Rearing container for bagworm

Abstract

A rearing container for a bagworm which has excellent working efficiency, which can reduce a feeding load of a bagworm, and which provides a hygienic rearing environment was developed and provided.　Provided is a rearing container in which feed can be placed in an upper part of an interior space of a housing so that a bagworm can feed upon the feed, and which comprises a feed placement part that provides a scaffold.

Description

Bagworm breeding container

[0001] The present invention relates to a container for rearing bagworms.

[0002] Bagworms are the general term for the larvae of moths belonging to the family Psychidae in the order Lepidoptera. Bagworm silk, which they spin, has superior physical properties to silk produced by silkworms, and has thus recently attracted attention as a novel animal-derived natural fiber (Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 1).

[0003] In the silk industry using bagworms, in order to efficiently and stably supply bagworm silk harvested from bagworms, it is essential to establish rearing techniques that allow bagworms to be grown in large quantities in a short period of time, all year round, in an artificially controlled environment.

[0004] Some of the techniques for raising bagworms can be used to raise silkworms, which belong to the same order as lepidoptera and are well established in the sericulture industry.

[0005] For example, there is a rearing technique using artificial feed (Non-Patent Document 2). Because silkworms grow by eating fresh mulberry leaves, the collection and regular replacement of feed leaves, and the removal of excreted feces are essential rearing processes. However, these processes require a great deal of time and effort, and can be a major obstacle to work efficiency and business management. Furthermore, leaves collected in the field are rife with bacteria and parasites, and feeding such feed can easily lead to the development of disease and mold. Therefore, as a means to solve the above problems, the sericulture industry has developed a rearing technique using artificial feed. Using this rearing technique using artificial feed, it is possible to stably supply highly safe, consistent quality feed for bagworms as well.

[0006] However, if silkworm rearing techniques are applied to bagworms as they are, new problems that do not occur with silkworms may arise due to differences in the ecology of bagworms and silkworms.

[0007] For example, unlike silkworms, bagworms build nests and live in them throughout their entire larval stage. Because nests are essential for bagworm survival, providing nesting material is essential for raising bagworms, in addition to feeding them. Bagworm nests are made by binding pieces of branches and leaves together with the silk they spin. Under normal rearing conditions, bagworms use some of the branches and leaves provided for feeding as nesting material. However, when reared on an artificial diet, they are not provided with branches and leaves, so bagworms are forced to use the artificial diet as nesting material. However, after a few days, the nesting material dries out, turns into powder, and crumbles, causing the nest to lose its strength, forcing bagworms to repair the nest every time. Frequent repairs result in excessive energy consumption, which can lead to problems such as delayed growth and a reduced survival rate.

[0008] Furthermore, because silkworms have low mobility, they are unlikely to escape from their rearing environment, making it possible to rear them in large numbers in open cages (silkworm cages), and feeding is sufficient if food is placed on top of the cage.On the other hand, bagworms have extremely high mobility, and will easily escape from their rearing area unless they are kept in a cage-like rearing container.

[0009] Furthermore, when bagworms are raised on natural or artificial diets, they are bottom-fed, just like silkworms. However, because bagworms prefer high places and rest in a suspended position, they do not settle on the bottom like silkworms do, but instead move to the ceiling of the cage after feeding. This can result in excessive energy consumption due to the movement between the bottom and ceiling, which can lead to problems such as delayed growth. In addition, as they are more likely to come into contact with their own feces and spilled food scraps while feeding, they may become susceptible to infectious diseases transmitted through feces and food scraps.

[0010] For the reasons mentioned above, silkworm rearing techniques, particularly the rearing containers, cannot be adapted for rearing bagworms, and there has been a problem in that no rearing containers specifically designed for bagworms have been developed to date.

[0011] WO2019 / 003364

[0012] Shigeyoshi Osaki, 2002, Journal of the Society of Fiber Science and Technology (Fiber and Industry), 58: 74-78; Ito and Horie, 1962, Journal of Insect Physiology, 8: 569-578

[0013] The object of the present invention is to develop and provide, as part of an artificial rearing technique for bagworms, a rearing container that can rear bagworms until they hatch into bag moths, can efficiently feed the bagworms without forcing them to exercise excessively, and can provide a hygienic environment.

[0014] To solve the above-mentioned problem, the inventors focused on the resting habits of bagworms. In the wild, bagworms rest on high-placed horizontal branches, and even in cages, they rest while hanging from the ceiling. Taking advantage of this property, they came up with the reversal idea of ​​placing food and bagworm nesting materials, which were previously placed on the bottom of cages, on the ceiling and surrounding areas of the rearing container. This allows bagworms to feed and expand their nests with minimal exercise. Furthermore, bagworm feces and spilled food scraps naturally fall to the bottom of the container, reducing the opportunity for direct contact with the bagworms. Furthermore, by regularly removing feces, the container can be kept hygienic at all times, making it possible to prevent the occurrence of infectious diseases.

[0015] On the other hand, if soft artificial feed is simply placed on the ceiling, it cannot resist gravity and breaks down or falls. In addition, new problems have emerged: the artificial feed provides no foothold for the bagworms, and the bagworm silk threads have difficulty adhering, making it difficult for the bagworms to suspend themselves from the ceiling.

[0016] Therefore, the inventors conducted further research and developed a rearing container with a structure that allows the artificial feed to be held in the ceiling and that allows the bagworms to suspend themselves from the ceiling, thereby solving the new problem. The present invention is based on these development results and provides the following.

[0017] (1) A rearing container for bagworms, comprising: a housing capable of accommodating one or more bagworms and having an internal space large enough for the bagworms to move around; a feed placement section in the upper part of the internal space for placing feed in a state in which the bagworms can ingest it and for providing a foothold for the bagworms; an opening connecting the internal space to the outside; and a lid for closing the opening. (2) The rearing container described in (1), in which the feed is artificial feed. (3) The rearing container described in (1), comprising a nesting material placement section adjacent to or near the feed placement section for placing bagworm nesting material in a state in which the bagworms can use it. (4) A breeding container according to any one of (1) to (3), including a separation section with a plurality of holes, the separation section being located at the top of the bottom surface so that bagworms do not come into contact with droppings, nesting material scraps, or feed scraps that have fallen to the bottom of the internal space, and the holes being configured so that the minimum width is longer than the maximum width of the bagworm droppings to be accommodated and the maximum width is shorter than the maximum minor axis of the bagworm nest to be accommodated. (5) A breeding container according to (4), including a droppings collection section located between the bottom surface of the internal space and the separation section, for collecting the droppings, nesting material scraps, and feed scraps. (6) A breeding container according to (3), comprising artificial feed in the feed placement section and bagworm nesting material in the nesting material placement section. This specification incorporates the disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-105529, from which the present application claims priority.

[0018] According to the bagworm rearing container of the present invention, the bagworms can eat, rest, and build nests on the ceiling inside the rearing container with almost no movement.

[0019] According to the bagworm rearing container of the present invention, contact between the bagworms and droppings, nesting material scraps and / or feed scraps can be suppressed, thereby preventing the infection of diseases through droppings, etc.

[0020] The bagworm rearing container of the present invention makes it easy to change food and remove droppings, nesting material scraps, and food scraps, making it easy to maintain hygiene inside the container.

[0021] 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a rearing container for bagworms of the present invention. (A) is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of Cage A, a rearing container for bagworms of the present invention used in the examples, and (B) is an image of Cage A actually used in the examples. (C) is a separate enlarged photograph of the area within the dashed rectangle in the rearing container of (B). (A) is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of Cage B, a conventional rearing container for bagworms conforming to sericulture methods used in the examples, and (B) is an image of Cage B actually used in the examples. (C) is a separate enlarged photograph of the area within the dashed rectangle in the rearing container of (B). (A) is a diagram showing the change in the contact rate between bagworms and food in each cage every 24 hours. (B) is a photograph of the feeding surface of the artificial feed remaining in each cage at the end of the experiment in the examples. (A) shows the results for Cage A (Group A), and (B) shows the results for Cage B (Group B). (C) is a photograph of the inner bottom surface of the cage for each group at the end of the experiment in the examples. A is the result for cage A (group A), and B is the result for cage B (group B).

[0022] 1. Bagworm Rearing Container 1-1. Overview The first invention of the present invention is a bagworm rearing container. The rearing container of the present invention has features specialized for rearing bagworms, including a food placement section that allows food to be placed on the ceiling inside the rearing container, taking advantage of bagworms' tendency to rest at high altitudes. The bagworm rearing container of the present invention allows bagworms to complete feeding, resting, and nesting in one place on the ceiling inside the rearing container, making it possible to promote the growth of bagworms in a short period of time. Furthermore, since contact with feces and food scraps is suppressed, disease transmission via feces, etc. can be prevented, and since food replacement and cleaning can be easily performed, the inside of the container can be kept constantly clean.

[0023] 1-2. Definition of Terms The following terms used in this specification are defined. As mentioned above, "bagworm" refers to the larvae of moths belonging to the family Psychidae in the order Lepidoptera. Moths of the family Psychidae are distributed throughout the world, but the bagworms covered by this specification may be any species. For example, but not limited to, species belonging to Acanthopsyche, Anatolopsyche, Bacotia, Bambalina, Canephora, Chalioides, Dahlica, Diplodoma, Eumeta, Eumasia, Kozhantshikovia, Mahasena, Nipponopsyche, Paranarychia, Proutia, Psyche, Pteroma, Siederia, Striglocyrbasia, Taleporia, Theriodopteryx, and Trigonodoma are included. Bagworms covered by this specification may be of any gender or age. Preferably, it is a mid-stage and / or late-stage bagworm.

[0024] As used herein, "mid-stage bagworms" refers to bagworms in the middle growth stage. This generally includes, but is not limited to, bagworms in the third to fourth instars. Additionally, as used herein, "late-stage bagworms" refers to bagworms in the late growth stage. This generally includes, but is not limited to, bagworms in the fifth instar or later.

[0025] As used herein, "bagworm nest" refers to a bag-like, mobile dwelling that can be spindle-shaped, cylindrical, conical, or other shapes and encases the entire body of the bagworm. The nest is composed of silk threads spun by the bagworm itself and materials such as leaf fragments and branch fragments bound together with the silk threads. Bagworms essentially hide within the nest throughout their entire larval stage and never leave it. Even when feeding or moving, they only expose part of their body through the opening of the nest, and always carry the nest with them. Furthermore, from the first to last instar, they do not usually replace their nests, but continue to use the one they made immediately after hatching, repeatedly renovating and expanding it as they grow. Furthermore, they do not make cocoons, and pupation occurs within the nest. As described above, the bagworm and the nest are inseparably linked.

[0026] As used herein, "silk thread" refers to thread derived from insects, a protein thread spun by insect larvae and adults for the purposes of nesting, moving, anchoring, spinning cocoons, capturing food, etc. Furthermore, as used herein, "bagworm silk thread" refers to silk thread spun by bagworms.

[0027] As used herein, "nesting" refers to the act of bagworms constructing nests. As mentioned above, bagworms generally do not replace nests once they have constructed them, but use them throughout their entire larval stage, repeatedly repairing and expanding them as they grow. Therefore, in this specification, nesting refers to nesting in a broad sense, including not only the creation of a nest from scratch, but also the repair or expansion of an existing nest to maintain it in optimal condition. "Repairing or expanding a nest" refers to expanding the nest or repairing damaged parts in accordance with the condition of the nest or the growth of the bagworm. Repairing or expanding a nest is usually done by adding new nesting material or reinforcing it with bagworm silk.

[0028] As used herein, "(bagworm) nesting material" refers to the constituent components of a bagworm nest, a substance that bagworms take in from the outside when building a nest. Typically, bagworms cover the surface of their nests with pieces of plant leaves and twigs for camouflage, reinforcement, etc. In nature, these leaves and twigs constitute nesting material.

[0029] As used herein, "feed" refers to food given to bagworms for their growth.

[0030] As used herein, "artificial feed" refers to an alternative food for bagworms that is an artificially formulated diet containing nutrients that replace natural food leaves.

[0031] As used herein, "feed waste" refers to pieces of feed or feed powder that fall off from the feed fed to bagworms when they eat the feed, or pieces of feed or feed powder that are produced when the feed mass collapses due to drying or gravity.

[0032] 1-3. Configuration A conceptual diagram of the bagworm rearing container of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. As shown in this figure, the bagworm rearing container (0100) of the present invention is characterized by including a housing (0101), a food placement section (0102), an opening (0103), and a lid section (0104) as essential components, and a nesting material placement section (0105), a separation section (0106), a feces collection section (0107), and a food placement section supporter (0108) as optional components. Each component will be described in detail below.

[0033] (1) Housing The "housing" (0101) is a container-like part that constitutes the external shape of the bagworm rearing container (0100), and essentially corresponds to the main body of the bagworm rearing container of the present invention. The housing is capable of housing one or more bagworms and provides an internal space large enough for the bagworms to move around. In this specification, unless otherwise specified, the term "internal space" simply refers to the internal space of the housing.

[0034] The shape of the housing is not particularly limited. It is sufficient that it has the rigidity to maintain a certain shape and has an internal space of a certain shape. Because it is necessary to place the feed placement section (0102) at the top of the internal space, a shape with a flat structure or a curved structure with a certain or larger area at the top, such as a box shape or a cylindrical shape, is preferred. The shape of the internal space is not limited, but is usually a shape that conforms to the external shape.

[0035] The surfaces constituting the enclosure may have a single-layer structure in which the outer wall constituting the exterior wall of the enclosure and the inner wall constituting the wall of the internal space are the same, or a multi-layer structure in which the outer wall and the inner wall are different, or a combination thereof. The surface shape of the surfaces is not particularly limited as long as it prevents bagworms from escaping from the internal space to the outside. Examples include plate-like surfaces, lattice-like surfaces, fence-like surfaces, netting (mesh) surfaces, and combinations thereof. In the case of lattice-like, fence-like, or netting surfaces, the size of each opening may be large enough so that bagworms holding nests cannot pass through. From the perspective of breathability within the container, it is desirable for at least a portion of the outer and inner walls of the surfaces to have openings that are always open. Furthermore, it is preferable that at least a portion of the surfaces be structured so that the internal space can be directly viewed from the outside, allowing the condition of the interior of the bagworm rearing container and the growth of the bagworms to be confirmed. For example, the openings may be large enough so that bagworms cannot pass through but the internal space can be seen, or at least a portion of the surfaces may be made of a light-transmitting material.

[0036] The capacity of the internal space can be determined appropriately depending on the number, species, and age of the bagworms being reared. For example, when rearing third-instar or later instar larvae of the giant bagworm (Giant Bagworm), if 100 or fewer bagworms are to be reared, the capacity per container can be 1 L or more, 2 L or more, 3 L or more, 4 L or more, 5 L or more, 6 L or more, 7 L or more, 8 L or more, 9 L or more, 10 L or more, 15 L or more, or 20 L or more. Furthermore, if 100 to 300 bagworms are to be reared, the capacity per container can be 20 L or more, 30 L or more, 40 L or more, 50 L or more, 60 L or more, 70 L or more, 80 L or more, 90 L or more, or 100 L or more.

[0037] The material of the housing is not particularly limited as long as it has self-supporting rigidity. Specific examples include synthetic resin, glass, metal, silicon, ceramics, stone, plant material (e.g., paper), animal material (e.g., chrome-tanned cowhide), or a combination thereof. It is more preferable that the material is not easily broken and / or torn by the jaws of a bagworm.

[0038] In this specification, "synthetic resin" includes plastics (thermoplastic resins), thermosetting resins, synthetic rubber, etc. Examples of plastics include, but are not limited to, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, acrylic resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl alcohol, nylon, Teflon (PTFE) (registered trademark), polycarbonate, methylpentene, and phenolic resin.

[0039] "Glass" includes quartz glass, fused silica, synthetic quartz, alumina, sapphire glass, ceramics, forsterite, photosensitive glass, etc. Metals include pure metals such as gold, silver, copper, aluminum, tungsten, molybdenum, chromium, platinum, titanium, and nickel, and alloys such as stainless steel, Hastelloy, Inconel, Monel, and duralumin. Specific examples of the aforementioned light-transmitting materials include glass and the aforementioned plastics (polyester, polypropylene, polyvinyl alcohol, nylon, Teflon, polycarbonate, methylpentene, phenolic resin, etc.). The housing may be made of one type of material or a combination of two or more types.

[0040] (2) Feed placement section The "feed placement section" (0102) is a section for placing feed in the upper part of the internal space of the housing (0101) in a state where the feed can be eaten by the bagworms, and at the same time, it is a section specialized for raising bagworms, providing a foothold for the bagworms to move around within the section in order to eat.

[0041] In this specification, the "upper part of the internal space" refers to the ceiling of the internal space of the housing and / or its surroundings. Also, the "surroundings" refers to the inner side surface of the housing that is in contact with the ceiling.

[0042] In this specification, a "scaffold" is a material to which the bagworm can attach its legs and / or to which the bagworm silk thread can be stably fixed, and which the bagworm cannot break with its jaws.

[0043] In this specification, "legs" refers to all or part of the legs of a bagworm. The thorax of a bagworm has legs called thoracic legs. These thoracic legs consist of three on each side (front, middle, and back legs), for a total of six legs, three pairs on each side. Any of these legs can be used as the leg to be locked.

[0044] In this specification, "capable of locking legs" means that the bagworm can hook its legs, thereby supporting all or part of its own weight (including the weight of itself and the nest) and preventing it from falling. In this specification, the object on which the bagworm locks its legs may be part of the feed placement area, or the scaffolding silk thread spun by the bagworm. In the latter case, the feed placement area must be able to stably secure the bagworm silk thread. The bagworm is free to lock and release its legs, and this does not mean that once locked, the legs are fixed in place. The bagworm can move freely around the feed placement area by repeatedly locking and releasing its legs.

[0045] The feed placement section is configured to prevent feed placed in the upper part of the internal space from falling and to allow the bagworms to eat the feed, while also allowing the bagworms to lock their legs and / or stably fix the bagworm silk thread.

[0046] An example of a structure that prevents the placed feed from falling is a shelf-like structure (0102) as shown in Figure 1. In the case of a shelf-like structure, the specific structure is not limited as long as feed can be placed on top of it. For example, the shelf portion may be a plate-like (dish-like) structure, a lattice-like structure, a fence-like (slit) structure, a net-like (mesh) structure, or a combination thereof.

[0047] In the case of a structure with holes (apertures) in the shelf area, such as a lattice-like structure, a fence-like structure, or a net-like structure, the size of each hole should, in principle, be large enough that bagworms holding food and nests cannot pass through. However, if the artificial feed is a gel or semi-soft solid, even if the size is such that the artificial feed cannot pass through the hole when it is installed, after installation, it may collapse under its own weight at the top of the hole, breaking into small pieces that can pass through the hole. It is preferable that the size of each hole is equal to or smaller than the size that collapses under its own weight. Conversely, it is preferable that the size of each hole is equal to or larger than the size that bagworms can easily eat the feed through the hole from the bottom of the feed placement area. Therefore, without any limitation, for example, it is preferable that one hole is 1 mm 2 More than 2mm 2 or more, 3mm 2 or more, 4mm 2or more, or 5mm 2 It is fine if it is more than 1.5cm. 2 Within 1.4cm 2 Within 1.3cm 2 Within 1.2cm 2 Within 1.1cm 2 Within 1.0cm 2 Within 9mm 2 Within 8mm 2 Within 7mm 2 Within 6 mm 2 It is fine as long as it is within this range.

[0048] Furthermore, in the case of lattice, fence, or net-like structures, the bagworms can use their legs to attach to the frames that make up each structure, which can serve as a foothold. The feed placement area serves as a foothold, so the feed placement area essentially holds the bagworms and their nests even when they are feeding or resting. In particular, when feeding artificial feed, the artificial feed, which cannot bear weight, will not hold the bagworms or their nests. In other words, the artificial feed can be easily separated from the bagworms and their nests. This allows the bagworms to easily change their food even when they are feeding or resting.

[0049] The feed placement section may be a separate structure from the housing, or may be a structure integrated into the housing. A specific example of a structure in which the feed placement section is separate from the housing is a tray-like structure to which the feed placement section can be detached. In this case, the housing may have one or more feed placement section supports (0108) on the side or top of the housing interior to support the feed placement section placed near the ceiling inside the housing so that it does not fall. Another specific example of a structure in which the feed placement section is integrated into the housing is when the top plate of the housing also serves as the feed placement section. In this case, the top plate of the housing is integral with the ceiling of the internal space and has the shelf-like structure.

[0050] The size of the feed placement section is not limited as long as the area of ​​the portion (tray) where the feed is placed is at least large enough to stably place the feed and is equal to or smaller than the ceiling area of ​​the internal space. Preferably, when the ceiling area of ​​the internal space is taken as 100%, the area should be 70% or more, 80% or more, 90% or more, 95% or more, or 100%.

[0051] The material of the feed-disposing section is the same as that of the housing, but if the housing and the feed-disposing section are separate structures, they do not need to be made of the same material. Also, like the housing, they may be made of one type of material or a combination of two or more types.

[0052] The feed placed in the feed placement section may be natural feed, artificial feed, or a combination thereof. In nature, bagworms feed on plants, particularly the leaves of woody plants. Therefore, in this specification, "natural feed" refers to plant leaves and / or natural feed leaves.

[0053] As used herein, "artificial feed" refers to an alternative food for bagworms, artificially formulated with the necessary moisture and nutrients, that induces feeding motivation in bagworms similar to natural feed. The composition of the alternative food is not particularly limited as long as it is effective as an alternative food. However, to ensure hygienic and consistent quality, it is preferable for the food to have a consistent composition sterilized by heat treatment or other means. In principle, the artificial feed is solid (including semi-solid gels and pastes) and can be in any form. However, a form that is easy to place in the feed placement area (described below) and that is easy for bagworms to consume is preferred. Specific examples of artificial feed include the well-known artificial feed for silkworms (Hirayama, 2020, Silkworm and Insect Biotech 89(2):91-96) as well as commercially available artificial feeds such as Insector (Nihon Nosan Kogyo Co., Ltd.).

[0054] Traditionally, when raising lepidopteran larvae, feeding has been achieved by placing the food directly on the silkworm cage in the case of silkworms, and for other lepidopteran larvae, feeding has generally been achieved by placing the food on the bottom of the rearing container as with silkworms, or by placing pots of food plants inside the cage. This feed placement unit allows feeding from the ceiling, which unifies or brings close to each other the feeding and resting areas of the bagworms, eliminating the need for excessive movement and promoting growth. Furthermore, since there is no need for movement to the bottom of the interior space where fallen feces and food scraps accumulate, the transmission of diseases via feces can be prevented.

[0055] (3) Opening The "opening" (0103) is a part consisting of a hole that connects the internal space to the outside in the bagworm rearing container of the present invention. Here, "outside" refers to the external space of the bagworm rearing container. The opening connects the internal space to the outside, for example, when storing bagworms and / or food inside the bagworm rearing container, and when removing bagworms from the inside of the bagworm rearing container and / or discharging feces and food scraps.

[0056] The opening is disposed in the housing, but its position is not particularly limited. For example, if the feed placement section (0102) also serves as the top plate of the housing (0101) and is detachable, the top surface of the housing with the top plate (feed placement section) removed can also serve as the opening. At least one opening per housing is sufficient, but multiple openings may be provided. For example, in the case of a box-shaped housing, it is sufficient that the opening is provided on at least one of the side, top, and bottom surfaces. Preferably, the opening is provided on the side or top surface of the housing.

[0057] The size of the opening is not particularly limited as long as it is large enough to accommodate at least the bagworms. If food needs to be accommodated, it must be large enough to accommodate the food in addition to the bagworms. The opening may be 40% or more, 50% or more, 60% or more, 70% or more, 80% or more, 90% or more, or 100% of the area of ​​one side of the housing.

[0058] The shape of the opening, like the size, is not particularly limited as long as it can accommodate at least the bagworms. If food needs to be accommodated, the opening may be any shape that can accommodate the food in addition to the bagworms. Examples include square, approximately square, polygonal, circular, elliptical, and combinations thereof.

[0059] (4) Lid The "lid" (0104) is a part that closes the opening (0103). Therefore, in the rearing container of the present invention, there are the same number of lids as the openings. The material, shape, and size of the lid are not particularly limited as long as it has a configuration that can close the openings and prevent the escape of bagworms stored in the internal space and / or the invasion of natural enemies from the outside.

[0060] The material of the lid is similar to that of the housing, but it does not have to be the same material as the housing. Also, like the housing, it may be made of one type of material or a combination of two or more types.

[0061] The shape of the lid is not limited as long as it can close the opening. Typically, it has the same or similar shape as the opening. The connection between the lid and the opening may be an airtight, tight-fitting structure, or a breathable, fitting-type structure. For example, in the case of a box-shaped container in which the opening is installed on the side, the lid may have a shape that closes the opening from the top or side in a sliding or door-like manner. In this case, the connection between the two is a breathable fitting-type. Furthermore, if the opening is circular, the lid may have a screw-in shape that closes by screwing it in like a screw cap, or a push-in shape that closes by pushing it into the opening of the container like a stopper. In these cases, the connection between the two is an airtight, tight-fitting type.

[0062] The lid may be a door-type lid that is integrated with the housing, or a sliding lid that is detachable from the housing. If the lid is a close-fitting type, it must have at least one ventilation hole that connects the interior space to the outside.

[0063] A "vent" is a hole placed in the housing to provide ventilation to the interior space, and is an optional component of a rearing container for bagworms.

[0064] The ventilation holes serve as gas exchange holes inside the container when raising bagworms, and as moisture release holes to prevent the container from becoming too humid.

[0065] There are no limitations on the shape and size of the ventilation hole, as long as it is impervious to bagworms and to natural enemies, etc., from entering from the outside. The ventilation hole may have a mesh-like or filter-like structure consisting of a collection of multiple holes.

[0066] (5) Nesting Material Placement Section The "nesting material placement section" (0105) is a section adjacent to or near the feed placement section (0102) that places bagworm nesting material in a state that the bagworms can use. The nesting material placement section is an optional component in the bagworm rearing container (0100) of the present invention. However, it is an essential component when rearing bagworms on artificial feed.

[0067] In this specification, "adjacent" refers to a state in contact with the food placement section. "Virtually adjacent" refers to a position that is not in contact with the food placement section, but is very close, such as around the food placement section. Therefore, the nesting material placement section is placed at the top of the interior space. This nesting material placement section allows bagworms in the bagworm rearing container of the present invention to not only eat and rest, but also complete nesting, such as renovating or expanding their nests, in the upper part of the interior space with minimal movement required.

[0068] The shape of the nesting material placement section is not particularly limited, as long as it can be placed adjacent to or near the food placement section in a state where the bagworm nesting material is available to the bagworms. For example, the feed placement section may have a shelf-like structure on top of which the bagworm nesting material is placed. It may also be a part of a surface that constitutes another part, such as the ceiling surface of the interior space, the upper wall surface of the side section, or the underside of the food placement section. In this case, the bagworm nesting material can be placed by attaching or hanging it to that surface. The bagworm nesting material can be attached to the surface using an adhesive (including adhesive tape). The adhesive preferably contains ingredients that are harmless to bagworms. Examples include glue and starch paste. The bagworm nesting material can be hung on the surface by hanging it with a hook or by fixing it with a pin.

[0069] As used herein, bagworm nesting material includes any material that is artificially provided in a captive environment and used by bagworms as nesting material. Examples include bark, wood, paper, resin, fiber, hair, etc. Although not limited thereto, a preferred nesting material is bark.

[0070] "Bark" refers to cork tissue consisting of a cork layer located closer to the environment than the cork cambium in the trunks, branches, and roots of woody plants. Furthermore, "woody plants" refer to perennial plants that have a cambium that becomes lignified. This includes so-called trees. The cork layer is composed of dead cork cells. The tree species from which bark is derived is not limited, but dicotyledons or gymnosperms are preferred. There are no limitations on the type of these. Examples of dicotyledons include plants belonging to the orders Fagales, Juglandales, Hamamelidales, Laurales, Ebenales, Salicales, Ericales, Rosales, and Sapindales. Furthermore, examples of gymnosperms include plants belonging to the orders Coniferales, Taxales, and Cycadales, as well as ginkgo biloba. The bark of plants from the Fagaceae family and the Pinaceae family, which have a thick cork layer, is suitable. Among these, the bark of plants from the Quercus genus and the Pinus genus is more preferred as the bark used in this specification. The bark of cork oak (Q. suber) and Quercus variabilis is particularly preferred. So-called "cork" refers to raw or processed bark of cork oak.

[0071] As used herein, "processed bark" refers to bark that has been harvested, crushed, hollowed out, or sliced, and then molded as necessary. Examples include cork made from cork oak bark, which is crushed into granules to produce cork powder, cork chips, which are crushed into small pieces, cork sheets or cork mats, which are made by compressing and molding cork powder or cork chips into plates, hollowed-out cork stoppers, and bark chips, which are crushed into chunks.

[0072] Bagworm nesting material is preferably disinfected or sterilized before use. As used herein, "disinfection" refers to a process aimed at reducing the number of surviving bacteria or viruses present in an object and deactivating or neutralizing their infectivity. Furthermore, as used herein, "sterilization" refers to a process that reduces the survival probability of bacteria or viruses present in an object to one in a million or less, preferably zero. Disinfected or sterilized bagworm nesting material is suitable because it also helps prevent bagworm infection. It is particularly preferred for use on newly hatched bagworms, which have low resistance. Methods for disinfecting or sterilizing bagworm nesting material may be performed using methods known in the art. Examples of disinfection methods include hot water disinfection, which involves exposing the material to hot water at 60°C to 100°C for a predetermined period of time; cleaning disinfection using surfactants; and disinfection, which involves exposing the material to disinfectants such as alcohol or sodium hypochlorite. Examples of sterilization methods include high-pressure steam sterilization (autoclave method), boiling sterilization, ethylene oxide gas sterilization, and gamma ray sterilization.

[0073] The shape of the bagworm nesting material is not limited. Any shape of nesting material can be used, including granular, plate-shaped, and block-shaped nesting materials. However, the shape of nesting material preferred by bagworms varies slightly depending on the growth stage of the bagworms. For example, early-stage bagworms, which correspond to first- to second-instar bagworms immediately after hatching, will suitably use any shape of nesting material, regardless of the shape of the nesting material. Meanwhile, mid-stage bagworms prefer granular nesting material, but will also use plate-shaped nesting material. Furthermore, late-stage bagworms prefer plate-shaped nesting material, but will also use block-shaped nesting material. Therefore, although not limited, it is preferable to place bagworm nesting material in the nesting material placement area in a shape that matches the growth stage of the bagworms housed in the bagworm rearing container of the present invention.

[0074] As used herein, "granular nesting material" refers to nesting material in a particle shape. There are no particular limitations on the particle shape, and it includes all shapes, such as spherical, approximately spherical, square, approximately square, and irregular. The shape and size of each granule may be uniform or may vary. There are no limitations on the size of the granular nesting material, but it may have a major axis in the range of, for example, 0.3 mm to less than 5.0 mm, 0.5 mm to 4.5 mm, 0.8 mm to 4.0 mm, 1.0 mm to 3.5 mm, or 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm. Furthermore, as used herein, "major axis" refers to the width across the longest end of the nesting material. For example, if the nesting material is approximately spherical, the diameter of the bark is the relevant term. Granular nesting material includes bark particles crushed to a specified size, such as cork particles.

[0075] As used herein, "plate-shaped nesting material" refers to a relatively thin, sheet-like nesting material. There are no restrictions on the sheet area, but it is preferable that both the length and width be equal to or greater than the bagworm's body length. The overall shape of the plate-shaped nesting material is not important. It may be square, approximately square, circular, approximately circular, polygonal, approximately polygonal, or irregular. There are also no restrictions on the thickness, but it may be 0.2mm to 10mm, 0.5mm to 8mm, 0.8mm to 7mm, 1mm to 6mm, 2mm to 5mm, or 3mm to 4mm. Examples of plate-shaped nesting material include a thin bark layer made by slicing bark, or a cork sheet made by compressing crushed bark particles into a sheet.

[0076] As used herein, "lump nesting material" refers to block-shaped nesting material of regular or irregular shape. There are no restrictions on the size or volume of the lump nesting material, but its length, width, and height may all be within the ranges of 1 cm to 15 cm, 2 cm to 12 cm, 4 cm to 10 cm, or 5 cm to 8 cm. Specific examples of lump nesting material include cork stoppers and bark chips.

[0077] Because bagworm nests are renovated and expanded throughout the larval stage, nesting material must be provided continuously throughout the bagworm breeding period. It is preferable to change the shape of the nesting material as the bagworms grow. However, when raising a large number of bagworms, individual differences in growth rate can occur. For example, when raising multiple bagworms, if mid-stage bagworms grow and some of them become late-stage bagworms, a mixture of late-stage and mid-stage bagworms will be present. It is difficult to determine when nesting material should be replaced. Furthermore, replacing nesting material as the bagworms grow is time-consuming.

[0078] Therefore, by combining and placing nesting materials for each growth stage in the nesting material placement section, it becomes possible to use it for all growth stages. By providing a combination of nesting materials with preferred shapes for each growth stage, the bagworms can select the appropriate nesting material to suit their own growth. For example, a nesting material configuration that combines granular nesting material of a specific size suitable for mid-stage bagworms with plate-shaped nesting material for late-stage bagworms is an example of this. Block nesting material may also be included if necessary.

[0079] There are no restrictions on the ratio of granular to plate-shaped nesting material in the bagworm nesting material for all growth stages. It can be determined appropriately depending on the number of individuals being reared and the ratio of individuals at each growth stage when the nesting material is provided. For example, the ratio of granular to plate-shaped nesting material can be 1:9, 2:8, 3:7, 4:6, 5:5, 6:4, 7:3, 8:2, or 9:1 by weight or volume.

[0080] (6) Separation Section The "separation section" (0106) is a section with a single or multiple holes. The separation section is located at the top bottom of the internal space of the bagworm rearing container of the present invention, and separates the internal space into two chambers: an upper chamber for rearing bagworms and a lower chamber for accumulating a certain amount of droppings, etc. In the configuration of the bagworm rearing container of the present invention, droppings excreted by bagworms reared in the internal space, nesting material scraps dropped from nesting material provided during the nest renovation and expansion process, and food scraps dropped from food fall to the bottom of the internal space and accumulate. The separation section is located at the top bottom as a partition to prevent bagworms from coming into direct contact with droppings, etc. accumulated on the bottom of the internal space when they move to the bottom of the internal space. The separation section prevents disease infection via droppings, etc.

[0081] For the above purposes, the holes in the separation section must be of a shape and size that allows feces and the like to pass through easily but prevents bagworms from passing through.

[0082] The shape of the holes is not particularly limited as long as it satisfies the above conditions, and may be any of circular, elliptical, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal (including hexagonal), irregular, and combinations thereof.

[0083] The size of the holes may be such that the minimum width of the holes is longer than the maximum width of the bagworm feces to be accommodated and the maximum width is shorter than the maximum minor axis of the bagworm nest to be accommodated. Here, the "maximum minor axis of the nest" refers to the longest axis of the minor axis (corresponding to the diameter of the nest) perpendicular to the major axis of the bagworm nest. In other words, this configuration allows fallen feces to pass through but not the bagworms carrying the nest. Therefore, to allow fallen feces to pass through easily, the hole size is preferably at least 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, or 2.0 times the maximum width of the feces, although this is not limited thereto. Furthermore, to prevent bagworms from easily passing through, the hole size is preferably at most 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, 0.6, or 0.5 times the maximum minor axis of the nest.

[0084] Strictly speaking, the width of the hole varies depending on the species, age (growth stage), sex, and individual bagworm. However, in the bagworm rearing container of the present invention, which is primarily intended for rearing multiple bagworms, the width can be determined accordingly if the species and main age of the bagworms being reared are known. For example, for final-stage bagworms of the giant bagworm moth, the maximum width of the feces averages 3.0 mm ± 0.5 mm (2.5 mm to 3.5 mm), and for final-stage bagworms of the brown bagworm moth, the maximum width of the feces averages 2.5 mm ± 0.5 mm (2.0 mm to 3.0 mm). Furthermore, for final-stage bagworms of the giant bagworm moth, the maximum short axis of the nest averages 13.0 mm ± 3.0 mm (10.0 mm to 16.0 mm), and for final-stage bagworms of the brown bagworm moth, the maximum short axis of the nest averages 8.0 ± 2.0 mm (6.0 mm to 10.0 mm).

[0085] In principle, the separation section is a member that covers the entire bottom surface of the internal space, and its shape may be any of a plate, corrugated sheet, funnel-like, or a combination thereof. In the case of a plate or corrugated sheet, it has multiple holes across the entire front surface so that fallen feces and the like do not accumulate at the top of the separation section but pass through immediately. For example, a plate-shaped separation section may have a lattice structure, a fence-like (slit) structure, a net-like (mesh) structure, or a combination thereof. In the case of a funnel-shaped separation section that covers the entire bottom surface, the number of holes may exceptionally be one. In this case, the hole is provided at the bottom of the funnel.

[0086] The material of the separation part is not particularly limited as long as it has self-standing rigidity and is not easily destroyed and / or broken by the jaws of a bagworm. Specifically, it is similar to the material of the housing. If the separation part is integral with the housing, the two may be made of the same material or different materials. Furthermore, like the housing, the separation part does not necessarily have to be made of one type of material, but may be made of a combination of two or more types of materials.

[0087] The separating section may be integrated with the bagworm rearing container of the present invention, or may be detachable in whole or in part. A detachable separating section is convenient because it can be replaced with a separating section having holes suited to the type and age of the bagworm being reared.

[0088] As described above, the separation section is disposed above the bottom of the internal space. "Above the bottom" refers to the area above the bottom of the internal space that is close enough to but does not come into contact with the bottom. The upper chamber needs to have a sufficient capacity for rearing bagworms, while the lower chamber only needs to be able to accumulate a certain amount of droppings, etc., so the capacity of the lower chamber may be 1 / 10 or less, 1 / 20 or less, 1 / 30 or less, 1 / 40 or less, 1 / 50 or less, 1 / 60 or less, 1 / 70 or less, 1 / 80 or less, 1 / 90 or less, or 1 / 100 or less of the capacity of the upper chamber.

[0089] (7) Feces Collection Section The "feces collection section" (0107) is a section that collects the feces, nesting material scraps, and feed scraps. The feces collection section collects feces and other debris that has fallen to the bottom of the internal space, and can remove the feces and other debris from the bagworm rearing container when a certain amount has accumulated. This section keeps the inside of the bagworm rearing container hygienic, and maintains the health of the bagworms being reared.

[0090] The feces collection unit may also be detachable. In this case, it can be removed from the bagworm rearing container when a certain amount of feces has accumulated, the feces can be discarded, and after cleaning, it can be reattached. Alternatively, a new feces collection unit can be attached as a disposable configuration that is discarded along with the feces. The detachable method is not particularly limited. For example, it may be configured to simply be inserted and placed between the bottom of the internal space and the separation unit, or, if the bottom of the internal space and the feces collection unit are integrated as described above, the bottom of the housing including the bottom of the internal space can be configured to be detachable.

[0091] The shape of the droppings collection section is not particularly limited. Since its purpose is to collect so-called garbage, such as droppings excreted by bagworms and spilled feed scraps, any shape that can achieve this purpose may be used, such as a funnel shape, a tray shape, or a bag shape.

[0092] The funnel-shaped excrement collection section can be configured, for example, as a guide member installed on one side of the bottom of the internal space. In this case, if a discharge hole through which excrement can pass is opened on the bottom at the location corresponding to the funnel opening, excrement accumulated on the bottom can be removed through the hole by tilting the entire cage. In principle, tray-shaped or bag-shaped excrement collection sections are detachable.

[0093] The size of the feces collection section is not particularly limited. For the above purpose, it is sufficient if it is large enough to collect all feces that have fallen into the internal space. If the feces collection section is tray-shaped or bag-shaped, there is no limitation, but it should be equal to or larger than the separation section and equal to or smaller than the bottom of the internal space.

[0094] The material of the feces collection section is not particularly limited as long as it is corrosion-resistant and water-resistant for a certain period of time as described below. For example, a material similar to the material of the housing is suitable. However, since the feces collection section is a disposable section that allows feces and the like to be disposed of together with the feces collection section, it is sufficient that the material is corrosion-resistant and water-resistant for a certain period of time from when it is newly installed until it is discarded when it is replaced. For example, paper is an example of this. Note that "corrosion-resistant" here refers to the property of not being degraded by components of feces, nesting material waste, and feed waste, and not being decomposed or degraded by mold or other filamentous fungi or bacteria.

[0095] The feces collection section is disposed between the bottom surface of the internal space and the separation section for the purpose of collecting feces and the like that have passed through the separation section and retaining them for a certain period of time. The bottom surface of the internal space and the feces collection section may also be integrated.

[0096] 1-4. Method of Using the Bagworm Rearing Container The bagworm rearing container of the present invention is used by placing food in the food placement section, and more preferably by placing bagworm nesting material in the nesting material placement section.

[0097] The feed placed in the feed placement area may be either natural or artificial, but artificial feed is preferred. Bagworm nesting material should be placed in an appropriate shape and amount depending on the type, age, and number of bagworms being reared in the bagworm rearing container. The feed and bagworm nesting material can be replaced as needed based on the remaining amount and / or freshness.

[0098] It is preferable to wash the separation unit periodically if possible. The specific method for washing can be any method that can remove adhering feces, etc. Examples include scrubbing with a brush, rinsing with water, wiping with cloth or paper, etc. After washing, it may be disinfected by applying or spraying ethanol, etc. If the separation unit is detachable, it may be replaced with a different separation unit with a hole size that matches the age of the bagworms being raised.

[0099] To maintain the hygiene of the internal space, it is preferable to periodically remove the feces collection section, remove accumulated feces, etc., and then wash, dry, and reattach it. If the feces collection section is disposable, it is periodically removed and discarded, and a new feces collection section is then attached.

[0100] (Purpose) To examine the contact rate between the bagworms and the food, the rate of increase in the nest length axis (growth rate), and the amount of food consumed, depending on the placement of food in the rearing container.

[0101] (Method) (1) Bagworms Bagworms of the giant bagworm moth obtained from the same mother moth were raised under the same conditions, fed artificial feed and cork nesting material, and individuals corresponding to the fourth instar, when the maximum short axis of the nest was approximately 8 mm and the long axis was approximately 20 mm, were used.

[0102] (2) Cages The 40 bagworms were randomly divided into two groups of 20 each, and each group was housed in two cages (Cages A and B) with different feed arrangements and reared for 14 days. The configurations of Cages A and B are shown in Figures 2 and 3, respectively. The specific configurations are as follows:

[0103] Cage A: Ceiling placement (Figure 2); Group A. This corresponds to the bagworm rearing container of the present invention. Cage A (0200) is made of 5mm thick acrylic and consists of a box-shaped enclosure measuring 220mm x 220mm x 200mm in width x depth x height. A wire mesh (0201) with 220mm x 220mm mesh (square holes) is attached to the entire top surface as a feed placement area. In other words, in this cage, the top surface of the rearing container also serves as a feed placement area. In addition, a wire mesh (0204) with 210mm x 210mm mesh (square holes) is attached 50mm from the bottom of the cage as a separation area, covering the entire upper bottom surface. Furthermore, 0.5mm thick cork boards cut into 10mm x 150mm-170mm strips were used as nesting material placement areas (0203) for the bagworms to use as nesting material and as a path between the cage bottom and ceiling. Sixteen pieces of paper of the same size were also used as simple paths of passage. These were fastened to the wire mesh on the ceiling with both ends touching the cage bottom and ceiling. A drawer-shaped feces collection area (0205) was also installed on one side of the cage bottom, with a discharge hole drilled in the side facing the bottom, corresponding to the funnel opening. In the diagram, the contained bagworms are indicated by (0206), and the feces excreted by those bagworms are indicated by (0207).

[0104] Cage B: Ceiling placement (Figure 3); Group B. Equivalent to a conventional bagworm rearing container. Cage B (0300), like Cage A, is made of 5mm-thick acrylic and consists of a box-shaped enclosure measuring 220mm x 220mm x 200mm. To simulate conditions similar to those of Cage A, a wire mesh (0301) with 220mm x 220mm square holes is attached to the entire top surface. However, unlike Cage A, there is no wire mesh on the bottom of the cage that serves as a separator. Also, as with Cage A, 16 strips of paper the same size as the cork boards, cut into 10mm x 200mm-220mm strips, were placed on each side, attached to the wire mesh on the ceiling, with both ends touching the bottom and ceiling of the cage.

[0105] (3) Diet Artificial diet (Insector: Nosan Corporation) was used for all cages. In cage A, a 1 cm thick plate of artificial diet (0202) was placed on the top plate above the feed placement area so as to cover the entire surface. To prevent the diet from drying out, the top and sides of the diet, except for the bottom surface (the surface that comes into contact with the bagworms), were covered with plastic wrap.

[0106] In cage B, a 1 cm thick plate of artificial diet (0302) was placed on the bottom of the cage so that it covered the entire surface. In addition, in cage B, paper (0304) with the same color scheme as the artificial diet was placed on the top plate to block out light from entering through the top plate, just like cage A. In the figure, the contained bagworms are indicated by (0305), and the feces excreted by those bagworms are indicated by (0306).

[0107] (4) Rearing conditions During the rearing period of the bagworms, in order to prevent the artificial diet in each cage from drying out and to maintain the activity of the bagworms, the temperature and humidity inside the cage were adjusted to 25±1.5°C and the relative humidity to 70±10%RH depending on the degree of sealing of the cage.

[0108] To equalize the lighting conditions inside cages A and B, LED lights were used and the cages were placed next to each other in a laboratory with a 16-hour light / 8-hour dark schedule. During the 14-day experimental period, the artificial food was not replaced or added, and the cages were not cleaned at all; only observations were made from outside the cages.

[0109] (5) Data collection At the start of the experiment, the long axis of the nests of 20 animals each in Group A and Group B was measured with a vernier caliper, and the average length for each group was calculated.

[0110] During the 14-day experimental period, the number of animals in contact with the feed at a given time was observed from outside the cage and counted every 24 hours.

[0111] After 14 days, the nest length of all individuals in each group was measured, the average length was calculated, and the rate of increase in the nest length was calculated by comparing it with the measurement at the start of the experiment. Furthermore, the hygiene of the cage interior was also compared through observation of the cage interior.

[0112] (Results) (1) Contact rate between bagworms and food Figure 4 shows the change in the contact rate between bagworms and food over 24 hours in each cage. The experiment began with bagworms placed on the bottom of both cages (on the top surface of the wire mesh in the separating section in Cage A), so the contact rate on day 0 (the start) was 0% for Group A in Cage A and 100% for Group B in Cage B. One day after the bagworms were placed, the contact rate in both cases was 50%, and by the second day, the rate had reversed, with Group A at 75% and Group B at 35%. From the third day until the end, Group A maintained a contact rate of over 80%, while Group B's rate generally fell below 40%.

[0113] In Group B, where feed was placed on the bottom of the cage in accordance with sericulture methods, the feeding and resting areas were different, so the animals only moved to the feeding area when eating, and then had to return to the ceiling to rest. Therefore, assuming that feeding and resting times were about the same, a contact rate of just under 40% is reasonable. On the other hand, in Group A, where feed was placed on the ceiling, the animals were able to rest while in contact with the feed, so they hardly had to move at all, resulting in a contact rate of over 80%.

[0114] (2) Growth rate of nest length Table 1 shows the average nest length (n=20) at the start and end of the experiment and the growth rate of nest length during the experimental period (14 days) for Groups A and B.

[0115]

[0116] In Group A, where feed was placed on the ceiling, a significant difference of approximately 10 times was observed in the rate of increase in the long axis of the bagworm nest compared to Group B, where feed was placed on the bottom of the cage according to sericulture methods. Because bagworms increase the number of nests as they grow, the rate of increase in the long axis of the nest is proportional to the growth rate of the bagworm. Therefore, it was revealed that placing feed on the ceiling can significantly promote bagworm growth compared to the conventional method of placing feed on the bottom.

[0117] (3) Food intake Figure 5 shows the results for each group. Figure 5 is a photograph of the surface of the artificial feed remaining at the end of the experiment. A shows the results for Group A, and B shows the results for Group B. In the figure, the depressions on the craters indicated by the arrows are feeding marks made by bagworms, and the amount of these feeding marks reflects the amount of food intake. As is clear from the results in Figure 5, a clear difference in food intake was confirmed between Group A and Group B. It is thought that the increased contact rate with the feed in (1) led to an increase in food intake.

[0118] (4) Hygiene inside the cage Figure 6 shows photographs of the inside bottom of the cage for each group at the end of the experiment. A shows the results for group A, and B shows the results for group B.

[0119] In Group B, where food was placed on the bottom of the cage, all of the bagworm feces (black arrowheads) excreted accumulated on the artificial feed (white arrowheads). The accumulation of feces not only reduces the edible surface area of ​​the artificial feed, but also serves as a source of mold growth, reducing the freshness of the artificial feed and promoting spoilage. Although bagworms (arrows) must move along the bottom to feed, contact with accumulated feces is unavoidable, which can lead to the transmission of feces-borne infectious diseases. As such, the rearing container shown in B posed various hygiene problems.

[0120] In contrast, in Group A, where the feed was placed on the ceiling, the artificial feed was placed on the ceiling, and all excreted feces fell to the floor, completely separating the feed and feces. Furthermore, the separator (white arrow) allowed feces to pass through the mesh and fall to the bottom, but prevented bagworms from passing through, eliminating the opportunity for bagworms to come into contact with the feces. In Group A, feces (black arrowheads) accumulated on the bottom of the cage at the end of the experiment (after 14 days of rearing) are shown. These feces could be easily removed through the discharge hole (white arrowheads) by tilting the entire cage toward the funnel-shaped feces collection section (black arrow). This reduced the frequency of food changes and allowed the cage to be kept clean at all times. All publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Claims

1. A rearing container for bagworms, comprising: a housing capable of accommodating one or more bagworms and having an internal space large enough for the bagworms to move around; a feed placement section at the top of the internal space for placing feed in a state where the bagworms can eat it and providing a foothold for the bagworms; an opening connecting the internal space to the outside; and a lid for closing the opening.

2. The rearing container according to claim 1, wherein the feed is an artificial feed.

3. A rearing container as described in claim 1, comprising a nesting material placement section adjacent to or near the food placement section, in which bagworm nesting material is placed in a state that is available to the bagworms.

4. A rearing container as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a separation section having a plurality of holes, the separation section being positioned at the top of the bottom surface so as to prevent the bagworms from coming into contact with droppings, nesting material scraps, or feed scraps that fall to the bottom of the internal space, and the holes being configured so that their minimum width is longer than the maximum width of the droppings of the bagworms to be accommodated and their maximum width is shorter than the maximum short axis of the nests of the bagworms to be accommodated.

5. The rearing container according to claim 4, further comprising a droppings collection section disposed between the bottom of the internal space and the separation section, for collecting the droppings, nesting material scraps, and feed scraps.

6. A rearing container as described in claim 3, wherein the feed placement section is provided with artificial feed and the nesting material placement section is provided with bagworm nesting material.

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