Insectary

Lights

The Problem: Lights are a constant issue in terms of energy consumption. Light use is tightly controlled and monitored in the housing units inside the insectary. However, the support rooms utilize basic light switches and lights can be left on overnight if not monitored. Thus, energy is wasted when  these lights are left on.

The Solution: Main hallway is currently on a movement sensor for auto turn on/off. However, the side rooms, not including insect housing units, operate on switches. By implementing movement sensors to these rooms, we can reduce accidental light expenditures since the lights will turn off automatically.

Water

The Problem: Mosquitoes use an exorbitant amount of water during the rear and basic upkeep of colonies. Much of this water consumption cannot be reduced or our colonies will deteriorate. However, two areas in which water consumption can be altered are clearing of the mosquito housing units and switching to a new blood feeding apparatus.

The Solution – Cleaning: By foregoing the soaping step of cleaning and replacing it with a 10% bleach solution coupled with scrubbing, we can reduce our water consumption by ~60%. Additionally, we will reduce the amount of larvae deaths due to soap residue.

The Solution – Blood feeding: By switching from our traditional heated water pump systems to Hemotek blood feeding systems, we will reduce the amount of water needed to heat blood meals. This water is used to heat the blood meal and is wasted afterwards. Using a Hemotek system forgoes water usage and heats the blood with electricity.

Recycling

The Problem – Flies: When making fly food there are constantly ingredients such as malt, corn syrup and others that come in plastic containers. The food vials are also shipped in cardboard containers which sometimes get reused for storing flies. Since there is no recycling available readily in the insectary these are commonly thrown in the trash can.

The Solution – Flies: Implement recycling within the insectary to recycle clean plastics and cardboard used for making and rearing flies.

The Problem – Mosquitoes: To maintain mosquito colonies, the females must be blood fed. The bottles of blood that are used are typically in a glass bottle. After use they are rarely reused and often thrown away.

The Solution – Mosquitoes: Implement a cleaning and recycling system so that blood bottles with non-contaminated blood can be rinsed out and recycled.

Chambers:

The Problem: Chambers such as the gene flow cages that are not consistently in use are typically still on a light cycle and sometimes a humidity cycle. If there are no insects being reared in these spaces the constant power it takes to light and heat the room is wasted.

The Solution: We suggest that if chambers are not being used their lights and humidity should be turned off until they are needed again. If rooms are needed, they can be turned on a day or two in advance in preparation for the insects to come in.