

New Capsules: Kiss of Death or
Breath of Life for InsectsBy Tara
Weaver-Missick March 9, 1999
Agricultural Research Servicescientists have joined forces with a private company to develop new high-tech
packaging for beneficial insect meals. Once reared on a nutritious artificial
diet, these environmentally friendly, good-guy insects can be released to
attack pests, such as crop-destroying caterpillars. The new packaging, designed as a small capsule (2-5 mm diameter), provides a
unique way for serving food or other agents to insects. The capsules hold
either aqueous or oily materials--a key advantage over other gelatine or
food-based capsules that can only hold non-watery materials. ARS scientists are working with researchers at
Analytical Research Systems,
Inc., Gainesville, Fla., to develop the biodegradable packs. ARS is the
U.S. Department of Agricultures chief
scientific agency. Research entomologist Patrick D. Greany and other scientists at ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE) in Gainesville, Fla., are studying the capsules in-depth to confirm that they appeal to a variety of both beneficial and pest insects. The food in the capsules will be used instead of natural prey to reduce costs of mass rearing insect predators for biological control use. In addition, these inexpensive capsules might be used as food supplements in the field to maintain beneficial insect populations when theres a shortage of prey. The capsules also provide a novel delivery system for microbial pest control
agents such as protozoa, bacteria and viruses. Tests with fire ants by ARS
research entomologist David F. Williams (CMAVE) showed that foraging workers
readily take the capsules into their nests, where the ants open the package and
devour the contents. A grant from USDAs Small Business Innovation
Research Program and a
Cooperative Research and
Development Agreement are supporting this research between Analytical
Research Systems, Inc., and ARS. Scientific contact: Patrick D. Greany, ARS Center for Medical,
Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, Fla., phone (352)
374-5763, fax (352) 374-5781, [email protected].
U.S. Department of Agriculture | |