Spathius exarator Breeding Assembly Using Bread Carrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods fail to effectively mass breed the parasitoid species Spathius exarator, a beneficial insect used to control woodworm infestations, as they are not known to lay eggs in laboratories or establish stable populations.
Innovation Solution
A rearing assembly using Stegobium paniceum and Lasioderma serricorne beetles as host populations on a carrier of dried baked goods, such as bread, which are easier to cultivate and accepted by Spathius exarator, allowing for high propagation rates and mass breeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Anobium punctatum (woodworm) is used as host for rearing Spathius exarator, then the parasitoid can be reared, but the host develops extremely slowly and dies, resulting in low productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary host species (Stegobium paniceum or Lasioderma serricorne) that mediates between the parasitoid Spathius exarator and the original host Anobium punctatum. This intermediary host has a shorter development cycle and higher survival rate, allowing the parasitoid to complete its life cycle more efficiently while still maintaining the ability to parasitize the original woodworm host.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the biological parameters of the host system by substituting Anobium punctatum with alternative beetle species (Stegobium paniceum or Lasioderma serricorne) that have different developmental characteristics. These alternative hosts have shorter generation times and higher survival rates, thereby improving the breeding productivity of Spathius exarator without compromising its ability to control the original pest.
2Reliability
If Anobium punctatum is used as host, then Spathius exarator can be reared, but the generation time is too long for mass breeding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses intermediary host species (Stegobium paniceum or Lasioderma serricorne) that serve as intermediate hosts for Spathius exarator development. These intermediary hosts have significantly shorter generation times compared to Anobium punctatum, allowing multiple generations to be reared in the same time period, thus enabling mass breeding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary rearing of alternative host beetles (Stegobium paniceum or Lasioderma serricorne) in laboratory conditions before introducing the parasitoid Spathius exarator. This preliminary preparation ensures that sufficient host larvae are available with optimal development stages, thereby reducing the overall time required for parasitoid generation and enabling faster mass breeding.
3Quantity of substance
If free larvae or wood-borne larvae of substitute hosts are used, then host availability increases, but mortality rate becomes too high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces artificial substrate (dried baked goods) as an intermediary medium that facilitates the rearing of substitute host larvae (Stegobium paniceum or Lasioderma serricorne). This artificial substrate provides a controlled environment that improves larval survival rates compared to using free-living or wood-borne larvae, while still maintaining high host population sizes suitable for mass breeding of the parasitoid.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
Assembly (3) for rearing Spathius exarator, comprising - a rearing population (6) of Spathius exarator, - a host population (5) and - a carrier (4) for the rearing population (6) and the host population (5), wherein the host population (5) comprises larvae of Stegobium paniceum and/or Lasioderma serricorne and the carrier (4) comprises dried baked goods, in particular bread.