sealed cap, which allows air circulation and prevents midges from escaping, and can also be used to support or fix defatted cotton blocks soaked in sugar water (such as honey water), thereby realizing direct feeding and rearing without transferring midges.

[0010] The moisturizing material is degreased cotton.

[0011] The docking device is a sheet-like structure with a slightly rough surface.

[0012] The sheet-like structure is filter paper or a non-toxic plastic sheet.

[0013] The outlet of the worm inlet tube is kept at a buffer distance of 1-3 cm from the bottom of the live organism maintenance tube.

[0014] A method for using a device for the wild capture, short-term storage, and rearing of vampire midges includes the following steps: 1) Capture live blood-sucking midges in the wild using the capture state of the device described above; 2) Convert the device to the feeding state, that is, remove the rubber plug that is fixed with the insect inlet unit and the air intake unit, and replace it with a threaded semi-sealed cap with a feeding filter. 3) Nutrient solution is provided to the midges in the live maintenance tube through the feeding filter.

[0015] The beneficial technical effects of adopting the above technical solution are: 1. Integrated design and high survival rate: The functions of capture, short-term storage and rearing are highly integrated into a single live maintenance tube, realizing "capture and rearing", avoiding damage and stress to midges during the transfer process after capture, and improving the survival rate from the wild to the laboratory.

[0016] 2. Environmental simulation and stress control: The built-in docking device and bottom moisturizing system work together to simulate the natural living environment of midges, significantly reducing the stress response of the insects in confined spaces and providing a guarantee for maintaining their physiological state.

[0017] 3. Ease of operation and ergonomics: Optimized details such as buffer design, anti-escape design, and flexible hose connection make the capture process gentle, the operation flexible and convenient, and improve the efficiency of field work.

[0018] 4. Low cost and easy to promote: The main components of the device can be made of low-cost materials such as plastic, with a simple structure, easy to mass-produce and popularize in grassroots monitoring units. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 Diagrams showing the wild capture, short-term storage, and captive conditions of blood-sucking midges in rearing facilities.

[0020] Figure 2 Diagram showing the wild capture, short-term storage, and rearing status of blood-sucking midges.

[0021] In the diagram: 3-Live organism maintenance tube, 4-Filter paper, 5-Base, 6-Moisturizing material, 7-Insect inlet tube, 8-Escape-proof filter, 9-Rubber stopper, 10-Flute-shaped insect inlet, 11-Insect inlet hose, 12-Inhalation hose, 13-Inhalation tube, 17-Threaded semi-sealed cap, 18-Feeding filter, 19-Short rigid plastic tube, 20-Ventilation hole, 21-Dock device. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only for explaining the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0023] Example 1: An integrated device for wild capture, short-term storage, and rearing of blood-sucking midges See Figure 1 In the capture mode, the present invention mainly includes: a live organism maintenance tube 3, an insect inlet unit, an air intake unit, a bottom moisturizing system, and a docking device 21.

[0024] The live organism maintenance tube 3 is a transparent or semi-transparent cylindrical plastic tube (such as PP or PET material) for easy observation of the insect's condition inside. Its preferred specifications are a diameter of 20-30mm and a height of 80-100mm. Several tiny ventilation holes 20 are formed in the upper part of the tube wall. The bottom of the live organism maintenance tube 3 has a grooved support structure, which can be integrally formed with the tube body. Sterile water-moistened absorbent cotton 6 is placed in the groove for moisture retention, and a circular filter paper sheet covers the absorbent cotton 6 to prevent the midges from directly contacting the moist cotton. A base 5 is provided below the support to ensure the stability of the device when placed.

[0025] The top opening of the living body support tube 3 is sealed by a rubber stopper 9. Two channels are provided through the rubber stopper 9, each fixing a long and a short rigid plastic tube.

[0026] The insect inlet unit comprises, in sequence, a funnel-shaped inlet 10, an inlet-end flexible tube 11, and an inlet conduit 7. The funnel-shaped inlet 10 is used to expand the capture area, and its opening diameter is preferably 6-8 mm. The inlet-end flexible tube 11 is preferably 25-50 cm long and has a certain degree of flexibility. The inlet conduit 7 passes through the rubber stopper 9 and extends downward into the interior of the live organism maintenance tube 3, with its opening approximately 1-3 cm from the filter paper at the bottom of the tube, forming a buffer space.

[0027] The suction unit includes: a suction tube 13 (which can be used only once), a suction end hose 12, and a short rigid plastic tube connected in sequence. The short rigid plastic tube also passes through a rubber stopper 9, and a circular escape-proof filter 8 is fixed at its end inside the live organism maintenance tube 3. The mesh size of the filter 8 (e.g., 100 mesh or more) should be smaller than the size of the target midge, effectively preventing the midge from being accidentally sucked out or escaping through the suction tube.

[0028] The docking device 21 is a sheet-like structure with a rough surface (such as filter paper or non-toxic plastic sheet). Its height matches the diagonal length of the inner cavity of the live organism maintenance tube 3. It leans against the tube wall to provide a resting place for the inhaled midges and reduce their disorderly flight and collisions inside the tube.

[0029] The procedure for capturing animals in the wild is as follows: The operator holds the device and aims the funnel-shaped inlet 10 at the target midge. Gently inhaling through the suction tube 13 creates a slight negative pressure within the inlet conduit 7, drawing the midge into the live midge maintenance tube 3 via the inlet 10 and the flexible tube 11. Driven by the airflow, the midge falls through the inlet conduit 7 into the buffer space at the bottom of the tube and can then rest on the docking device 21.

[0030] See Figure 2 When it is necessary to switch to the feeding mode, the operation is as follows: Smoothly remove the rubber plug 9 and the entire tubing system it connects to. Then, quickly tighten the threads on the top outer wall of the live midge 3 to the threaded semi-closed cap 17 with the feeding filter 18 to prevent midge escape. The mesh size of the feeding filter 18 allows for free airflow while preventing midge escape. Small pieces of absorbent cotton soaked in sugar water (such as a 2%-8% honey solution by weight) can be placed in the center of the filter to provide nutrition for the midges inside the tube. The docking device 21 is crucial in the rearing mode, effectively reducing stress on the midges. Finally, place the entire device in a suitable environment with appropriate temperature (28±1℃), humidity (70±10% RH), and photoperiod (L:D=12:12) for short-term rearing and observation.

[0031] The beneficial effects of the device of the present invention are achieved through the above specific implementation: the integrated design avoids damage caused by insect transfer, and the buffer structure, humidity maintenance and resting surface work together to protect the welfare of midges, significantly improve the survival rate from wild capture to laboratory rearing, and provide high-quality live samples for subsequent research.

Claims

1. A device for the wild capture, short-term storage, and rearing of vampire midges, characterized in that: It consists of three parts: a living body maintenance tube (3), a sealing cap, and a base (5); the living body maintenance tube (3) is placed on the base (5); the top of the living body maintenance tube (3) is provided with a sealing cap.

2. The device for capturing, storing, and raising blood midges in the wild according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the living body maintenance tube (3) is provided with a moisturizing material (6), and a filter paper sheet (4) is provided above the moisturizing material (6). A docking device (21) is placed obliquely inside the living body maintenance tube (3) above the filter paper sheet (4); a vent hole (20) is opened on the tube wall of the living body maintenance tube (3).

3. The device for capturing, storing, and raising blood midges in the wild according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing cap is composed of a rubber stopper (9), an insect inlet tube (7), an insect inlet end hose (11), a funnel-shaped insect inlet (10), a short rigid plastic tube (19), an air intake end hose (12), and an air intake tube (13). The rubber stopper (9) is respectively inserted with an insect inlet tube (7) and a short rigid plastic tube (19). One end of the insect inlet tube (7) is connected to one end of the insect inlet end hose (11), and the other end of the insect inlet end hose (11) is connected to the funnel-shaped insect inlet. One end of the short rigid plastic tube (19) is connected to one end of the air intake end hose (12), and the other end of the short rigid plastic tube (19) is provided with an escape-proof filter (8). The other end of the air intake end hose (12) is connected to the air intake tube (13). The other end of the insect inlet tube (7) extends to the lower part of the living organism maintenance tube (3) and maintains a certain buffer distance from the bottom of the tube.

4. The device for capturing, storing, and raising blood midges in the wild according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing cap is a threaded semi-sealed cap (17), which is threaded to the top of the live body maintenance tube (3); a feeding filter (18) is provided in the middle of the threaded semi-sealed cap (17).

5. The device for capturing, short-term storage, and rearing vampire midges according to claim 1, characterized in that: The moisturizing material (6) is degreased cotton.

6. The device for capturing, short-term storage, and rearing vampire midges according to claim 1, characterized in that: The docking device (21) is a sheet-like structure with a slightly rough surface; the sheet-like structure is filter paper or a non-toxic plastic sheet.

7. The device for capturing, storing, and raising blood midges in the wild according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outlet of the insect inlet tube (7) is kept at a buffer distance of 1-3 cm from the bottom of the live organism maintenance tube.

8. The method of using the field capture, short-term storage, and rearing device for vampire midges as described in claim 1, comprising the following steps: 1) Capture live blood-sucking midges in the wild using the capture state of the device described above; 2) Convert the device to the feeding state, that is, remove the rubber plug (9) that is fixed with the insect inlet unit and the air intake unit, and replace it with a threaded semi-sealed cover (17) with a feeding filter (18). 3) Nutrient solution is provided to the midges in the live maintenance tube through the feeding filter (18).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that: The nutrient solution is a honey aqueous solution with a mass percentage of 2%-8%.

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