WO2025158258A1

WO2025158258A1 - Method and plant for the intensive breeding of stratiomyid diptera, particularly of adult soldier flies

Info

Publication number: WO2025158258A1
Application number: PCT/IB2025/050552
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giacomo BENASSI; Marco Benassi; Stefano Guerrieri
Original assignee: Kinsect Sb Srl
Current assignee: Kinsect Sb Srl
Priority date: 2024-01-22
Filing date: 2025-01-20
Publication date: 2025-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 2026-07-22

Abstract

Method and plant for the breeding of adult Stratiomyid Diptera, in which the continuous production of eggs obtained from adult Stratiomyidae Diptera, particularly adult soldier flies, in their production phase is realized. Compared to the conventional systems used for breeding soldier flies, the method and plant of the invention have the advantage of exploiting new and original solutions, by which it becomes possible to organize and increase the yield of the insect production cycle, achieving an intensive egg production.

Description

METHOD AND PLANT FOR THE INTENSIVE BREEDING OF STRATIOMYID DIPTERA, PARTICULARLY OF ADULT SOLDIER FLIES

DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a method and the related plant for the intensive or industrial breeding of Stratiomyid Diptera, particularly for the breeding of the adult soldier fly.

It is currently known the use of soldier fly larvae (Hermetia lllucens) in the production of protein flours for human and animal nutrition.

In the first days of the production cycle of adult soldier flies, after emerging from the cocoon, the sexual maturation of the individuals takes place. Subsequently, mating occurs, which, once completed, is followed by the egglaying by the females.

The egg-laying of a homogeneous population follows a statistical distribution over time similar to a Gaussian one.

Starting from the egg the life of the insect can be described through the following stages:

Egg: Hermetia lllucens begins its life cycle as an egg. After being laid by the female, the egg, once laid, generally requires three days to hatch. During this period, the egg undergoes several stages of internal development.

Larva: When the egg hatches, the Hermetia lllucens larva emerges. During this stage the larva feeds on decomposing organic matter, such as food waste or manure, passing through different growth stages, known as “instar stages”.

Pupa: After completing its growth, the Hermetia lllucens larva transforms into a pupa. During this stage, the larva encloses itself in a cocoon-like structure, known as the pupa, which develops until it transforms into a fully formed adult.

Adult: Once metamorphosis is complete, the Hermetia lllucens adult emerges, also known as the black soldier fly. The adults, which are black or bluish in color, mate during their short lifespan of 5-20 days, and the females lay eggs to start a new cycle.

The most critical parameters for the breeding of adult soldier flies are the following:

Temperature: Temperature is a critical factor for the breeding of Hermetia lllucens adults. The ideal temperature for their growth and reproduction generally ranges between 24°C and 33°C. Lower or higher temperatures can negatively affect their survival, reproductive rate and the quality of the eggs laid.

Humidity: Humidity is another important parameter to monitor in the breeding of adults. The ideal relative humidity is around 50% - 80%. Excessive humidity can promote the proliferation of mold and bacteria and reduce the flight capability of the flies, whereas too low humidity can lead to dehydration of adults and eggs, compromising their hatching.

Lighting: Adult soldier flies evolve by developing sensitivity to certain wavelengths of visible and UV light. Light with the appropriate wavelengths is essential to allow male adults to locate females in the surrounding environment.

Suitable place for egg-laying: Adult females need an adequate space to lay their eggs, capable of protecting the eggs from drying out, parasites, and other predatory insects. It is also important to include an attractant element for the females, able to facilitate egg-laying in order to promote the survival of newly hatched larvae.

Management of droppings and residues: It is important to maintain a clean environment to prevent the accumulation of feces and organic residues (such as dead flies). This can be achieved by regularly removing unconsumed materials and keeping the breeding areas clean. A clean environment reduces the risk of diseases and promotes better quality of the adults.

Feeding: Hermetia lllucens adults are fed to maintain their health and optimize their reproduction. They can be fed with water, sugary substances, or a sugar solution, such as diluted honey or sugar syrup.

Currently, the breeding of soldier flies is carried out using artisanal technologies, mainly derived from research laboratories. In this way, the solutions and measures necessary to organize and increase the yield of the insect production cycle are completely lacking.

Publication CA 2 955 867 A1 concerns a continuous system for culturing dipteran insects, comprising a mating chamber adapted to house male and female adult insects.

Publication IT 2018 0000 3619 A1 describes a method for monitoring a population of Stratiomyid Diptera contained in a breeding chamber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a method and the related plant for managing an intensive breeding of Stratiomyid Diptera, particularly adult soldier flies, by which it becomes possible to rationalize insect breeding, allowing for a constant production of eggs on an industrial scale.

This and other objects are achieved with the method and the plant of claims 1 and 5, respectively. Preferred embodiments of the invention result from the remaining claims.

Compared to traditional systems used for breeding soldier flies, the method and the plant of the invention have the advantage of utilizing new and original solutions, by which it is possible to organize and increase the yield of the insect production cycle, achieving an intensive production of eggs and newly hatched larvae.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, advantages and features emerge from the following description of some preferred embodiments of the method and plant of the invention illustrated, by way of non-limiting examples, in the figures of the attached drawings.

In these:

- Figure 1 illustrates schematically and as a whole the plant of the invention;

- Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the cages used in the plant of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 illustrates, in longitudinal section, the detail A of the cages in Figure 2;

- Figure 4 illustrates a variant of the plant of the invention, equipped with a lighting device attached to the cages in Figure 2;

- Figures 5 and 5A show two variants of the containment and movement system of the cages;

- Figure 6 illustrates a time curve, typical of the egg production of a population of adult soldier flies belonging to the same batch;

- Figure 7 shows the daily trend of egg-laying for individual cages; and

- Figure 8 illustrates the daily trend of egg-laying for all the cages in the plant of the previous figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The plant of the invention, generally indicated as 1 in Figure 1 , comprises a climatic chamber 2, inside which cages 3 are housed for breeding Stratiomyid Diptera, for example, soldier flies 4, from their initial pupal stage to their final stage as adult insects.

The chamber 2 and the cages 3 are maintained under climatic conditions suitable for the development of pupae into adults, for the survival and mating of adults and for egg-laying. To this end, lighting systems 5 are provided inside the cages 3, with a light spectrum optimized for the specific insect. These artificial lighting systems 5 can be attached to the ceiling of the climatic chamber 2 (Figure 1 ), or can be directly assembled onto the structure of the cages 3, as shown in the variant of Figures 4 and 5.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the cages 3 preferably have a self- supporting parallelepiped configuration, made of materials suitable for washing. These cages include an upper window 6, transparent to all wavelengths of the lighting system 5. On the side walls of the cages 3, perforated zones or surfaces 7 may be provided, suitable for allowing thermal and humidity exchange with the inside of the climatic chamber 2, wherein the hole size is chosen to prevent the passage of the insects to the outside of the cages. Additionally, optical sensors are provided, suitable for measuring egg production. According to the invention, each cage 3 is therefore kept sealed from the outside and completely isolated from the other cages, without the possibility of transfer, passage, or interaction of insects from one cage to another and with the surrounding environment.

On the side walls of the cages 3, devices 8 for egg-laying and collection are also provided, preferably the devices disclosed in the patent IT102018000003261 of the company Kour Energy.

At the bottom of the cages 3, a tray 9 containing the soldier fly pupae 10 ready for the emergence from the cocoon is also inserted through a suitable opening; the opening, located at the bottom of cage 3, allows for the insertion and the removal of the tray, the collection of dead flies and exuviae at the end of the cycle and the inflow and outflow of water for washing the cage 3.

The cages 3 are finally equipped with a sensor 11 for measuring the breeding parameters of the soldier flies, such as temperature, humidity, and light intensity inside each cage.

In the plant of the invention, the cages 3 are moved in and out of the climatic chamber 2, as well as within it, by means of an automatic rail system 12, or a carousel and the like (Figure 5).

In the initial phase of the method of the invention, the cages 3 contain only pupae 10, which are inserted into the cages manually or using a mechanized arm 13.

Inside each cage 3, pupae of the same age are present, while one or more cages differ from the others in the age of the pupae they contain, so as to cover the entire life cycle of the insects at different times of extraction of the cages 3 from the climatic chamber 2.

The cages 3, thus loaded with pupae 10, are then introduced into the climatic chamber 2 and exit in a programmed manner, one or more times per day, at regular intervals, and are then reintroduced into the same chamber 2, until the soldier flies’ life cycle is completed, the soldier flies being then suppressed at the end of their productive period (for example, after 10 days, as shown in Fig. 6).

According to the invention, cages 3 are introduced into the climatic chamber 2, each cage containing isolated populations of insects, from their initial pupal stage to their final stage as adult soldier flies, with offset and coordinated ages so that, each day, the same number of cages 3 inside the chamber 2 contain a population of soldier flies of the same age.

In this way a series of cages is created, wherein each cage contains exclusively a population of insects of the same age, meaning they were bom on the same day, and which is isolated from the populations contained in the other cages. Additionally, each cage contains a population of insects whose age differs from that of the populations contained in the other cages.

Furthermore, according to the invention, the total number of cages 3 inside the climatic chamber 2 and containing flies of different ages, specifically offset by one day, is a multiple of the days of egg production of the flies. In this way, a continuous egg production process is achieved, in which the sum of the number of eggs collected from all the cages 3 contained in the climatic chamber 2 remains constant over time and is a multiple of the quantity of eggs produced by a single cage throughout the entire production cycle.

For this purpose, each cage is kept isolated from the others to prevent the passage and interaction of the flies, thus avoiding the transfer or mating of insects from one cage to the other. The station 15 also includes sensors, for example, optical sensors, suitable for detecting the production status of the flies in the individual cages 3, in order to ensure a continuous egg production, with a constant daily yield.

At the exit of the cages 3 from the chamber 2, all cages are passed, at scheduled intervals, through the station 15 for the analysis of the population’s production status. In particular, the aforementioned calibration is based on the insects' life cycle and their egg production period, measured by means of sensors, for example, of optical type, placed inside the station 15 itself.

At the end of this analysis, the following conditions may occur, as represented in Figure 6:

(a) The population in the cage is in the phase of emergence from the cocoon and sexual maturation of the adults. In this state, the cages 3 are returned to the chamber 2 without any further action; (b) The population in the cage is in the mating and egg-laying phase. In this phase, the retrieval of the egg collection devices 8, which are placed into specific hatching trays 18, occurs.

(c) The cages processed in phase (b) and that still contain soldier flies in the egg-laying phase, are subsequently equipped with new egg collection devices and reintroduced into the chamber 2;

(d) At the end of the optimal egg-laying period, the cages 3 extracted from chamber 2 remain inside a station 15 to undergo processing, for example, of high-temperature treatment kind, to suppress all flies in the population, collect exuviae and dead flies, and clean the cages 3 with water or cleaning solutions;

(e) A phase of introducing, inside the cages 3 cleaned in the previous phase (d), trays 10 containing pupae 9 ready for the emergence from the cocoon, and subsequent restart of the cycle.

The described life status of the insects housed inside the cages is determined by suitable devices, such as cameras, microphones and similar equipment, placed inside the station 15 or, alternatively, installed on the individual cages 3 or fixed inside the chamber 2.

Therefore, the control over the time the cages 3 remain inside the climatic chamber 2 and over the rhythm or frequency of their extraction from it, are programmed and calibrated according to the described times of the insects’ life cycle, measured by the sensors in the station 15, bred in such a way as to collectively create a continuous and constant egg production process.

As represented in Figure 6, during phase (a) of the soldier flies' life cycle, no egg production occurs.

In the subsequent phases (b,c), roughly between, approximately, the third and tenth day of the adult soldier flies' stay inside the cells 3, the production of eggs begins, which are continuously collected by retrieving them from the respective cages 3 extracted from the cell 2.

In the final phases (d,e), the flies, although still alive and capable of producing eggs, are suppressed due to low production efficiency reasons.

As an example, Figure 7 illustrates the trend of the production process for a single cage, in terms of the daily number of eggs produced in ten cages, from G1 to G10.

As observed from the trend of the curves illustrated in Figure 7, the statistical curve of the egg production period, lasting, for example, ten days, is the same for all cages (G1 , G2, ... G10). The population inside each individual cage belongs to the same generation. The difference in egg-laying between the various cages G is due to a one-day offset in the age of the adult flies. In this way, on day n, each cage G is at a different point on the statistical curve of egglaying.

Thus, taking a ten-day period, for a system of ten cages containing ten populations of soldier flies with a growth period offset by one day, it is observed that:

- On day n in cage G5, the maximum production in terms of number of eggs is achieved, while a lower egg production is observed in cages G2, G3, G4, G6, G7, G8, and no egg production in the remaining cages G1 , G9, and G10;

- On day n+1 , egg production occurs in cages G3, G4, G5, G6, G7, G8, and G9, with maximum production in cage G6. Conversely, no egg production occurs in cages G1 , G2, and G10;

- On day n+2, maximum egg production occurs in cage G7, while a lower egg production is observed in cages G8, G9, G10, G4, G5, and G6, with no egg production in cages G1 , G2, and G3;

- On day n+3, maximum egg production occurs in cage G8, while a lower egg production is observed in cages G9, G10, G5, G6, G7, and G1 , with no egg production occurring in cages G2, G3, and G4.

Continuing in an analogous manner for days n+4 to n+8, according to the trend represented in the corresponding curves of Figure 7, we reach day n+9, in which egg production is at its maximum in cage G4, is lower in cages G5, G6, G7, G1 , G2, and G3, and is absent in cages G8, G9, and G10.

By collecting the daily trend for each individual cage, as represented in Figure 7, in the overall set of curves shown in Figure 8, it is observed that the total daily egg production, across all ten cages in the plant of the invention, is constant and equal to the number of eggs produced in each individual cage, over a ten-day period. This means that, although the production cycle of an individual cage with the same population is not constant over the n-day time span (in this example, n = 10), the method and the plant of the invention substantially overlap the egg production across all ten cages in the same plant, which differ from each other by one day in the lifespan of the adult soldier fly population bred inside them.

According to this example, the method of the invention for insect egg production is calibrated to an optimal chosen value, which is a multiple of the total number of eggs produced by the same population over n productive days (in this example, n = 10).

The same method is in turn made continuous through the use of a number of cages equal to an integer multiple of the number of production days of the insects, in this example, it involves egg production over ten days of soldier fly breeding in ten different cages, collecting the eggs, either automatically or manually, from all the cages containing a population within its egg production cycle (in the previous example, seven cages per day).

According to the invention, the control of the described life cycle and egg production rhythms of soldier flies within the individual cages where they are bred, is carried out, until achieving a constant average number of eggs produced daily over the lifespan of these insects and for the total number of cages extracted from the climatic chamber 2.

According to the invention, the higher the total number of cages, populations, present in the system, the lower the fluctuation in the number of eggs produced daily.

Modifications may be made to the invention, as described above and illustrated in the figures of the attached drawings, to create variants that nonetheless fall within the scope of the following claims.

Thus, for example, different systems could be used for the controlled movement of the cages 3. Additionally, it is possible to change the number of productive days of the soldier flies, by extending or reducing this time interval, or the number of times per day the eggs are collected from the cages can be changed.

According to further variants, the plant of the invention provides the use of artificial intelligence algorithms based on machine learning and deep learning, for data collection through station 15 and for analysing the production status of each individual insect population. Advantageously, in addition, within cages 3, the pupae are located in the lower part of the cage, wherein a temperature gradient of at least 1 °C is provided between the upper and lower parts of cage 3.

Additionally, these cages may also provide an opening for inserting trays 9 containing pupae 10, both for collecting dead flies and exuviae at the end of the production cycle, and for allowing the inflow and outflow of water during the cleaning of the cages 3.

Claims

1. A method for breeding adult Stratiomyid Diptera, characterized in that it provides continuous and constant production of eggs obtained from adult Stratiomyid Diptera, in their production phase, said method providing the movement of a plurality of cages (3), from and to a climatic chamber (2), passing through a station (15) that evaluates the egg production phase of the insects, wherein each of said cages (3) is isolated to prevent the transfer of insects to the remaining cages (3) within the climatic chamber (2) and contains a population of insects of the same age, from their initial pupal stage to their final stage as adult insects, wherein the insects, in the entirety of the cages (3) contained in the climatic chamber (2), are of offset and coordinated ages across the different cages, so that within the same chamber (2), cages (3) that contain only flies in the production phase at their different growth stages are present, wherein the total number of cages (3) within the climatic chamber (2) that contain flies of different ages, particularly offset by one day, is a multiple of the number of days of egg production of the fly, obtaining in this way a continuous egg production, in which the sum of the number of eggs collected from all the cages (3) contained in the climatic chamber (2) remains constant over time and is a multiple of the number of eggs produced by a single cage throughout the entire production cycle.

2. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the residence times of the cages (3) inside the climatic chamber (2) and the frequency of their extraction from it, are programmed and calibrated on the life cycle times of the insects and on the state of their egg production period, measured by a plurality of sensors placed inside the aforementioned station (15), the insects being bred so as to realize, as a whole, a continuous process of constant egg production over time.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, when the cages (3) exit the climatic chamber (2), the following conditions may occur:

(a) A phase of emergence from the cocoon and sexual maturation of adults, in which the cages (3) are returned inside the chamber (2); (b) A mating and egg-laying phase, in which egg collection takes place;

(c) The cages processed in phase (b) and still containing soldier flies in their egg-laying phase are reintroduced into the chamber (2);

(d) At the end of the optimal egg-laying period, the cages (3) extracted from the chamber (2) remain inside the station (15) for the suppression of all flies, the collection of exuviae, and the cleaning of the cages (3);

(e) A phase of introducing pupae (10) into the cages (3) processed in the previous phase (d), followed by the restart of the cycle.

4. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforementioned Stratiomyid Diptera consist of adult Hermetia lllucens soldier flies.

5. A plant for breeding adult Stratiomyid Diptera using the method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a climatic chamber (2), inside which a plurality of cages (3) is housed for breeding the aforementioned Stratiomyid Diptera, from their initial pupal stage to their final stage as adult insects, and a station (15) for measuring the egg production status of insects in each cage (3), wherein an automatic system (12) is provided for moving said cages (3) into, within and out of the aforementioned climatic chamber (2), said cages (3) being kept isolated from one another to prevent the passage of the aforementioned adult Stratiomyid Diptera, so that each cage (3) contains a population of insects of a different age than those bred in the other cages.

6. The plant according to claim 5, characterized in that it provides systems (5) for lighting the inside of the cages (3), having a light spectrum optimized for the specific insect, said station (15) being equipped with sensors to evaluate the egg production status of the insects and for populations that have reached the end of their egg production period.

7. The plant according to claim 6, characterized in that said cages (3) have a self-supporting structure, equipped with an upper window (6), that is transparent to all wavelengths of the aforementioned lighting systems (5), and perforated zones or surfaces (7), suitable for allowing thermal and humidity exchange with the interior of the climatic chamber (2) as well as for measuring the egg production status of the insects by optical sensors, while preventing the insects from getting out of the cages.

8. The plant according to claim 7, characterized in that, inside said cages (3), devices (8) are placed for egg-laying and collection, and a sensor (11 ) for measuring insect breeding parameters placed inside the individual cages (3) or within the climatic chamber (2).

9. The plant according to claim 8, characterized in that it provides artificial intelligence algorithms based on machine learning and deep learning, for data collection through the station (15) and for analyzing the production status of each individual insect population.

10. The plant according to claim 9, characterized in that inside said cages (3) the pupae are located in the lower part of the cage, wherein a temperature gradient of at least 1 °C is provided between the upper and lower parts of the cage (3).

11. The plant according to claim 9, characterized in that the cages (3) are equipped with an opening for inserting the trays (9) of the pupae (10), for collecting dead flies and exuviae at the end of the production cycle, said opening also allowing the inflow and outflow of water during the cleaning of the cages (3).