INSECTARY

Commodity Protection and Quality Research Unit
San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center
USDA, Agricultural Research Service
9611 S. Riverbend Ave.
Parlier, CA 93648

Insectary Manager:  J.  Steven Tebbets, M.A., Entomologist (1995 to present)
Insect Rearing Technician:  Gail Sergent, Biological Technician (2008 to present)

Former Insectary Managers:  Charles E. Curtis, Ph. D., Research Entomologist
                                              (1967-1995)

Former Rearing Technicians:  Shirley May, Biological Technician (1997-2008)
                                              Rodney Fries, Biological Technician (1967-1997)

Links to Species List and Diets, etc.

Please, see the SPECIES LIST below for a listing of species grown in our laboratory with links to the rearing procedure for each.

Please, see DIETS LIST below for a list of the meridic diets used with links to recipes and procedures.

Also check out  BIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS  -  We plan to expand this section by posting information such as rearing tips and techniques, materials and methods used in the insectary, egg sterilization procedures, larval head capsules (instars), sex determination, etc.

Description and Statement of Containment Level

The insectary is located at the USDA, ARS, San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center in Parlier, CA.  Containment level of the facility may be considered ACL-2*.  The facility is housed in an isolated building constructed of double-thick cinderblock walls.  There are primary and secondary entrances and access is limited to authorized personnel only.  Typically, two to three persons.

The insectary was established in 1967 at the Stored Products Insect Research Laboratory, USDA ARS, at 5578 Air Terminal Drive in Fresno, CA.  The first insect colonies were moth and beetle species of stored-product pests.  These were obtained from other USDA laboratories in the United States and from warehouses in the regions of central California.  In 1985 the laboratory and insectary were relocated to 2021 S. Peach Ave.

In 2001, the laboratory and insectary were once again relocated to a new facility in Parlier, CA at the San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center under the Commodity Protection and Quality Research Unit - its current location.

We maintain about 17 species of pestiferous arthropods on meridic diets with all species reared on a full-time, continual basis.  Transient or seasonal species are also grown as needed and are either field-collected or obtained from other insectaries.  At any one time, we may grow from 7 to 8 lepidopterous species and 10 to 12 species of Coleoptera.    The continuous or perpetual colonies are reared on nine different meridic diets.

The facility is approximately 1,800 sq. ft. and is comprised of eight interconnected rooms:

Entry Vestibule (double door entry)
Media Prep and Cleanup Room with two large, floor-standing steam sterilizers
Main Insect Handling Room, the largest room with two fume hoods and one clean-air bench
Agar Diet Prep and Insect Handling Room with steam kettle, diet dispensing pump, shelves, and one clean-air bench
Insect Holding Rooms (2) with independent temperature, humidity, and light controls
Storage Rooms (2)

***
* http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/153036603322163475

SPECIES LIST (Return to top of page) - Click on the Common Name of insect in the table below to view the rearing procedure for the particular species.

Species List - Parlier Insectary

U.S.D.A., A.R.S.

San JoaquinValleyAgricultural SciencesCenter

9611 S. Riverbend Ave.

Parlier, CA 93648