insect feeding device

Abstract

To provide a feeder for insects which can provide liquid feed to various insects and can be easily maintained such that supply of the liquid feed is automatically performed.SOLUTION: A feeder 100 comprises: a storage bottle 1 which can store liquid feed; a plug member 2 which blocks an entrance 11 of the liquid feed in the storage bottle 1; a feed container 4 which holds the storage bottle 1 on the upper side in an inverted state in which the entrance 11 faces downward, and can store the liquid feed; a supply pipe 3 in which a portion on an upper end 30 side is fit to a through hole 20 of the plug member 2, the liquid feed can flow therein, the liquid feed can be supplied to the feed container 4 from a lower end 31, and the lower end 31 is arranged so as to be able to contact a liquid level of the liquid feed stored in the feed container 4; and at least one surface tension reduction member 5 which protrudes from the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3 through the inside of the supply pipe 3 and in which a portion on a lower end 51 side is immersed in the liquid feed stored in the feed container 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a feeding device used to provide liquid food to insects. [Background technology]

[0002] In fields such as insect research, the pet industry that sells insects for ornamental purposes, and insect businesses such as those that sell insects as food, many different types of insects are kept, so there is a demand for feeding devices that can accommodate a variety of insects.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a feeding device for raising natural enemy pest insects. The feeding device in Patent Document 1 includes a container for storing liquid bait, a rod-shaped liquid-absorbent wick made of fiber, paper, sponge, or the like, and a lid for closing the top opening of the container. A portion of the bottom end of the liquid-absorbent wick (bottom end) is immersed in the liquid bait, and a portion of the top end (top end) penetrates the lid and protrudes above the container, allowing the liquid bait in the container to be sucked up from the bottom end to the top end by capillary action. The feeding device in Patent Document 1 can provide liquid bait to insects as they feed on the liquid bait that has been sucked up to the top end of the liquid-absorbent wick.

[0004] Patent Document 2 also discloses a feeding structure for insects. The feeding structure in Patent Document 2 includes a cut natural tree and a liquid bait storage unit provided within the natural tree. A feeding hole communicating with the storage unit is formed on the outer surface of the natural tree, and the liquid bait in the storage unit permeates the outer surface of the natural tree through the feeding hole. The feeding device in Patent Document 1 can feed liquid bait to insects by the insects crawling up the natural tree and feeding on the liquid bait moistened on the outer surface of the natural tree.

[0005] Patent Document 3 also discloses a climbing tree with a fixed insect feeding tray. The climbing tree in Patent Document 3 is arch-shaped, with a feeding tray attached to the top of the tree. The feeding tray contains jelly-like food. The climbing tree in Patent Document 3 can feed insects by allowing the insects to crawl up the tree and feed on the food contained in the feeding tray. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-149256 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 07-255324 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-080860 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The feeding device of Patent Document 1 is unsuitable for maintenance after prolonged use, as the liquid feed absorbed by the liquid-absorbing wick material crystallizes due to evaporation, etc. In addition, the design of the feeding device of Patent Document 1 makes it difficult to feed insects that can only feed on liquid feed, such as butterflies. Furthermore, since the liquid feed is absorbed by the liquid-absorbing wick material and supplied to the insects, it is difficult to provide a sufficient amount of feed to large insects. Furthermore, the feeding structure of Patent Document 2 is not suitable for long-term insect rearing because the amount of liquid feed that can be stored in the storage compartment within the natural tree is limited and the liquid feed must be replenished frequently. Furthermore, the climbing tree of Patent Document 3 uses jelly-like feed, making it difficult to feed insects that can only feed on liquid feed. In addition, the amount of feed that can be stored in the feeding tray is limited and the feed must be replenished frequently, making it unsuitable for long-term insect rearing.

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present disclosure aims to provide a feeding device that can feed liquid food to various insects and is easy to maintain, such as by automatically replenishing the liquid food. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present disclosure relates to a feeding device used to provide liquid bait to insects, the liquid bait being a liquid food that insects consume and including drinking water.

[0010] The insect feeding device disclosed herein is characterized by comprising: a storage bottle capable of storing liquid bait; a stopper member that closes the liquid bait inlet and outlet of the storage bottle; a feeding container that holds the storage bottle up in an inverted position with the inlet and outlet facing downward and is capable of storing liquid bait; a supply pipe whose upper end is partially fitted into a through hole of the stopper member so that liquid bait can flow through the interior and which can supply liquid bait to the feeding container from its lower end, the supply pipe being positioned so that its lower end can come into contact with the liquid surface of the liquid bait stored in the feeding container; and at least one surface tension reducing member that passes through the interior of the supply pipe, protrudes from the lower end of the supply pipe, and has a lower end that is partially immersed in the liquid bait stored in the feeding container.

[0011] In the insect feeding device disclosed herein, the feeding container can preferably be configured to include a recess capable of storing liquid food and a flat portion having a flat upper surface, the flat portion being adjacent to the recess.

[0012] In addition, the insect feeding device of the present disclosure can preferably be configured such that the flat portion is adjacent to the recess at the upper end of the recess.

[0013] In addition, the insect feeding device of the present disclosure can preferably be configured such that the other end of the supply pipe is located at the same height as the upper end of the recess.

[0014] In addition, the insect feeding device of the present disclosure can preferably be configured such that the surface tension reducing member is made of a stranded wire formed by twisting together a plurality of wires.

[0015] In addition, the insect feeding device of the present disclosure can preferably be configured so that the feeding containers are colored. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the insect feeding device disclosed herein, liquid bait flows from the storage bottle through a supply pipe and is supplied to the feeding container, thereby feeding the insects with the liquid bait stored in the feeding container. Furthermore, any liquid bait lost in the feeding container due to insects foraging or evaporation is automatically replenished from the sealed storage bottle until the liquid level reaches the bottom of the supply pipe. Therefore, simply by installing the feeding device in an insect rearing cage or the like, insects can be provided with a sufficient amount of liquid bait and reared, reducing the need for frequent liquid bait replenishment. Furthermore, by selecting a storage bottle with an appropriate capacity from multiple types of storage bottles with different capacities depending on the insects to be fed, insects can be reared with less frequent replacement of the storage bottle.

[0017] As described above, the insect feeding device of the present disclosure reduces maintenance, thereby enabling reductions in costs and effort.

[0018] Furthermore, with the insect feeding device disclosed herein, a surface tension reducing member protrudes from the lower end of the supply pipe and is immersed in the liquid bait stored in the feeding container, thereby reducing the surface tension of the liquid bait. Therefore, when the amount of liquid bait stored in the feeding container decreases, the reduced amount can be discharged from the lower end of the supply pipe and smoothly replenished into the feeding container, minimizing fluctuations in the liquid bait level stored in the feeding container. This allows even small insects to easily feed on the liquid bait.

[0019] Furthermore, with the insect feeding device disclosed herein, a supply pipe is interposed between the storage bottle and the feeding container, and the storage bottle is positioned a certain distance above the feeding container. This reduces the risk of the storage bottle positioned above getting in the way of large insects when they feed on the liquid bait stored in the feeding container. Therefore, even large insects can easily feed on the liquid bait.

[0020] Furthermore, with the insect feeding device disclosed herein, liquid bait is supplied from the container bottle through a supply pipe to the feeding container, and the liquid bait is not sucked up by a liquid-absorbing wick as in the prior art. Therefore, there is almost no risk of the liquid bait crystallizing due to evaporation, which would make it difficult to feed insects that can only feed on liquid bait, such as butterflies.

[0021] As described above, the insect feeding device of the present disclosure makes it possible to provide liquid food to a variety of insects. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a feeding device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the feeding device shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view (longitudinal cross-sectional view) taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the operation of the feeding device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 5] 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the operation of the feeding device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the feeding apparatus shown in FIG. 1, showing a state in which the liquid level of the liquid food stored in the feeding container has been changed. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the feeding device shown in FIG. 1 in use. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a state in which a feeding device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is in use. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the feeding device shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a feeding device of a comparative example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a feeding apparatus according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the height direction of the feeding apparatus according to the present disclosure when in use is defined as the up-down direction.

[0024] Feeding device 1 to 3 show a feeding apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The feeding apparatus 100 is used to provide liquid food to insects when raising them for food, feed, ornamental purposes, research or experiment purposes, or as a natural enemy to pests. The type of insects to be fed is not particularly limited as long as they consume liquid food. Liquid food is food in a liquid form that insects consume or drink, and in the present disclosure, drinking water is also included in liquid food.

[0025] The feeding device 100 comprises a storage bottle 1 capable of storing liquid bait, a stopper member 2 that closes an inlet / outlet 11 for the liquid bait in the storage bottle 1, a supply pipe 3 that passes through the stopper member 2, a feeding container 4 that stores the liquid bait sent from the storage bottle 1 through the supply pipe 3 and provides the liquid bait to insects, and a surface tension reducing member 5 that protrudes from the supply pipe 3 into the liquid bait stored in the feeding container 4.

[0026] Storage bottle As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the storage bottle 1 is a container having a storage space 10 for liquid bait and an inlet / outlet 11 for liquid bait. The storage bottle 1 is preferably partially or entirely transparent or translucent, which allows the remaining amount of liquid bait in the storage bottle 1 to be confirmed from the outside of the storage bottle 1. The material of the storage bottle 1 is not particularly limited, but examples include synthetic resin, glass, metal, and alloy, and among these, synthetic resin is preferred from the viewpoint of making the storage bottle 1 lighter.

[0027] Although not particularly limited, in this embodiment, the containing bottle 1 comprises a hollow, bottomed body 12, a cylindrical mouth 13 that is open at both the top and bottom, and a shoulder 14 that connects the body 12 and the mouth 13, which are integrally formed. In this embodiment, the body 12 has a substantially rectangular outer shape in cross section, and the mouth 13 has a circular outer shape in cross section, but the shapes are not limited to these.

[0028] The body 12 comprises a bottom 15 and a peripheral wall 16 connected to the outer periphery of the bottom 15. The internal space of the body 12 is the liquid bait storage space 10. The mouth 13 is formed to have an outer shape slightly smaller in cross section than the peripheral wall 16 of the body 12, and is located below the center of the bottom 15 of the body 12. The lower opening of the mouth 13 is the liquid bait inlet / outlet 11. The shoulder 14 is connected to the lower edge of the peripheral wall 16 of the body 12 and the upper edge of the mouth 13. When the stopper member 2 is removed and the bottom 15 is facing downwards, liquid bait can be poured into the body 12 through the inlet / outlet 11 and the mouth 13.

[0029] The storage bottle 1 may have a structure consisting of only a hollow, bottomed body 12, and the opening on the side opposite to the bottom 15 of the peripheral wall 16 may be the inlet / outlet 11 for the liquid feed.

[0030] Plug member 1 to 3, the stopper member 2 is attached to the containing bottle 1 so as to close the inlet / outlet 11 of the containing bottle 1. In this way, the stopper member 2 substantially seals the containing bottle 1. It is preferable that the stopper member 2 is detachable from the containing bottle 1. The material of the stopper member 2 is not particularly limited as long as it has elasticity, and examples thereof include rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, and cork.

[0031] The stopper member 2 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, it is in the form of an inner plug that is fitted partly or entirely in the vertical direction inside the mouth portion 13 of the containing bottle 1. The stopper member 2 has a circular shape in cross section with an outer diameter equal to or slightly larger than the inner diameter of the mouth portion 13 of the containing bottle 1. Note that the stopper member 2 does not necessarily have to be in the form of an inner stopper, and may be in the form of, for example, a cap that covers the mouth portion 13 of the containing bottle 1 from the outside and closes the inlet / outlet 11.

[0032] A through hole 20 extending in the vertical direction is formed in the plug member 2. The through hole 20 is located at the center of the plug member 2 in a cross-sectional view, and a part of the upper end 30 side of the supply pipe 3 is fitted into the through hole 20.

[0033] supply pipe As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the supply pipe 3 has a hollow, elongated shape with an upper end 30 and a lower end 31. Both ends are open, allowing liquid food to flow through the straight interior space. The end face of the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3, located on the feeding container 4 side, is a horizontal plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the supply pipe 3, while the end face of the upper end 30 of the supply pipe 3, located on the storage bottle 1 side, may be a horizontal plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the supply pipe 3, or may be an inclined plane not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the supply pipe 3. In this embodiment, the supply pipe 3 has a circular outer shape in cross section, but is not limited to a circular shape. The material of the supply pipe 3 is not particularly limited, but examples include relatively hard materials such as synthetic resin, glass, metal, or alloy. Among these, stainless steel is preferred because of its rust resistance.

[0034] The outer diameter of the supply pipe 3 is equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the through-hole 20 of the plug member 2, and a portion of the upper end 30 side is fitted into the through-hole 20 of the plug member 2. As a result, the supply pipe 3 is supported by the plug member 2 in an airtight state with no gap between the supply pipe 3 and the plug member 2. In addition, the supply pipe 3 is detachable from the plug member 2.

[0035] The upper end 30 of the supply pipe 3 protrudes from the stopper member 2 and is exposed inside the storage bottle 1. The liquid food in the storage bottle 1 flows through the supply pipe 3 from the opening at the upper end 30, and is discharged from the opening at the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3 and supplied to the feeding container 4. The inner diameter of the supply pipe 3 is set according to the viscosity of the liquid food and the supply speed of the liquid food, and is not particularly limited, but is preferably 5 mm to 12 mm, and more preferably 8.5 mm to 10.5 mm. The wall thickness of the supply pipe 3 is not particularly limited, but is preferably about 0.5 mm.

[0036] The length of the supply pipe 3 is not particularly limited, but is preferably a length that allows the distance (spacing) between the storage bottle 1 and the feeding container 4 to be 50 mm or more and 100 mm or less. This ensures a large distance (spacing) between the storage bottle 1 and the feeding container 4, and reduces the risk that the storage bottle 1 located above will get in the way of large insects or insects with long horns, such as rhinoceros beetles, when feeding on the liquid food stored in the feeding container 4.

[0037] Feeding container 1 to 3, feeding container 4 stores the liquid food flowing out from lower end 31 of supply pipe 3 and provides the liquid food to insects. Feeding container 4 also serves to hold storage bottle 1 upside down with opening 11 facing downward.

[0038] The feeding container 4 includes a storage section 40 for storing liquid feed, and a support section 41 for supporting the storage bottle 1 or the supply pipe 3 and holding the storage bottle 1 in an inverted position above the feeding container 4.

[0039] The reservoir 40 has a flat columnar shape with a predetermined height. The height of the reservoir 40 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 20 mm or more and 30 mm or less. In this embodiment, the reservoir 40 has a circular outer shape in cross section, but is not limited to a circular shape.

[0040] The reservoir 40 includes a recess 42 capable of storing liquid bait. While not particularly limited, in this embodiment the recess 42 is located at the center of the reservoir 40 in a cross-sectional view and extends in the diametric direction of the reservoir 40. The width (length perpendicular to the longitudinal direction) of the recess 42 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 15 mm to 20 mm. The recess 42 has a shape recessed from above to a predetermined depth (a shape with a recessed cutout on the top surface) in a portion of the reservoir 40, and is capable of storing liquid bait in the space surrounded by the bottom surface and the four side surfaces rising from the outer periphery of the bottom surface. While not particularly limited, the depth of the recess 42 is preferably 10 mm to 15 mm.

[0041] Although not particularly limited, in this embodiment, the storage section 40 includes a pair of flat sections 43 located on both sides of the recess 42. The upper surface of the flat section 43 is flat. The flat section 43 is adjacent to the recess 42, preferably at the upper end of the recess 42. In other words, the flat section 43 is adjacent to the recess 42 so that the upper surface of the flat section 43 extends horizontally from the upper end of the recess 42. When insects feed on the liquid bait in the recess 42, some insects can stand on the flat section 43 or place their front legs thereon.

[0042] Supporting portion 41 is provided on storage portion 40. Although not particularly limited, supporting portion 41 has a flat semi-cylindrical shape with a predetermined height in this embodiment, and the length and width of supporting portion 41 are approximately half those of storage portion 40. Supporting portion 41 is provided on storage portion 40 so as to span recessed portion 42 from one of a pair of flat portions 43 to the other.

[0043] In support part 41, the portion covering recess 42 of storage part 40 is recessed from below to a predetermined depth in a convex shape (the lower surface is cut out in a convex shape), thereby forming a recessed groove 44 in that portion. In addition, in support part 41, the portion covering recess 42 of storage part 40 is made thin by recessed groove 44, and an insertion hole 45 through which supply pipe 3 can be inserted is formed in that portion.

[0044] The support unit 41 includes a support member 6 located above the recess 42 of the storage unit 40, which supports the supply tube 3 and holds the inverted storage bottle 1 above the feeding container 4. The support member 6 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, it is, for example, a ring-shaped or cylindrical rubber member having a predetermined height. The inner diameter of the support member 6 is equal to or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the supply tube 3. The outer diameter of the support member 6 is larger than the outer diameter of the insertion hole 45 of the support unit 41. The support member 6 has a groove extending around the entire periphery of its outer surface, formed in the vertical center, like a rubber bushing. The support member 6 can be fixed to the support unit 41 by fitting the opening periphery of the insertion hole 45 of the support unit 41 into the groove. The method of fixing the support member 6 to the support unit 41 is not particularly limited. For example, the support member 6 may be arranged concentrically with the insertion hole 45 on the upper surface of the support unit 41 and fixed to the support unit 41 using an adhesive or the like.

[0045] The support member 6 supports the supply pipe 3 in an upright position by holding a portion of the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3 that is pushed through its central opening, thereby holding the inverted storage bottle 1 above the feeding container 4. The supply pipe 3 can also be removed by pulling it out of the central opening of the support member 6. The height of the support member 6 is not particularly limited, but is preferably between 5 mm and 10 mm.

[0046] The support member 6 supports the supply pipe 3 so that it can slide up and down by vertically shifting a portion of the supply pipe 3 on the side of the lower end 31 that is held by the support member 6. This allows the vertical position of the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3 to be freely changed. As will be described in detail below, liquid food is supplied from the storage bottle 1 to the recess 42 of the feeding container 4 until the liquid food accumulates up to the height of the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3. Therefore, by freely changing the vertical position of the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3 within the recess 42 of the feeding container 4, the height of the liquid surface of the liquid food stored in the recess 42 can be freely changed.

[0047] As shown in Figure 3, the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3 is preferably positioned at the same height as the upper end of the recess 42 of the feeding container 4. This allows the liquid bait to be stored up to the upper end of the recess 42, making it easy for insects to feed on the liquid bait stored in the recess 42. Note that, depending on the insects to be fed, the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3 may also be positioned below the upper end of the recess 42 of the feeding container 4, as shown in Figure 6.

[0048] The support member 6 may be a ring-shaped or cylindrical rubber member, or may be, for example, a pair of plate-shaped clamping members that can move toward and away from each other, and the pair of clamping members may hold a portion of the supply pipe 3 on the side of the lower end 31, thereby supporting the supply pipe 3 in an upright position. In this way, the support member 6 may have various structures as long as it can hold a portion of the supply pipe 3 and support the supply pipe 3 in an upright position, and does not necessarily have to be a structure that supports the supply pipe 3 so that it can slide up and down.

[0049] Surface tension reducing material As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the surface tension member 5 has an elongated shape with an upper end 50 and a lower end 51. The surface tension reducer 5 is fixed to the supply pipe 3 and / or the plug member 2 so as to pass through the supply pipe 3 and protrude from the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3. Although not particularly limited, in this embodiment, the surface tension reducer 5 is formed longer than the supply pipe 3, and the upper end 50 and lower end 51 of the surface tension reducer 5 protrude vertically from the upper end 30 and lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3. The upper end 50 of the surface tension reducer 5 is folded back and inserted between the plug member 2 and the supply pipe 3, thereby fixing the surface tension reducer 5 to the supply pipe 3 and / or the plug member 2 without falling off the supply pipe 3. Note that the method for fixing the surface tension reducer 5 to the supply pipe 3 and / or the plug member 2 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the surface tension reducer 5 be detachable from the supply pipe 3 and / or the plug member 2.

[0050] Surface tension reducer 5 passes through the interior of supply pipe 3 and protrudes from lower end 31 of supply pipe 3, so that a portion of lower end 51 is immersed in the liquid bait stored in recess 42 of feeding container 4. This reduces the surface tension of the liquid bait in the area of ​​recess 42 of feeding container 4 that comes into contact with lower end 31 of supply pipe 3, and as will be described in detail below, if the liquid bait stored in recess 42 of feeding container 4 loses weight due to evaporation or feeding by insects, the liquid bait in storage bottle 1 can be expelled from lower end 31 of supply pipe 3 and smoothly replenished into recess 42 of feeding container 4.

[0051] The number of surface tension reducing members 5 protruding from the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3 into the supply pipe 3 is not particularly limited, and the number can be set so as to effectively reduce the surface tension of the liquid bait in the area that comes into contact with the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3, depending on the inner diameter of the supply pipe 3, the thickness of the surface tension members 5, the viscosity of the liquid bait, etc.

[0052] In this embodiment, the surface tension member 5 is in the form of a thin, elongated wire, but is not limited to a wire and may be in the form of a rod or plate that is thicker than a wire. The material of the surface tension member 5 is not particularly limited, but examples include synthetic resin, glass, metal, and alloy, and among these, stainless steel is preferred from the viewpoint of rust resistance.

[0053] When wire is used for the surface tension reducer 5, it is preferable that the surface tension reducer 5 be in the form of a stranded wire made up of multiple wires twisted together. This allows the surface of the surface tension reducer 5 to be rough with small undulations and irregularities rather than a smooth surface, thereby effectively reducing the surface tension of the liquid feed that comes into contact with the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3. Note that other methods, such as a matte surface treatment, can also be used to roughen the surface of the surface tension reducer 5. It is sufficient that the surface of the surface tension reducer 5 be roughened only on the portion that protrudes from the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3.

[0054] Feeding device operation When liquid food is stored in the storage bottle 1, the liquid food passes through one end 30 of the supply pipe 3 and is supplied from the other end 31 of the supply pipe 3 to the recess 42 of the feeding container 4, where it is stored. In the recess 42 of the feeding container 4, the liquid level of the liquid food gradually rises as the liquid food is supplied, and when the liquid level reaches the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3, the supply of liquid food from the storage bottle 1 naturally stops, and the height of the liquid level of the liquid food is maintained at the same height as the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3.

[0055] The liquid bait stored in recess 42 of feeding container 4 decreases in volume due to feeding by insects and natural evaporation, causing the liquid bait level to drop. At this time, a gap is created between lower end 31 of supply pipe 3 and the liquid bait level, causing the liquid bait in sealed storage bottle 1 to automatically be expelled from lower end 31 of supply pipe 3 and supplied to recess 42 of feeding container 4, and the liquid bait is replenished until the liquid bait level reaches lower end 31 of supply pipe 3 again.

[0056] In this case, if the surface tension reducer 5 does not protrude from the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3, as in the comparative example feeding device 101 shown in Figure 10, when the liquid bait stored in the recess 42 of the feeding container 4 decreases in volume and the liquid level of the liquid bait drops from contact with the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3, the surface tension of the liquid bait causes the liquid bait to wet the supply pipe 3, forming a liquid film F between the liquid level of the liquid bait and the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3. If a liquid film F is formed between the liquid level of the liquid bait and the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3 as the liquid level of the liquid bait drops, the liquid bait in the storage bottle 1 is not discharged from the other end 31 of the supply pipe 3, and the liquid bait is not replenished in the recess 42 of the feeding container 4. Therefore, the liquid level of the liquid bait remains lowered in the recess 42 of the feeding container 4, making it difficult for insects to feed on the liquid bait stored in the recess 42 of the feeding container 4.

[0057] In contrast, in the case of feeding device 100 of the present disclosure, in which surface tension reducer 5 protrudes from lower end 31 of supply pipe 3 and is immersed in the liquid food stored in recess 42 of feeding container 4, as shown in FIG. 4 , when the liquid food level drops from contact with lower end 31 of supply pipe 3 due to a decrease in the amount of liquid food stored in recess 42 of feeding container 4, the surface tension of the liquid food is reduced by surface tension reducer 5. This prevents the liquid food from wetting up against supply pipe 3 due to surface tension and forming a liquid film between the liquid food level and lower end 31 of supply pipe 3. Therefore, as the liquid food level drops, a gap is created between lower end 31 of supply pipe 3 and the liquid food level. As shown in FIG. 5 , the liquid food in storage bottle 1 is discharged from the other end 31 of supply pipe 3 until the liquid food level reaches lower end 31 of supply pipe 3, and the liquid food is replenished in recess 42 of feeding container 4. Therefore, in the recess 42 of the feeding container 4, the liquid level of the liquid bait is stably maintained at the same height as the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3, so that insects can easily feed on the liquid bait stored in the recess 42 of the feeding container 4.

[0058] Function and effect of the feeding device According to the feeding device 100 of the above-described embodiment, liquid food is supplied from the storage bottle 1 containing a large amount of liquid food to the feeding container 4, thereby feeding the insects with the liquid food stored in the liquid suction container 4. Furthermore, any loss of liquid food due to the insects foraging for the liquid food or evaporation of the liquid food in the feeding container 4 is replenished from the sealed storage bottle 1 as needed. Therefore, simply by installing the feeding device 100 in an insect rearing cage or the like, insects can be reared by providing them with a sufficient amount of liquid food, and the need for frequent liquid food replenishment can be reduced. Furthermore, by selecting a storage bottle 1 with an appropriate capacity for the insects to be fed from among several types of storage bottles 1 with different capacities and setting it in the feeding device 100, insects can be reared with less frequent replacement of the storage bottle 1.

[0059] As described above, feeding apparatus 100 of the above-described embodiment can reduce maintenance, thereby enabling reductions in costs and labor.

[0060] Furthermore, according to the feeding device 100 of the above-described embodiment, the surface tension reducer 5 protrudes from the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3 and is immersed in the liquid food stored in the feeding container 42, thereby reducing the surface tension of the liquid food. Therefore, when the amount of liquid food stored in the feeding container 4 decreases, the reduced amount of liquid food can be smoothly replenished from the storage bottle 1 to the feeding container 4 through the supply pipe 3, minimizing fluctuations in the liquid food level stored in the feeding container 4. This allows even small insects, such as crickets and ladybugs, to easily feed on the liquid food. Additionally, according to the feeding device 100 of the above-described embodiment, the surface tension reducer 5 is formed from a stranded wire made up of multiple wires, thereby effectively reducing the surface tension of the liquid food.

[0061] Furthermore, according to the feeding device 100 of the above-described embodiment, the supply pipe 3 is interposed between the storage bottle 1 and the feeding container 4, and the storage bottle 1 is positioned a certain distance above the feeding container 4. Therefore, when large insects or insects with long horns, such as rhinoceros beetles, feed on the liquid food stored in the feeding container 4, there is little risk that the storage bottle 1 located above will get in the way. Therefore, even these insects can easily feed on the liquid food.

[0062] Furthermore, in the feeding device 100 of the above-described embodiment, by coloring the feeding container 4 in a color that attracts certain insects such as butterflies, even insects that are only attracted to special colors can easily feed on the liquid food.

[0063] Furthermore, according to the feeding device 100 of the above-described embodiment, the liquid feed flows from the storage bottle 1 through the supply pipe 3 and is supplied to the feeding container 4, and is not absorbed by a liquid-absorbing wick as in the prior art. Therefore, there is almost no possibility that the liquid feed will crystallize due to evaporation, making it difficult to feed insects that can only feed on liquid feed, such as butterflies.

[0064] As described above, the feeding device 100 of the above-described embodiment makes it possible to provide liquid food to a variety of insects.

[0065] Furthermore, according to feeding device 100 of the above-described embodiment, feeding container 4 includes recess 42 for storing liquid food and flat top surface 43, allowing small insects and butterflies to climb onto flat surface 43 and feed on the liquid food in recess 42. Large insects can also place their front legs on flat surface 43 to feed on the liquid food in recess 42. This allows insects to feed on the liquid food more easily.

[0066] Furthermore, according to the feeding device 100 of the above-described embodiment, the lower end 31 of the supply pipe 3 is located at the same height as the upper end of the recess 42 of the feeding container 4, so that the liquid bait is stored up to the upper end of the recess 42 in the feeding container 4. This allows insects to feed on the liquid bait more easily.

[0067] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment of feeding device 100, feeding container 4 supports supply pipe 3 by support member 6 so that it can slide up and down, allowing the vertical position of lower end 31 of supply pipe 3 to be freely changed. Therefore, the height of the liquid bait stored in recess 42 of feeding container 4 can be freely changed depending on the insects to be fed.

[0068] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment of feeding apparatus 100, containing bottle 1, stopper member 2, feeding pipe 3, feeding container 4, and surface tension reducer 5 are all removable. This makes cleaning of feeding apparatus 100 easy, and reduces maintenance work, thereby reducing costs and labor.

[0069] Variations of feeding device The above describes one embodiment of the feeding device of the present disclosure, but the feeding device of the present disclosure is not limited to the feeding device 100 of the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible as long as they do not deviate from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0070] As a modification, when feeding liquid bait to small insects such as crickets or ladybugs in feeding device 100 of the above-described embodiment, a holding member 7 may be placed in recess 42 of feeding container 4 to prevent the small insects from drowning in the liquid bait stored in recess 42 of feeding container 4, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. Holding member 7 may be a block-shaped material, such as absorbent cotton or sponge, that is permeable to the liquid bait, and placed in the liquid bait stored in recess 42 of feeding container 4. Other examples of holding member 7 include mesh-like materials such as wire mesh with mesh sizes smaller than those of small insects, porous plates such as punched metal with pores smaller than those of small insects, cloth such as gauze, knitted fabrics, and sheets such as permeable paper, and holding member 7 may be placed so that it floats on the surface of the liquid bait stored in recess 42 of feeding container 4. In the embodiment of the feeding device 100 shown in Figures 8 and 9, insects can stand on the holding member 7 and feed on the liquid food stored in the recess 42 of the feeding container 4, thereby preventing the insects from drowning in the liquid food in the recess 42 while feeding.

[0071] As a modification, in feeding apparatus 100 of the above-described embodiment, support member 6 may support feeding tube 3 in a state in which feeding tube 3 cannot slide up and down.

[0072] As a modified example, in feeding device 100 of the above-described embodiment, instead of support member 6 that supports feeding tube 3 and holds containing bottle 1 above feeding container 4, feeding container 4 may be provided with an arm (not shown) that supports containing bottle 1 and holds containing bottle 1 above feeding container 4. The arm can support containing bottle 1, for example, by having a gripping mechanism that can grip body 12 of containing bottle 1, thereby holding containing bottle 1 in an inverted state above feeding container 4. Furthermore, the arm can support containing bottle 1 so that it can slide up and down, for example, by having the gripping mechanism move up and down relative to the arm, or by having the arm be extendable or bendable, thereby allowing the vertical position of bottom end 31 of feeding tube 3 to be freely changed.

[0073] As a modification, in feeding apparatus 100 of the above-described embodiment, storage section 40 of feeding container 4 does not have to include flat section 43 adjacent to recessed section 42. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1 storage bottle 2 Plug member 3 Supply pipe 4 feeding containers 5. Surface tension reducing material 6 Support member 11 Liquid food entrance / exit for the storage bottle 20 through hole of plug member 30 Upper end of supply pipe 31 Lower end of supply pipe 42 Recessed portion of feeding container 43 Flat surface of feeding container 51 Lower end of surface tension reducing member 100 Feeding Device

Claims

1. a storage bottle capable of storing liquid food; A plug member that closes the liquid bait inlet and outlet of the storage bottle; A feeding container that holds the storage bottle upward in an inverted state with the entrance facing downward and is capable of storing liquid feed; A supply pipe in which a portion of the upper end side is fitted into the through hole of the plug member, liquid feed can flow through the inside, and liquid feed can be supplied to the feeding container from the lower end, the supply pipe being arranged so that the lower end can come into contact with the liquid surface of the liquid feed stored in the feeding container; An insect feeding device comprising: at least one surface tension reducing member that passes through the interior of the supply pipe, protrudes from the lower end of the supply pipe, and has a portion of its lower end immersed in the liquid food stored in the feeding container.

2. The feeding container has a recess capable of storing liquid food and a flat surface having a flat upper surface, The feeding device of claim 1 , wherein the flat portion is adjacent to the recess.

3. The feeding apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the flat portion is adjacent to the recess at an upper end of the recess.

4. The feeding apparatus of claim 2 or 3, wherein the lower end of the supply pipe is located at the same height as an upper end of the recess.

5. The feeding apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the feeding container includes a support member above the recess that supports the feeding pipe so that the feeding pipe is slidable in the vertical direction.

6. The feeding apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the surface tension reducing member is made of a stranded wire formed by twisting together a plurality of wires.

7. 7. A feeding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the feeding container is coloured.

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