Insect Rearing Education at Mississippi State University:
Past, Present and Future
John C. Schneider and Frank M. DavisDepartment of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology,
Entomology and Plant Pathology
Dr. Frank M. DavisMSU Adjunct Professor of Entomology (Emeritus)
USDA/ARS Research Entomologist (Retired)
4 October 2011
Total of 317 students from 26 countries, including 38 states within the USA
2011 MSU-IRC Workshop
Five favorable reviews; 352 copies sold/distributed by 31 October 2011
Insect Rearing Education at Mississippi State University Is Worth Your Attention
Italy
Switz.
Neth.
Costa Rica
Brazil
Canada
FrankDavis
LouellaCastrillo
MuhammadChaudhury
NormLeppla
JohnSchneiderMike
Caprio
TomRiddell
Instructors not shown: Bill Fisher and John Reinecke
Organization of Presentation
Past/Present:• History of MSU Insect Rearing Center (MSU-IRC)• Insect Rearing Workshop • Insect Rearing Book • Graduate Student Education • Pritam Singh Library
Future:• MSU Course in Insect Rearing• Insect Pathology Faculty Position• General Insect Rearing Workshop• Specialized Insect Rearing Workshops
History of MSU Insect Rearing Center (IRC) (www.irc.entomology.msstate.edu)
MSU IRCBasement, Lyle Entomology Building
[315 m2 (3,400 ft2)]
[22.6 m (74 ft)]
[15.
2 m
(50
ft)]
Diet Prep
Work Room (in vitro)
Work Room (in vivo)
Rearing Rooms (DDC)
Cold RoomAutoclaveClean Air Hood
(picture)
AH
AH
Reach-in, Environment- Controlled CabinetsFreezers
Stor. OfficeNook
MSU-IRC: Time Line
Visiting Scholar Arrives PhD Diss. Defended
2012 2013 2014 20152011
Book PublishedPhD Student Begins
20112008 2009 20102007
Book Begun
2004 2005 2006 20072003
Constr. Rearing Annex
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
MSU Rearing Committee Formed
CBBWorkshop Wkshop: I, II
WS: XIV
WS: X WS: XI WS: XII WS: XIII
WS: VI WS: VII WS: VIII WS: IX
WS: III WS: IV WS: V
Construct Basement Facility
Upgrade HVAC
Adiabatic HumidifiersInstall DDC System
Singh Library Donated
MSU-IRC Workshop:Principles and Procedures for Rearing High Quality Insects
John Reinecke Louella Castrillo
Bill Fisher Frank Davis Norm Leppla
Bill Fisher John Schneider Mike Caprio
MuhammadChaudhury
MSU Insect Rearing Workshop Enrollment
Year
Ru
nn
ing
To
tal 327
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 20120
100
200
300
400
Large Pool of Unmet Need for Insect Rearing Education
MSU Insect Rearing Workshop
Year
Frac
tion
Mal
e AVE = 0 .5 2 (p = 0 .6 6 )
2 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 4 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 8 2 0 1 0 2 0 1 20
0 .10 .20 .30 .40 .50 .60 .70 .80 .9
1
MSU Insect Rearing Workshop
Year
Frac
tion
Publ
ic
AVE = 0 .4 3 (p = 0 .6 7 )
2 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 4 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 8 2 0 1 0 2 0 1 20
0 .10 .20 .30 .40 .50 .60 .70 .80 .9
1
MSU Insect Rearing Workshop
Year
Frac
tion
Non
-USA
AVE = 0 .2 5 (p = 0 .6 8 )
2 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 4 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 8 2 0 1 0 2 0 1 20
0 .10 .20 .30 .40 .50 .60 .70 .80 .9
1
MSU Insect Rearing Workshop
Year
Ave
rage
Age
AVE = 4 0 .4 y r (p = 0 .0 4 8 )
2 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 4 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 8 2 0 1 0 2 0 1 22 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
MSU Insect Rearing Workshop
Year
Ave
Pos
t-HS
Educ
atio
n, Y
r
AVE = 4 .4 y r (p = 0 .0 7 8 )
2 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 4 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 8 2 0 1 0 2 0 1 20123456789
Why is the MSU Insect Rearing Workshop a Success?
• Focus on networking• Red carpet treatment at a reasonable cost
High Level of Satisfaction of Attendees
Workshop Evaluation: Overall Value?
Year
Ave
Rat
ing
(Sca
le: 1
-5)
2 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 4 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 8 2 0 1 0 2 0 1 21
2
3
4
5
AVE = 4 .7 5 (p = 0 .9 3 )
MSU EPP Insect Rearing BookPrinciples and Procedures for Rearing High Quality Insects
MSU Insect Rearing Book
Month/Year
Boo
ks S
old
or D
onat
ed 3 5 2
1 2 /0 93 /1 0 6 /1 0 9 /1 01 2 /1 0 3 /11 6 /11 9 /11 1 2 /110
1 0 0
2 0 0
3 0 0
4 0 0
5 0 0
Self-publishing a Textbook
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
• Control of pricing retained • Greater percentage monetary return
• High demand on editor/coordinator’s time
• Start to finish requires a long time
• Control of “in print” decision
Graduate Education in Insect RearingSarah Self, Ph. D. (almost)
Tarn ished Plan t Bug in 16 :8 L:D
Observatio n Time (2 -h In tervals fo r 3 days)
No
. Mat
ing
Pai
rs (
AV
E, S
E)
D-D/L-------L/D-D/L-------L/D-D/L-------L/D
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3-2
0
2
4
6
8
Tarnished Plant Bug in DD
Observation Time (2-h Intervals for 3 d)
No.
Mat
ing
Pairs
(AV
E, S
E)
0 0 .5 1 1 .5 2 2 .5 30
0 .5
1
1 .5
2
2 .5
Supporting a Ph.D. Student in Insect Rearing(It wasn’t easy.)
Grad Teach. Asst. (MSU CALS): 1 VII 2008-30 VI ‘09
Grad Res. Asst. (MSU EPP-IRC): 1 VI 2007-30 VI ‘08
Grad Res./Teach. Asst. (MSU EPP-IRC): 1 VII 2009-31 VIII ‘10
Grad Res. Asst. (MSU BCH-EPP/MAFES): 1 IX 2010-31 VII ‘11
• Mississippi Cotton Incorporated State Support grant proposal: Denied• MSU Strategic Research Initiative grant proposal: Denied• Southern Region IPM Center grant proposal: Denied• Mississippi Cotton Incorporated State Support grant proposal: Denied
• National Cotton Inc. (Pat O’Leary) equip. grant: Funded
Dr. Pritam Singh Insect Rearing LibraryDedication: October 2006
Pritam Singh Insect Rearing Library
Decade
Cum
ulat
ive
No.
Rep
rints
4 0
7 ,0 1 4
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 20001
1 0
1 0 0
1 0 0 0
1 0 0 0 0
MSU Undergrad/Grad Course on Insect Rearing• Resident and online?• Principles and Procedures for Rearing … used as text!
Future of Insect Rearing Education at the MSU Insect Rearing Center
Insect Pathology/Rearing Faculty Position• Position endowed by industry contributions?• Next generation of leadership for the MSU-IRC?• Specialty workshop: Microbial Control in Insect Rearing?
Specialty Workshop: Black Soldier Fly Mass Rearing?
Alfredo Llecha, Santiago de Compostela, SpainMSU Visiting Scholar
2010 MSU Insect Rearing Workshop student
June 2011-May 2012 MSU Visiting Scholar
Black Soldier Fly [Hermetia illuscens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)] Prepupae
1.7 kg/0.045 m3/18 d = 1 m-ton/4.8x102 m3/d(3.75 lb/1.6 ft3/18 d = 1 ton/1.5x103 ft3/d)
Conclusions
• The keys to success in insect rearing education include:(1) teamwork (2) enthusiastic/optimistic attitude
• The pool of persons willing to pay $1,050 for the 5-day MSU Insect Rearing Workshop is not close to being exhausted.
• The initial printing of 1,000 copies of the book Principles and Procedures for Rearing High Quality Insects should last (at least) until a revision is needed.• Funding a graduate student in insect rearing can be difficult.