Raising Insects For Agricultural Research

Raising Insects For Agricultural Research CROPS Insect Control To feed army worms Lee French pours stale beer into a cup filled with cotton balls and slips it into a bag filled with the squirming insects They like Old Milwaukee he says     In another 80-degree chamber European corn borer moths survive on water in screened cages     French and his wife Joann raise insects as part of their business French Agricultural Research Inc in Lamberton Minnesota Some of the insects are used on their farm for contracted research but most are sold to 50 clients throughout the U S and the world Chemical and seed companies use the insects to test the effectiveness of their products There will always be a market for farm-raised insects because it isn t cost-efficient for companies to raise the insects themselves     But the Frenches have to keep on top of things because of changing conditions For example the Western corn rootworm beetle changed its biology four times since 1967 French explains They have become resistant to insecticides     Some insects are remarkably adaptive When Minnesota producers started using crop rotation instead of growing corn year after year to eliminate the Northern corn rootworm beetle the eggs simply sat dormant until corn was planted again - up to four years In the East females started laying their eggs in soybean fields which could hatch the next year when corn was planted     Raising insects is not as easy as it sounds The dozen insect species the Frenches raise have different environmental needs French an entomologist for 40 years says he learned to raise insects during graduate studies The instructor thought it was important to understand the insect s whole life cycle and its environment     In 1982 a USDA research lab asked if he d raise insects for them He didn t know if there would be a market but French and his wife a biologist/chemist started a part-time business There was plenty of demand; they had nearly 500 clients at one time French made his own chambers and the couple added on to their 50 by 100-ft facility as they could afford it Today they have fewer clients - mostly due to companies merging - but are busy enough to hire five full-time employees plus several part-time workers during busy times     Besides raising insects French grows up to 4 000 test plots of corn on 300 acres and does research and consulting work During the political turbulence in 1995 he did undercover work with the World Health Organization dealing with a Western corn rootworm beetle problem in Yugoslavia      We stick with ag pests French says We ve been asked to rear many other insects but we only rear insects that can make a profit     He adds with a laugh that his employees tell him they are not interested in donating blood for mosquito research for example     Being successful in the business requires meticulous recordkeeping experience raising insects and good observation skills      It s not about being scientific it s the art of doing it French says It takes knowledge of your surroundings It changes with seasons It s always important to create moisture in the atmosphere he adds by adding a humidifier pouring water on the floor or adding water to dishes of eggs     Keeping insects alive is also not as easy as it sounds Though shipped quickly overnight or within a couple of days overseas hot water bottles or ice packs are added to shipments to keep temperatures at 40 to 85 degrees     The Frenches ship insects year round but are busiest in spring and summer They sell the following insects in all stages from eggs to adults: four types of corn rootworms European corn borer black cutworm tobacco budworm corn earworm fall armyworm and beet armyworm They also raise wireworm and white grub larvae     Contact: Lee and Joann French French Agricultural Research Inc 41295 County Road 54 Lamberton Minnesota 56152 ph 507 752-7274; lfrench@rrcnet org; www frenchagresearch com

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