Study of the productivity of imago cage during mass breeding of aphis lion

Abstract

Goal. To determine the dependence of the productivity of the imago cage on its area, and, based on the data obtained, to justify the possible ways of increasing the technical and economic efficiency of the equipment for breeding insects. Methods. In the production conditions of mass breeding of aphis lion, the method of one-factor experiment, the statistical method of processing the results using a PC, and the calculation and comparative analysis of the graphs of the obtained dependencies were used. Results. Four variants of cages of different areas were studied. For this purpose, three cages of each variant were made, in which insects were bred at the same time in compliance with the full technological cycle. Three experiments were conducted consecutively. The main indicator was the specific productivity of the cage — the number of eggs obtained during the collection time from a unit of area. Statistical processing of the data was carried out. Graphs of the dependence of the average productivity of cages on their area were constructed, and productivity was averaged over three experiments. It was established that with the reduction of the area of the cage by half compared to the base sample, where it was equal to 576 cm2, its productivity almost doubled. If the area increases to 1225 cm2, the average productivity of the cage can be considered unchanged. Conclusions. The established dependence of the specific productivity of the cage on its area makes it possible to choose its optimal value when designing a set of equipment. If the cage area is doubled, the average specific productivity can be considered constant. Compared to the basic sample, the cost of cages is reduced, and the quantity is halved. Thus, the economic efficiency of the set of equipment increases due to a reduction in the cost of the equipment and a reduction in labor costs for breeding insects.