Larvae collection device for insects belonging to the order Diptera

Abstract

To provide a device for collecting a larva of an insect belonging to the order Diptera, capable of performing unique processing for organic waste, and surely collecting the larva.SOLUTION: A device for collecting a larva of an insect belonging to the order Diptera, comprises: a processing tank where a culture medium is provided for breeding a larva of an insect belonging to the order Diptera; and a collection tank arranged so as to be overlapped under the processing tank for collecting the larva which is bred in the culture medium. The processing tank has a through face and a side wall surrounding the bottom face, in which a through hole through which the insect can pass is provided on the bottom face. A ventilation port may be provided between the processing tank and the collection tank, and a blower for sending air may be provided in the ventilation port. At least a part of the bottom face of the processing tank may be a textile, and a textile having a coarse texture at a degree that the larva can pass therethrough may be used.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] One embodiment of the present invention relates to an apparatus for rearing and collecting larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera. [Background technology]

[0002] Housefly larvae have a habit of preferring to live in an environment with moderate humidity during their development stage and moving to a relatively dry environment when they pupate. Taking advantage of this habit, devices have been disclosed that feed housefly larvae on organic waste and collect the grown larvae (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0003] The device disclosed in Patent Document 1 uses a rearing container that contains organic waste as food for housefly larvae and rears the larvae. The rearing container has a storage section that stores the organic waste and a crawl-out opening through which housefly larvae crawl out before pupating, and the crawl-out opening is formed by a sloping wall with an angle of 5 to 15 degrees. The device disclosed in Patent Document 2 also has a structure in which a sloping wall is provided to guide the housefly larvae that pupate into the rearing container. These devices have a mechanism in which the housefly larvae that climb up the sloping wall fall from the outer end of the sloping wall into a collection container provided at the bottom and are collected. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-020190 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-110751 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Conventional devices for collecting housefly larvae are unable to collect all the larvae from the rearing container, and there is a problem in that the larvae may remain in the organic waste that is fed to them (the remains after the larvae have eaten are used as feed and fertilizer raw materials). In addition, because it is necessary to provide the rearing container with inclined walls, the thickness of the organic waste that is fed to the larvae becomes uneven, and the organic waste is not treated evenly as a result of ingestion, resulting in the problem that some of it is collected untreated.

[0006] One embodiment of the present invention has been developed in consideration of such problems, and aims to provide a device for collecting larvae of Diptera insects that can uniformly treat organic waste and reliably collect larvae. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One embodiment of the present invention utilizes the habit of insect larvae classified as Diptera to move in search of a suitable environment when pupating, and involves providing a through-hole in the rearing container through which the larvae can pass, thereby separating and recovering organic waste from the larvae in the rearing container.

[0008] The device for collecting larvae of Diptera insects according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a treatment tank provided with a culture medium for rearing larvae of Diptera insects, and a collection tank disposed below the treatment tank for collecting the larvae reared in the culture medium. The treatment tank has a bottom and a wall surrounding the bottom, and the bottom is provided with through-holes through which the larvae can pass.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, a ventilation port may be provided between the treatment tank and the recovery tank, and a fan may be provided to blow air into the ventilation port. Also, a camera may be provided to capture images of the interior of the treatment tank, and a control unit may be provided to control the operation of the fan based on images captured by the camera.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, at least a part of the bottom surface of the treatment tank is made of fabric, and the fabric may be loose enough for the larvae to pass through.

[0011] An apparatus for collecting larvae of Diptera insects according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a treatment / collection tank having a bottom surface and a wall surface surrounding the bottom surface, the treatment tank and collection tank being integrated together, and an intermediate plate provided in the middle of the treatment / collection tank. The treatment / collection tank has a treatment section on the upper side of the intermediate plate where a culture medium for rearing Diptera insect larvae is provided, and a collection section on the lower side of the intermediate plate for collecting larvae, with the intermediate plate provided with through-holes through which the larvae can pass.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, a wall of the treatment and recovery tank may be provided with a ventilation port, which may be located higher than the bottom of the treatment and recovery tank but lower than the intermediate plate, and a fan may be provided to blow air into the ventilation port. Also, a camera may be provided to capture images of the internal state of the treatment unit, and a control unit may be provided to control the operation of the fan based on images captured by the camera.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the through-holes provided in the bottom surface of the treatment tank and the through-holes provided in the intermediate plate may have a diameter of 1.0 mm or more and 3 mm or less. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by providing a through-hole in the bottom of a treatment tank in which larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera are raised, the larvae can be guided into the through-hole and dropped into a collection tank, and the larvae can be separated and collected from the culture medium in which organic waste has been spread. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B show an apparatus for collecting larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a plan view and (B) is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the line AB shown in the plan view. [Figure 2]1 shows the process flow performed in an apparatus for collecting larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (A) shows the stage of inoculating eggs, (B) shows the stage of raising larvae hatched from the eggs and treating the organic waste, and (C) shows the stage of collecting the larvae. [Figure 3] 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which a larva collection device for insects belonging to the order Diptera is shown, in which (A) shows a side view of a structure in which a ventilation hole is provided in the collection tank, (B) shows a cross-sectional view thereof, and (C) shows an embodiment in which a ventilation hole is provided by a spacer. [Figure 4] 1 shows an example of a configuration in which a blower and a camera are provided in an apparatus for collecting larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1A and 1B show a device for collecting larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a side view, (B) is a cross-sectional view, and (C) is a side view when a ventilation hole is provided. [Figure 6] 1A and 1B show a device for collecting larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a plan view and (B) is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the line C-D shown in the plan view. [Figure 7] 1 shows an apparatus for collecting larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a plan view, (B) is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the area between E and F shown in the plan view, and (C) shows a different embodiment of the structure for supporting the treatment tank. [Figure 8] 1 shows an apparatus for collecting larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) to (C) show an embodiment in which treatment tanks are stacked in two stages. [Figure 9] 1 shows an apparatus for collecting larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) to (C) show an embodiment in which treatment tanks are stacked in three stages. [Figure 10] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an apparatus for collecting larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention can be implemented in many different forms, and should not be construed as being limited to the description of the embodiments exemplified below. For clarity of explanation, the drawings may show the length, width, height, thickness, shape, etc. of each part schematically compared to the actual form, but these are merely examples and do not limit the interpretation of the present invention. Furthermore, in this specification and each drawing, elements similar to those previously described with reference to the previous drawings may be designated by the same reference numerals (or reference numerals with A, B, a, b, etc. suffixed thereto), and detailed description thereof may be omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, the letters "first" and "second" attached to each element are convenient labels used to distinguish each element and have no further meaning unless otherwise specified.

[0017] The larvae collection device in one embodiment of the present invention is a device that raises larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera by feeding them organic waste, and separates and collects the larvae of the insects belonging to the order Diptera from the organic waste remaining after the larvae have fed (hereinafter also referred to as "processed residue") before the larvae pupate. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera will be simply referred to as "larvae." Furthermore, depending on the growth stage of the larvae, they may also be referred to as "1-day-old larvae," "2-day-old larvae," "3-day-old larvae," "4-day-old larvae," "5-day-old larvae," "6-day-old larvae," "7-day-old larvae," or "8-day-old larvae."

[0018] In this specification, "processed residue" refers to the remains of organic waste, as described above, and includes larval excrement (low-concentration organic decomposition products), excrement of microorganisms that were originally contained in the organic waste or that were mixed in during the process of subjecting the organic waste to some kind of processing, and dried organic waste (organic waste that remains without being eaten by insects).

[0019] In this specification, "separation" when referring to separating larvae from the treated residue refers to separating the treated residue from the larvae, and includes the larvae moving out (escape) from the treated residue through the through-holes, as described in the following embodiments. Note that removing larvae carcasses remaining in the treated residue using a sieve or the like is also included in the scope of separation.

[0020] In this specification, collecting larvae means collecting the separated larvae in a predetermined area or container, etc. As described in the following embodiments, collecting larvae means dropping them through through-holes from a medium in which organic waste has been accumulated (hereinafter referred to as "medium") and collecting them in a container.

[0021] [First embodiment] Details of an apparatus for collecting larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera (hereinafter also simply referred to as a "larva collection apparatus") according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. In the following description, house fly larvae will be used as an example of the insect larvae, but in addition to house fly larvae, flesh flies, black soldier flies, and other larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera can also be used.

[0022] 1(A) and (B) show the main configuration of a larvae collection device 100A according to this embodiment. In FIG. 1, (A) shows a plan view of the larvae collection device 100A, and (B) shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-B in the plan view. As shown in FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B), the larvae collection device 100A includes a treatment tank 102 and a collection tank 104. The treatment tank 102 is a container in which a culture medium is provided on which organic waste 201 for rearing larvae is accumulated, and the collection tank 104 is a container for collecting the larvae reared in the treatment tank 102. The larvae collection device 100A has a structure in which the collection tank 104 is disposed below the treatment tank 102.

[0023] The treatment tank 102 has a bottom surface 1021 and wall surfaces 1022 surrounding the bottom surface 1021, and is box-shaped with an open ceiling. Organic waste 201 is spread in the treatment tank 102 so that it covers the entire bottom surface 1021, forming a culture medium for rearing larvae. The treatment tank 102 has a depth (height of the wall surfaces 1022) that allows the organic waste 201 to be spread to a predetermined thickness and prevents the larvae from easily crawling out. Larvae prefer a humid environment and feed by peristalsing through the culture medium, but if the culture medium is too moist and thick, breathing becomes difficult, reducing the survival rate of the larvae. For this reason, the organic waste 201 introduced into the treatment tank 102 is spread to an appropriate thickness with an appropriate moisture content. The culture medium formed in the treatment tank 102 by the organic waste 201 can be made suitable for the growth of larvae by making the moisture content 60 to 80% and the thickness 30 to 80 mm, preferably 40 to 50 mm, depending on the type of organic waste 201.

[0024] The organic waste 201 used in the larva collection device 100A includes, for example, at least one of livestock manure, food waste, and agricultural waste. Livestock manure is the excrement and urine discharged from livestock, such as cow manure, pig manure, and chicken manure. Food waste is processing residues and leftover food generated during food manufacturing and cooking, specifically vegetable scraps, tofu scraps, soybean pulp, sake lees, shochu lees, beer lees, etc., as well as food waste discarded from households, etc. Agricultural waste is the remains of crops that are not used for food, such as crop stems, leaves, peels, and bean husks.

[0025] Eggs of insects belonging to the order Diptera (hereinafter simply referred to as "eggs" or "insect eggs") are inoculated into a culture medium formed in the treatment tank 102 by the organic waste 201. For example, housefly eggs hatch in about one day. The larvae (one-day-old larvae) that hatch from the eggs feed on the organic waste 201 and grow into larvae (three-day-old larvae) that have reached the pupal metamorphosis stage in about four to seven days.

[0026] Larvae (three-day-old larvae) undergoing pupal metamorphosis in the organic waste 201 tend to move from the moisture (humidity) containing medium of the organic waste 201 to a dry area due to their peristaltic dispersal habit. The bottom surface 1021 of the treatment tank 102 is structured with through-holes 1024. The through-holes 1024 are, so to speak, loopholes for escape from the organic waste 201 to the dry outside world, and this structure of the bottom surface 1021 makes it possible to guide the larvae (three-day-old larvae) to the through-holes 1024. There is no limit to the number of through-holes 1024 that can be provided in the bottom surface 1021, but it is preferable that they be provided across the entire bottom surface 1021 in order to easily guide the larvae (three-day-old larvae) that have grown in the organic waste 201.

[0027] The through-holes 1024 are large enough to allow larvae (three-day-old larvae) undergoing pupal metamorphosis to pass through. The through-holes 1024 are provided, for example, with a hole size (diameter) of approximately 1.0 mm to 3 mm. If the hole size of the through-holes 1024 is smaller than this range, it becomes difficult to allow the larvae (three-day-old larvae) to pass through and separate them from the organic waste 201, whereas if the hole size is too large, it is undesirable because an increased amount of organic waste 201 falls through the through-holes 1024 into the collection tank 104. There are no limitations on the shape of the through-holes 1024 in a plan view, and various shapes such as a circle, oval, square, rectangle, diamond, and hexagon can be used.

[0028] There are no limitations on the material of the treatment tank 102, but a material having the rigidity to maintain the shape of the container is used. The treatment tank 102 is formed of, for example, metal, plastic, or wood. The bottom surface 1021 and wall surface 1022 of the treatment tank 102 may be integrated, or a part or all of the bottom surface 1021 and the wall surface 1022 may have a structure that allows them to be disassembled.

[0029] The bottom surface 1021 is formed of metal, plastic, or wood, but fabric may be used instead of these materials. When the bottom surface 1021 is formed of a material such as metal, plastic, or wood, through-holes 1024 of the above-described size can be formed over the entire surface, and even if the number of through-holes 1024 is increased, a decrease in rigidity (mechanical strength) can be suppressed. When part or all of the bottom surface 1021 is formed of fabric, it is preferable that the fabric has a roughness that allows larvae to pass through, or that the fabric has holes or slits that allow larvae to pass through. Note that fabric does not have rigidity, so it is not suitable for forming the treatment tank 102 using fabric alone. Therefore, when the bottom surface 1021 is formed of fabric, it is preferable to attach it to a wall surface 1022 made of metal, plastic, or wood.

[0030] The collection tank 104 has a bottom surface 1041 and wall surfaces 1042 surrounding the bottom surface 1041, and is box-shaped with an open ceiling. The collection tank 104 is a container for collecting larvae that have escaped through through-holes 1024 provided in the bottom surface 1021 of the treatment tank 102. The collection tank 104 is used to receive and temporarily store larvae (3-day-old larvae) that have fallen from the treatment tank 102 through the through-holes 1024. Therefore, the collection tank 104 preferably has a volume that can store the larvae (3-day-old larvae). Since the larvae (3-day-old larvae) that have fallen from the treatment tank 102 can move around, it is preferable that the collection tank 104 has a certain depth to prevent them from climbing up the wall surfaces 1042 and escaping to the outside.

[0031] The collection tank 104 is disposed directly below the treatment tank 102. The open top of the collection tank 104 is large enough that the open ceiling surface covers at least the portion of the bottom surface 1021 of the treatment tank 102 where the through-hole 1024 is formed. For example, as shown in FIG. 1(B), the treatment tank 102 and the collection tank 104 preferably have the same outer diameter and are stacked. To prevent misalignment when the treatment tank 102 and the collection tank 104 are stacked, protrusions, guide grooves, or the like may be provided so that the lower part of the treatment tank 102 and the upper part of the collection tank 104 fit together. Furthermore, the treatment tank 102 and the collection tank 104 may be configured to be fastened together with screws, clamps, or the like. In either case, the treatment tank 102 and the collection tank 104 are disposed so that they can be easily attached and detached, facilitating the introduction of organic waste 201, inoculation with insect eggs, collection of larvae, and cleaning of each tank.

[0032] By stacking treatment tank 102 on collection tank 104, treatment tank 102 acts as a lid to prevent larvae collected from collection tank 104 from escaping. A through-hole 1024 is provided in bottom surface 1021 of treatment tank 102, and the inside of collection tank 104 contains enough air to prevent larvae from suffocating. Furthermore, even if the top of collection tank 104 is covered with treatment tank 102, an air inflow path is secured, so that larvae remaining in collection tank 104 can be prevented from suffocating.

[0033] The processed residue 202 remaining in the processing tank 102 is collected and subjected to a predetermined treatment (for example, heat treatment) so that it can be used as a feed material or a fertilizer material. The larvae collected in the collection tank 104 can be subjected to a predetermined treatment so that they can be used as livestock feed, or can be provided as a food ingredient containing clean animal protein, or can be processed into food.

[0034] Next, an example of a method of using the larvae collecting device 100A according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2(A) to 2(C).

[0035] 2(A) shows the stage of inoculating insect eggs 203. Organic waste 201 is placed in the treatment tank 102 and spread evenly on the bottom surface 1021 to a uniform thickness. As mentioned above, livestock manure, food waste, agricultural waste, etc. are used as the organic waste 201. For example, soybean pulp, which is generated in large quantities during the tofu manufacturing process, is used as the organic waste 201.

[0036] Okara is a by-product produced in the process of manufacturing tofu and soy milk, but it is said that less than 1% of it is used for food, and the rest is used as feed and fertilizer, but is discarded as industrial waste. Therefore, by using okara as organic waste 201 and processing it in the larva collection device 100A, it is possible to make effective use of resources.

[0037] The organic waste 201 introduced into the treatment tank 102 is spread over the entire surface and leveled to a uniform thickness. Then, insect eggs 203 are inoculated into the organic waste 201. The larvae collection device 100A is installed in an environment suitable for the inoculated insect eggs 203 to hatch and for the larvae to grow. For example, the larvae collection device 100A is placed in a building where the temperature is adjusted to 20 to 50°C (preferably 25 to 40°C) and the humidity is adjusted to 40 to 100% (preferably 50 to 80%). The ceiling of the treatment tank 102 is open, so the inside can be observed and the moisture content and temperature of the organic waste 201 can be monitored to easily control the growth environment.

[0038] FIG. 2(B) shows the developmental stages of larvae 204 hatched from insect eggs 203. The larvae 204 grow by feeding on the organic waste 201 while moving through a medium formed by the organic waste 201. The moisture content of the organic waste 201 is adjusted to suit the growth of the larvae 204. The larvae 204 need an appropriate amount of void space to move through the organic waste 201. Therefore, the moisture content is adjusted to create an appropriate amount of void space within the organic waste 201. For example, when soybean pulp is used as the organic waste 201, the moisture content is preferably set to a range of 60 to 80%. If the moisture content of the medium on which the organic waste 201 is piled is appropriate, the larvae 204 can feed on the organic waste 201 and move around, creating an appropriate amount of void space. If the moisture content of the organic waste 201 is too low, the medium becomes hard, restricting the peristalsis of the larvae 204 and adversely affecting their growth. On the other hand, if the moisture content of the organic waste 201 is too high, it is not preferable because it reduces the feeding preference of the larvae 204. By adjusting the moisture content of the organic waste 201 used in the larvae collection device 100A to an appropriate range, it is possible to optimize the growth environment for the eggs 203 and larvae 204, prevent the death of the eggs 203 and larvae 204 due to environmental deterioration, and improve the hatching rate and survival rate.

[0039] The organic waste 201 ingested by the larvae 204 is enzymatically decomposed within the bodies of the larvae 204 and excreted as low-concentration organic decomposition products. One-day-old larvae hatch from the eggs 203 and grow into three-day-old larvae before pupation in about four to seven days. Treatment residue 202, which is the remains of the organic waste 201, is left in the treatment tank 102.

[0040] 2(C) shows the stage of separating the treatment residue 202 and the larvae 204. The larvae 204 (3-day-old larvae) that have grown in the treatment tank 102 and reached the final stage attempt to move to a dry environment by dispersal (peristaltic dispersal). At this time, the larvae 204 (3-day-old larvae) attempt to move to an external dry environment through the through-hole 1024 located in close proximity to the treatment residue 202. Because the collection tank 104 is placed below the treatment tank 102, the larvae 204 (3-day-old larvae) that pass through the through-hole 1024 fall directly into the collection tank 104 and are contained therein.

[0041] The through-holes 1024 provided in the bottom surface 1021 of the treatment tank 102 only have a diameter large enough for the larvae 204 to pass through. On the other hand, the organic waste 201 expands when it absorbs moisture. For these reasons, the treatment residue 202 is wet and hardly falls through the through-holes 1024, remaining in the treatment tank 102. In this way, the larvae 204 and the treatment residue 202 can be separated, and the larvae 204 can be recovered in the recovery tank 104. The treatment residue 202 can also be collected from the treatment tank 102.

[0042] As described above, the larvae collection device 100A according to this embodiment allows larvae 204 to be reared using organic waste 201. The larvae 204 do not fall through the through-holes 1024 when small, but instead fall through the through-holes 1024 into the collection tank 104 on their own before pupating. This allows the larvae 204 before pupation to be safely and inexpensively separated and collected from the treatment residue 202 without requiring labor. The provision of the through-holes 1024 in the bottom surface 1021 of the treatment tank 102 allows larvae 204 (three-day-old larvae) that have reached the pupation stage to be guided. This shortens the distance the larvae 204 must travel, increasing the probability that the larvae 204 will fall into the collection tank 104 and improving collection efficiency. Furthermore, because the bottom surface 1021 of the treatment tank 102 is horizontal, the thickness of the organic waste 201 that forms the culture medium can be made uniform, preventing uneven treatment.

[0043] Furthermore, the larvae collection apparatus 100A according to this embodiment does not require a sloped structure in the treatment tank 102 in which the larvae 204 are reared, and the collection tank 104 can be placed directly below the treatment tank 102, thereby reducing the area required for installation and improving space efficiency. The larvae collection apparatus 100A can be stored in multiple stages using shelves or the like, which allows for an improved yield of the treatment residue 202 and the larvae 204 per unit area.

[0044] [Second embodiment] This embodiment shows a larvae collection device having a different configuration of the collection tank from that of the larvae collection device shown in Embodiment 1. In the following, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and common configurations will be omitted as appropriate.

[0045] Fig. 3(A) shows a side view of the larvae collection device 100B according to this embodiment, and Fig. 3(B) shows a cross-sectional view thereof. The larvae collection device 100B has a configuration in which a treatment tank 102 and a collection tank 104 are stacked, similar to the first embodiment.

[0046] As shown in Fig. 3(A), the larva collection device 100B has a structure in which a ventilation opening 1044 is provided in the collection tank 104. The ventilation opening 1044 is disposed in the upper part of the collection tank 104. The ventilation opening 1044 is provided in at least one location, and preferably in two or more locations, so as to form a gap between the collection tank 104 and the treatment tank 102. For example, it is preferable that the ventilation opening 1044 is provided in at least two locations so as to form an air inlet and an air outlet.

[0047] The ventilation hole 1044 may be formed by cutting out the upper part of the collection tank 104, or by providing a through-hole in the upper part of the collection tank 104. By providing the ventilation hole 1044, an air flow can be created in the collection tank 104, as schematically shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3(B). In other words, the ventilation hole 1044 can form a flow path for air to flow in the space below the treatment tank 102. With this configuration, a dry condition can be created in the space below the treatment tank 102 by the air flow, making it easier to guide the three-day-old larvae that have reached the pupal metamorphosis stage to the through-hole 1024, and improving the collection efficiency of the larvae 204.

[0048] 3(C), the ventilation opening 1044 may be formed by a spacer 122 provided between the collection tank 104 and the treatment tank 102. With this configuration, the width of the ventilation opening 1044 can be adjusted by changing the height of the spacer 122, and the amount of air flowing through the space between the collection tank 104 and the treatment tank 102 can be adjusted.

[0049] The air flow through the ventilation opening 1044 may be natural wind, or may be forced by a fan 106 as shown in Figures 3(A) to 3(C). By using the fan 106, it is easy to adjust the amount of air blown, and it is possible to actively control the dry atmosphere formed on the lower side of the treatment tank 102 (near the through-hole 1024). This makes it possible to actively encourage the movement of larvae 204 (3-day-old larvae) that have reached the pupal metamorphosis stage. Furthermore, when ventilation is not necessary, a sealing plate or door (not shown) that covers the ventilation opening 1044 may be provided, thereby preventing the organic waste 201 from drying out.

[0050] 4 shows an example in which a camera 108 is installed above the treatment tank 102. The camera 108 is provided to observe the state inside the treatment tank 102. Larvae (three-day-old larvae) that have reached the pupal metamorphosis stage move by peristaltic dispersal in search of dry areas, and at this time have the habit of popping their heads out onto the surface of the organic waste 201 (or treatment residue 202). When such larvae (three-day-old larvae) appear, they cannot be dropped into the collection tank 104. Therefore, it is preferable to observe the state inside the treatment tank 102 with the camera 108 and to send air through the ventilation opening 1044 using the fan 106 in order to attract the larvae (three-day-old larvae) toward the collection tank 104.

[0051] The camera 108 and the blower 106 may be controlled to work together by a control unit 110 (computer). That is, the image captured by the camera 108 may be processed by the control unit 110 to determine whether larvae have appeared on the surface, and the blower 106 may be controlled to operate when the heads of larvae are confirmed on the surface of the organic waste 201 (or the treatment residue 202). In this way, by combining the camera 108 and the blower 106 with the larvae collection device 100B and constructing a system managed by the control unit 110, the burden associated with operating the device can be reduced, and labor can be saved. Furthermore, larvae that appear on the surface of the organic waste 201 (or the treatment residue 202) can be prevented from moving in unintended directions and can be guided toward the through-hole 1024.

[0052] According to the larvae collection device 100B of this embodiment, by providing a ventilation port 1044 that creates an air flow between the collection tank 104 and the treatment tank 102, the larvae 204 (three-day-old larvae) that have reached the pupal metamorphosis stage can be guided to the lower side of the treatment tank 102, thereby improving collection efficiency. The larvae collection device 100B is similar to the larvae collection device 100A of the first embodiment except for the ventilation port 1044, and can achieve similar effects.

[0053] [Third embodiment] This embodiment shows a larvae collection device having a structure different from that of the first and second embodiments. In the following, the differences from the first and second embodiments will be mainly described, and common configurations will be omitted as appropriate.

[0054] Fig. 5(A) shows a side view of a larvae collection apparatus 100C according to this embodiment, and Fig. 5(B) shows a cross-sectional view thereof. The larvae collection apparatus 100C according to this embodiment includes a treatment and recovery tank 101 having a bottom surface 1011 and a wall surface 1012 surrounding the bottom surface 1011 and an open ceiling surface, and an intermediate plate 120 provided inside the treatment and recovery tank 101. That is, the treatment and recovery tank 101 is a box-shaped container with a bottom, and has a structure in which the intermediate plate 120 is provided in the middle of the box-shaped container to divide the treatment and recovery tank 101 into two spaces.

[0055] The intermediate plate 120 is provided with through-holes 1201. The space above the intermediate plate 120 is the treatment section 1020, and the space below is the collection section 1040. Here, the treatment section 1020 and the collection section 1040 correspond to the treatment tank 102 and the collection tank 104 shown in the first and second embodiments and have similar functions. Organic waste 201 is placed on the intermediate plate 120 and leveled to a uniform thickness to form a culture medium for rearing larvae. The intermediate plate 120 is installed to form a depth (position from the top end of the treatment and collection tank 101) appropriate for forming the culture medium. The intermediate plate 120 is a flat plate provided with through-holes 1201, and can spread the organic waste 201 to a uniform thickness. The size, shape, and arrangement of the through-holes 1201 provided in the intermediate plate 120 are the same as those in the first embodiment. Furthermore, the intermediate plate 120 may be made of fabric, as in the first embodiment.

[0056] The intermediate plate 120 is detachably installed in the treatment and recovery tank 101. Figures 5(A) and (B) show a structure in which the intermediate plate 120 is supported by protrusions 1013 provided on the inside of the treatment and recovery tank 101. A plurality of protrusions 1013 may be provided at positions of different heights in the treatment and recovery tank 101, thereby allowing the height of the intermediate plate 120 to be adjusted. Note that the structure supporting the intermediate plate 120 is not limited to the structure shown in the figures, and other structures may be used. For example, a structure in which pillars extending from the bottom surface 1011 are provided on the underside of the intermediate plate 120 and the intermediate plate 120 is supported by the pillars may be used.

[0057] The larvae collection device 100C shown in Figures 5(A) and (B) is composed of a single container, but by providing an intermediate plate 120, it can be divided into a processing section 1020 and a collection section 1040, and larvae can be raised as in the first and second embodiments, and the processed material residue and the larvae can be separated and collected.

[0058] 5(C) shows the configuration of a larvae collection device 100D in which a ventilation opening 1014 is provided in the treatment and collection tank 101. The ventilation opening 1014 is provided in a wall surface 1012 of the treatment and collection tank 101. The ventilation opening 1014 is provided at a position higher than the bottom surface 1011 and lower than the position where the intermediate plate 120 is installed. The ventilation opening 1014 is provided at a somewhat high position so that the larvae contained in the collection unit 1040 do not easily escape by climbing up the wall surface 1012. In other words, the ventilation opening 1014 is provided at a position close to the intermediate plate 120. As in the second embodiment, by sending air into the collection unit 1040 from the ventilation opening 1014, a dry atmosphere is created, and larvae that have reached the pupal metamorphosis stage (three-day-old larvae) can be guided toward the through-hole 1201.

[0059] Although not shown, the larva collection device 100D may be provided with a camera for observing the internal state of the processing unit 1020 and a control unit for interlocking the camera with the blower, as shown in the second embodiment.

[0060] According to this embodiment, the treatment tank and the collection tank are integrated into one structure, thereby simplifying the structure of the larvae collection device. The larvae collection devices 100C and 100D according to this embodiment are similar to the larvae collection devices shown in the first and second embodiments, except that the treatment tank and the collection tank are integrated into one structure, and can achieve the same effects.

[0061] [Fourth embodiment] This embodiment shows a larvae collection device having a different configuration of the treatment tank from that of the larvae collection device shown in Embodiment 1. In the following, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and common configurations will be omitted as appropriate.

[0062] 6(A) and (B) show the main components of a larvae collection device 100D according to this embodiment. In FIG. 6, (A) shows a plan view of the larvae collection device 100D, and (B) shows a cross-sectional view corresponding to the line C-D shown in the plan view. As in the first embodiment, the larvae collection device 100D includes a treatment tank 102 and a collection tank 104.

[0063] As shown in Figures 6(A) and (B), the bottom of the treatment tank 102 of the larvae collection device 100D has a structure in which a fabric 1023 is stretched. The fabric 1023 may be stretched directly over the treatment tank 102. Alternatively, as shown in the figures, the fabric 1023 may be stretched over a frame 1025 into which the bottom of the treatment tank 102 is recessed, making the fabric 1023 detachable. Since the fabric 1023 is stretched over the frame 1025 and provided separately from the treatment tank 102, the fabric 1023 can be easily replaced when worn out. The fabric 1023 may be made of natural fibers, chemical fibers, or metal fibers. Alternatively, a net may be used instead of the fabric 1023.

[0064] The fabric 1023 is provided with through-holes 1024 through which the larvae can pass when they pupate. The gaps between multiple fibers in the fabric 1023 function as through-holes. With this configuration, the larvae that have reached the pupal metamorphosis stage can be separated into the collection tank 104, as in the first embodiment. The fabric 1023 is breathable, which makes it easy to manage the moisture content of the organic waste 201. For example, if the moisture content of the organic waste 201 is excessive, it can be dried appropriately by passing dry air through it.

[0065] The larvae collection device 100D according to this embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment except for the configuration of the bottom of the treatment tank 102, and can achieve the same effects. The configuration of the treatment tank 102 in which the fabric 1023 is stretched as shown in this embodiment can be appropriately combined with the larvae collection device 100B shown in the second embodiment and the larvae collection device 100C shown in the third embodiment.

[0066] [Fifth embodiment] This embodiment shows a larvae collection device having a different configuration of the treatment tank from the larvae collection devices shown in the first to fourth embodiments. In the following, the differences from the first to fourth embodiments will be mainly described, and common configurations will be omitted as appropriate.

[0067] 7(A) and (B) show the main components of a larvae collection device 100E according to this embodiment. In FIG. 7, (A) shows a plan view of the larvae collection device 100E, and (B) shows a cross-sectional view corresponding to the section between E and F shown in the plan view. In the larvae collection device 100E, the treatment tank 103 is formed of a bag-shaped fabric. The treatment tank 104 is supported by a frame 1043 and placed on the collection tank 104. The frame 1043 is provided on the upper part of the wall surface 1042 and protrudes inward from the collection tank 104.

[0068] 7(C), the treatment tank 103 may be supported by support members 1045 extending upward from the bottom surface 1041 of the collection tank 104. By arranging the support members 1045 at multiple locations inside the collection tank 104, the treatment tank 103 made of fabric can be supported so as not to bend significantly.

[0069] The treatment tank 103 is provided with an opening / closing opening 1032 at the top or side to allow the organic waste 201 to be put in and taken out, and to prevent the waste from overflowing after it has been stored in the bag. The opening / closing opening 1032 is formed, for example, by a zipper. The top of the bag-shaped fabric that makes up the treatment tank 103 may also be tied in a drawstring fashion to close it.

[0070] When the treatment tank 103 is installed using the frame 1043, a hole 1034 is provided on the underside facing the collection tank 104, through which the larvae can pass when pupating. With this configuration, larvae that have reached the pupal metamorphosis stage can be separated into the collection tank 104, as in the first embodiment. Since the treatment tank 103 is made of fabric, it is breathable, making it easy to manage the moisture content of the organic waste 201. For example, if the organic waste 201 has an excessive moisture content, it can be dried appropriately by passing dry air through it. The fabric forming the treatment tank 103 may be made of natural fibers or synthetic fibers.

[0071] The larvae collection device 100E according to this embodiment is the same as that according to the first embodiment except for the configuration of the treatment tank 103, and can obtain the same effects. The configuration of the treatment tank 103 shown in this embodiment can be appropriately combined with the larvae collection device 100B shown in the second embodiment.

[0072] [Sixth embodiment] This embodiment shows an embodiment in which the larvae collecting apparatus 100A shown in the first embodiment is operated by stacking the treatment tanks 102 in multiple stages.

[0073] 8(A) shows a state in which the first treatment tank 102-1 and the second treatment tank 102-2 are stacked on top of each other on the collection tank 104. The structures of the first treatment tank 102-1 and the second treatment tank 102-2 are the same as those shown in the first embodiment. The larvae collection device 100A is an apparatus that separates and collects larvae that have reached the pupation stage from the organic waste 201 (or the treatment residue 202) into the collection tank 104. Therefore, it is preferable that the first treatment tank 102-1, in which larvae that have reached the pupation stage (3-day-old larvae) live, be installed directly above the collection tank 104. On the other hand, the second treatment tank 102-2, in which larvae in the growth stage (1-day to 2-day old stages) are raised, does not necessarily require the collection tank 104. Therefore, it is preferable to manage the age of the larvae for each treatment tank 102, and to place the first treatment tank 102-1, in which larvae (3-day-old larvae) that are about to reach the pupal metamorphosis stage live, directly above the collection tank 104, and to place the second treatment tank 102-2, in which larvae in the growth stage (1-day to 2-day-old stage) are reared, on the upper level.

[0074] As shown in Figure 8(B), when the larvae 204 in the first treatment tank 102-1 reach the pupal metamorphosis stage, they try to move out through the through-holes 1024 and drop into the collection tank 104. In this way, the first treatment tank 102-1, from which the larvae 204 and the treatment residue 202 have been separated, is removed from the collection tank 104 to collect the treatment residue 202.

[0075] The second treatment tank 102-2 arranged on the upper level grows while the separation of the larvae 204 and the treatment residue 202 progresses in the first treatment tank 102-1. Then, as shown in FIG. 8(C), after the first treatment tank 102-1 is removed, the second treatment tank 102-2 is placed directly above the collection tank 104, and the third treatment tank 102-3 for rearing growing larvae (1-day to 2-day old) is placed on the upper level above it. Since the growth and pupation of the larvae 204 have a fixed cycle in the same rearing environment, by managing the arrangement of the treatment tanks 102 stacked on top of the collection tank 104 according to the age of the larvae, it is possible to collect more larvae while saving the floor space required for installing the larvae collection device 100A.

[0076] The treatment tanks 102 of the larvae collection device 100A may be stacked in multiple stages, with the number of days since hatching of the larvae 204 offset by a predetermined number of days. Figure 9(A) shows an arrangement of treatment tanks stacked in this order from bottom to top: a first treatment tank 102-1 for rearing larvae 204 on the fifth day after hatching, a second treatment tank 102-2 for rearing larvae 204 on the third day after hatching, and a third treatment tank 102-3 for rearing larvae 204 on the first day after hatching. Since the first treatment tank 102-1 is on the fifth day after hatching, some of the larvae 204 that are growing quickly will reach the pupal metamorphosis stage and fall into the collection tank 104 through the through-holes 1024. The larvae 204 in the second treatment tank 102-2 and the third treatment tank 102-3 are growing in the organic waste 201 and will not fall even though they have the through-holes 1024.

[0077] 9(B) shows the stage when the larvae 204 in the first treatment tank 102-1 are on the sixth day after hatching, the larvae 204 in the second treatment tank 102-2 are on the fourth day after hatching, and the larvae 204 in the third treatment tank 102-3 are on the second day after hatching. At this stage, most of the larvae 204 in the first treatment tank 102-1 have reached the pupal metamorphosis stage and dropped into the collection tank 104, but the larvae 204 in the second treatment tank 102-2 and the third treatment tank 102-3 have not yet reached the pupal metamorphosis stage and are still growing in the organic waste 201.

[0078] When the larvae in the first treatment tank 102-1 reach the seventh day after hatching, the first treatment tank 102-1 is removed, and the second treatment tank 102-2 for rearing larvae 204 that are five days after hatching is placed on the lowest level (directly above the collection tank 104). Then, the fourth treatment tank 102-4 for rearing larvae 204 that are one day after hatching is placed above the second treatment tank 102-2, and the third treatment tank 102-3 for rearing larvae 204 that are three days after hatching is placed above that. Since the larvae 204 in the second treatment tank 102-2 are on the fifth day after hatching, some of the larvae 204 have reached the pupal metamorphosis stage and fall through the through-holes 1024 into the collection tank 104, but the larvae 204 in the fourth treatment tank 102-4 and the third treatment tank 102-3 are not falling through the through-holes 1024.

[0079] As shown in Figures 9(A) to 9(C), by stacking at least three treatment tanks 102 with the post-hatch date of the larvae 204 shifted by two days, and replacing the treatment tanks 102 according to the number of days since hatching, the larvae 204 can be continuously collected into the collection tank 104, thereby improving productivity. In this case, as shown in Figure 10, the first treatment tank 102-1, the second treatment tank 102-2, and the third treatment tank 102-3 are supported by shelves 124 that can be installed and removed like drawers, thereby facilitating the replacement and rearrangement of the treatment tanks 102. Note that while Figure 10 shows a single shelf 124, the shelf 124 may be configured with multiple sets of treatment tanks 102 and collection tanks 104 arranged in multiple stages.

[0080] Table 1 shows an example of operating the larva collection device 100A using a two-tiered shelf, an upper tier and a lower tier. The larva collection device 100A described with reference to Table 1 has a configuration in which three treatment tanks 102 are stacked on top of a collection tank 104, as shown in Figures 9(A) to 9(C). Table 1 shows an example of rearing and collecting housefly larvae, with the day before the eggs hatch as day 0 and the day they hatch as day 1. In addition, in the treatment tank notation shown in Table 1, numbers separated by hyphens indicate the treatment tank, with the first hyphen indicating the treatment tank, and the second hyphen indicating the number of days since the eggs hatched. Specifically, "1-1" indicates the first day of larvae hatched from eggs in the first treatment tank 102-1, and "1-2" indicates the second day of larvae hatched in the first treatment tank 102-1. Note that the number of days is not the number of days per larva in each treatment tank, but the cumulative number of days. The contents of Table 1 are explained as follows: [Table 1]

[0081] On day 0, housefly eggs are inoculated into the medium in the first treatment tank 102-1 (1-0). In the example shown in Table 1, housefly eggs are inoculated into the medium every day. The housefly eggs hatch in one day.

[0082] On the first day, the first treatment tank 102-1 containing the first-day larvae 204 hatched from the eggs is placed in the first layer immediately above the collection tank 104 on the upper level of the shelf 124 (1-1). Also, housefly eggs are inoculated into the medium in the second treatment tank 102-2 (2-0).

[0083] On the second day, the larvae in the first treatment tank 102-1 reach their second day (1-2). Also, the second treatment tank 102-2 containing the first-day larvae that have hatched from the eggs is placed in the first layer immediately above the collection tank 104 on the lower level of the shelf 124 (2-1). Also, housefly eggs are inoculated into the medium in the second treatment tank 102-2 (3-0).

[0084] On the third day, the third treatment tank 102-3 containing first-day larvae 204 hatched from eggs is placed above the first treatment tank 102-1 on the upper level of the shelf 124 (3-1). The larvae 204 in the first treatment tank 102-1 reach their third day. On the lower level of the shelf 124, the larvae in the second treatment tank 102-2 reach their second day (2-2). Also, housefly eggs are inoculated into the medium in the fourth treatment tank 102-4 (4-0).

[0085] On the fourth day, the fourth treatment tank 102-4 containing first-day larvae 204 hatched from eggs is placed above the second treatment tank 102-2 on the lower level of the shelf 124 (4-1). The larvae in the first treatment tank 102-1 placed on the upper level of the shelf 124 reach their fourth day, and the larvae 204 in the third treatment tank 102-3 reach their second day. The larvae 204 in the second treatment tank 102-2 placed on the lower level of the shelf 124 reach their third day (2-3). Housefly eggs are inoculated into the culture medium in the fifth treatment tank 102-5 (5-0).

[0086] On the fifth day, the fifth treatment tank 102-5 containing first-day larvae 204 hatched from eggs is placed on the upper level of the shelf 124 above the third treatment tank 102-3 (5-1). The larvae in the first treatment tank 102-1 placed on the upper level of the shelf 124 reach the fifth day, and some of the larvae 204 reach the pupal metamorphosis stage and fall into the collection tank 104 (1-5). The larvae 204 in the third treatment tank 102-3 reach the third day (3-3). The larvae 204 in the second treatment tank 102-2 placed on the lower level of the shelf 124 reach the fourth day (2-4), and the larvae 204 in the fourth treatment tank 102-4 reach the second day (4-2). Housefly eggs are inoculated into the culture medium in the sixth treatment tank 102-6 (6-0).

[0087] On the sixth day, the sixth treatment tank 102-6 containing first-day larvae 204 hatched from eggs is placed on the lower level of the shelf 124 above the fourth treatment tank 102-4 (6-1). The larvae in the first treatment tank 102-1 placed on the upper level of the shelf 124 reach the sixth day, enter the pupal metamorphosis stage, and fall into the collection tank 104 (1-6). The larvae 204 in the third treatment tank 102-3 reach the fourth day (3-4), and the larvae 204 in the fifth treatment tank 102-5 reach the second day (5-2). The larvae in the second treatment tank 102-2 placed on the lower level of the shelf 124 reach the fifth day, and some of the larvae 204 reach the pupal metamorphosis stage and fall into the collection tank 104 (2-5). The larvae 204 in the fourth treatment tank 102-4 reach the third day (4-3). Outside the shelf 124, housefly eggs are inoculated into the medium in the seventh treatment tank 102-7 (7-0).

[0088] On the seventh day, the first treatment tank 102-1 is removed from the shelf 124, and the treatment residue 202 is collected. The third treatment tank 102-3 containing the larvae 204 that are reaching the fifth day is placed on the first layer immediately above the collection tank 104, and some of the larvae 204 reach the pupal metamorphosis stage and fall into the collection tank 104 (3-5). The seventh treatment tank 102-7 containing the larvae 204 that are reaching the first day is placed on the second layer above the third treatment tank 102-3 (7-1), and the fifth treatment tank 102-5 containing the larvae 204 that are reaching the third day is placed on the third layer above that (5-3). The larvae in the second treatment tank 102-2 placed on the lower level of the shelf 124 reach the sixth day and reach the pupal metamorphosis stage and fall into the collection tank 104 (2-6). Additionally, the larvae 204 in the fourth treatment tank 102-4 are on their fourth day (4-4), and the larvae 204 in the sixth treatment tank 102-6 are on their second day (6-2). Outside the shelf 124, housefly eggs are inoculated into the medium in the eighth treatment tank 102-8 (8-0).

[0089] On the eighth day, the larvae 204 in the third treatment tank 102-3, which contain larvae 204 that are reaching the sixth day, reach the pupal metamorphosis stage and fall into the collection tank 104 (3-6). The larvae 204 in the seventh treatment tank 102-7 above the third treatment tank 102-3 reach the second day (7-2), and the fifth treatment tank 102-5, which contains larvae 204 that are reaching the fourth day, is placed in the third layer above that (5-4). The second treatment tank 102-2 placed in the lower level of the shelf 124 is removed, and the treatment residue 202 is collected. The fourth treatment tank 102-4 is placed in the first layer directly above the collection tank 104 on the lower level of the shelf 124. The larvae in the fourth treatment tank 102-4 reach the fifth day, and some of the larvae 204 reach the pupal metamorphosis stage and fall into the collection tank 104 (4-5). An eighth treatment tank 102-8 containing first-day larvae 204 is placed in the second layer above the fourth treatment tank 102-4, and a sixth treatment tank 102-6 containing third-day larvae 204 is placed in the third layer above that (6-3). Outside the shelf 124, housefly eggs are inoculated into the medium in the ninth treatment tank 102-9 (9-0).

[0090] On the ninth day, the fifth treatment tank 102-5, which was placed on the third layer on the upper level of the shelf 124, is now on its fifth day, and some of the larvae 204 are entering the pupal metamorphosis stage, so it is moved to the first layer directly above the collection tank 104 (5-5), and the ninth treatment tank 102-9 containing the first-day larvae 204 is placed on the third layer (9-1). On the lower level of the shelf 124, the larvae 204 in the fourth treatment tank 102-4 are now on their sixth day, entering the pupal metamorphosis stage, and fall into the collection tank 104 (4-6). The larvae 204 in the eighth treatment tank 102-8 above the fourth treatment tank 102-4 are now on their second day (8-2), and the sixth treatment tank 102-6 containing the fourth-day larvae 204 is placed on the third layer above it (6-4). Outside the shelf 124, housefly eggs are inoculated into the medium in the tenth treatment tank 102-10 (10-0).

[0091] The same applies from the 10th day onwards, and by placing the treatment tanks 102 undergoing pupal metamorphosis in the first layer directly above the recovery tank 104 on both the upper and lower levels of the shelf 124, and placing the treatment tanks 102 containing the larvae 204 on the first day in the second layer above, it is possible to continuously separate and recover the larvae 204 and the treatment residue 202 from the 5th day onwards. Note that Table 1 shows a case where the shelf 124 has two levels, an upper level and a lower level, but the same operation can be achieved even if the number of levels is increased.

[0092] As described above, by arranging the treatment tanks 102 in multiple stages above the collection tank 104, it is possible to continuously separate and collect the larvae 204 and the treatment residue 202 while saving the floor space required for installing the larvae collection apparatus 100A. With this configuration, it is possible to improve the productivity of the larvae and the treatment residue. Note that, although the operation of this embodiment has been described using the larvae collection apparatus 100A shown in the first embodiment as an example, a similar operation can also be performed using the larvae collection apparatus 100B shown in the second embodiment. [Industrial Applicability]

[0093] The larvae collection devices shown in the first to third embodiments allow organic waste such as food waste and agricultural waste to be fed to larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera, and the treated residue can be used as a raw material for compost or fertilizer. In addition, the larvae separated and collected from the treated residue before pupation or the pupae after pupation can be used as feed for livestock and farmed fish, or as food for pets, or as an insect-derived food raw material.

[0094] The larvae collection devices shown in the first to third embodiments have a simple configuration and do not require a large installation area, so that by arranging them in multiple stages in a building, it is possible to process large amounts of organic waste and collect large amounts of larvae accordingly.Insects belonging to the order Diptera, such as houseflies, have an egg period of about one day and a larval period of about four to seven days, so the period from egg inoculation to larval collection is short.Therefore, a series of processes, such as egg inoculation, larval rearing (organic waste treatment), and separation and collection of treated residue and larvae, can be carried out in a short period of time, thereby increasing productivity. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 100A, 100B, 100C: larvae collection device, 101: treatment collection tank, 1011: bottom surface, 1012: wall surface, 1013: protrusion, 1014: ventilation hole, 102: treatment tank, 1020: processing section, 1021: bottom surface, 1022: wall surface, 1023: fabric, 1024: through hole, 1025: frame, 103: treatment tank, 1032: opening and closing opening, 1034: hole, 104: collection Tank, 1040: collection section, 1041: bottom surface, 1042: wall surface, 1043: frame body, 1044: ventilation hole, 1045: support member, 106: blower, 108: camera, 110: control section, 112: humidity sensor, 120: intermediate plate, 1201: through hole, 122: spacer, 124: shelf, 201: organic waste, 202: treatment residue, 203: eggs, 204: larvae

Claims

1. a treatment tank provided with a culture medium for rearing larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera; a collection tank disposed below the treatment tank and configured to collect the larvae reared in the culture medium; a ventilation port between the treatment tank and the recovery tank; a blower for blowing air into the ventilation opening; a camera for photographing the internal state of the treatment tank; and The treatment tank has a bottom surface and a wall surface surrounding the bottom surface, a through-hole through which the larvae can pass is provided on the bottom surface; An apparatus for collecting larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera, characterized in that the operation of the blower is controlled based on an image taken by the camera.

2. 2. The device for collecting larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera as described in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface of the treatment tank is made of fabric, and the weave of the fabric is coarse enough to allow the larvae to pass through.

3. A larvae collection device as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein multiple treatment tanks are stacked on top of each other on top of the collection tank.

4. a treatment and recovery tank having a bottom surface and a wall surface surrounding the bottom surface; an intermediate plate provided in a middle section of the treatment and recovery tank; a ventilation port provided on the wall surface of the treatment and recovery tank; a blower for blowing air into the ventilation opening; A camera and and The treatment and recovery tank has a treatment section on the upper side of the intermediate plate where a culture medium for rearing larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera is provided, and a recovery section on the lower side of the intermediate plate where the larvae are recovered, The intermediate plate is provided with a through hole through which the larvae can pass, the ventilation port is provided at a position higher than the bottom surface of the treatment and recovery tank and lower than the intermediate plate, The device for collecting larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera, characterized in that the camera photographs the state of the processing section, and the operation of the blower is controlled based on the image photographed by the camera.

5. 5. The device for collecting larvae of insects belonging to the order Diptera according to claim 1, wherein the through-holes have a diameter of 1.0 mm or more and 3 mm or less.

Images