The production of artificial diet for beneficial insects is a longstanding and yet unsolved challenge. Despite many advances that have already been made in this area, no achievable business solutions have been offered to the producers of beneficial insects.
As the world’s first AAF/AAH supplier, we have pioneered the manufacture of microcapsules with a thin hydrophobic outer shell and liquid content using our unique secret technology.
Conventional methods for microencapsulation of polysaccharides based on hydrophilic biopolymers, such as spherification with chitosan, alginate, carrageenan, pectin, polyacrylic acid and other substances, have shown, based on many experiences in entomotechnology, that they are not suitable due to rapid drying and high water permeability for beneficial insects rearing. In addition, these substances and their crosslinking agents or manufacturing processes are harmful to the digestive system of insects and cause serious problems.
We have developed an innovative microencapsulation method specifically for insect feed to allow a low viscosity liquid content to be encapsulated in a hydrophobic outer shell without any gelling agents. The outer shell is very thin and is suitable for insects with different mouthparts. Furthermore, parasitoids can easily lay their eggs in these microcapsules and even the smallest parasitoids can puncture the outer shell without its disintegration. This outer shell is breathable and can be manufactured to the desired porosity, allowing insect embryos and larvae to breathe naturally inside. The outer shell also stimulates egg laying and is non-toxic to insects.
Since the microcapsules contain peptides, growth factors and very sensitive vitamins such as vitamin C, which change their properties at temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius, we do not use effective heating in this method, which can lead to their demolition. We also do not use radiation such as UV and do not use harmful crosslinking agents. Our method is based on changing the phase of hydrophobic substances, which includes a wide range of waxes, polymers, esters, fatty alcohols, fatty acids and other organic substances. Although these substances have a high melting point, we can still use them as suitable outer shell materials.
The traditional methods such as spray drying, coacervation, extrusion, spherification, pan coating, Wurster fluid bed coating of polysaccharide microcapsules and similar processes have proven to be unsuitable for the production of beneficial insects and we have not used these methods in encapsulating our AAF/AAH because the heat and long process lead to the destruction of the content.
Moreover, we have developed special formulas and preservation methods for common and new beneficial insects such as Chrysoperla carnea, Orius, Trichogramma and Trissolcus and are continuously expanding the range of formulas. As a result, in the near future we will develop a unique formula for almost every predator or parasitoid that simplifies the work of beneficial insect manufacturers and reduces their costs.
Our meridic formulas are significantly less expensive than using alternative natural feed (ANF) or alternative natural hosts (ANH) and do not compete with human food because they are made from waste from food production and agricultural activities, leading to better environmental practices.