The present invention provides a method for the aquaculture of marine deposit feeders, such as Arenicola marina and Arenicola defodiens. The method comprises providing a foodstuff such as brewery yeast or waste from fish farms within the substrate housing the worms. The foodstuff is conveniently particulate or microparticulate to aid intimate admixture with a substrate, which is typically sand.

The present invention relates to a method of cultivating, in medium, Steinernema kushidai (hereinafter simply called kushidai) which is one type of Nematoda. Kushidai has a strong insecticidal ability to kill larvae of coliopterous insects, and cultivation of large quantities of kushidai having the strong insecticidal ability requires conditions different from the techniques of cultivating other nematodes parasitic on insects. Kushidai is cultivated in a medium including asteroid. This increases...

An apparatus and method for separating nematodes from an aqueous suspension is provided.

A method for coloring live bait worms comprises adding to a cultivation bed containing one or more worm storage media, a non-toxic amount of a colorant to form a coloring medium, and incubating live bait worms in the coloring medium at a temperature and for a time sufficient to allow the bait worms to become colored by ingesting the coloring medium. The colorant is preferably a D&C coloring additive such as a xanthene dye, most preferably D&C Yellow No. 8, and/or D&C Yellow No. 7, and the worm s...

An apparatus and process for the efficient vermicomposting of organic containing wastes. A continuous thin layer of biomass is formed in which worms are established and encouraged to compost and migrate. The thinness of the biomass layer increases uniformity and allows for a higher rate of worm activity. By moving the biomass upon a conveying surface a continuous open system is created. New matter is introduced, digested and withdrawn while maintaining the active worms within a portion of the bi...

The present invention provides a method for inducing gamete maturation in marine worms of the family arenicolidae and which exhibit epidemic spawning. In the method, male and/or female worms in a housing substrate (such as sand) in sea water are maintained at a temperature of 4 to 8.degree. C. for 14 to 24 days, preferably 5 to 7.degree. C. for 20 to 22 days. Spawning of the worms can them be induced either by exposure to suitable spawning promoting hormones or by raising the temperature of the ...

The present invention provides a method for the aquaculture of marine deposit feeders, such as Arenicola marina and Arenicola defodiens. The method includes providing a foodstuff such as brewery yeast or waste from fish farms within the substrate housing the worms. The foodstuff is conveniently particulate or microparticulate to aid intimate admixture with a substrate, which is typically sand.

A method and a device are disclosed for raising worms. The worms are fed in accordance with a continuously growing nutritional chain in a manner such that a migration of a worm population following said chain is produced. At least once an accretion of the worm population is separated leaving a migrating stock population in the nutritional chain, whereas the accretion migrates in the direction of an accretion nutritional chain which starts from the stock nutritional chain, and can be harvested th...

To transport entomopathogenic nematodes, it is necessary to store them in a manner such that a significant proportion of them survive after being stored and are reactivated when dispersed in water. The present invention provides storage by mixing an aqueous cream of clean third stage infective juveniles (J3) of nematodes with clay. The clay may be in chip form, or calcined, milled and sieved, but comporises from about 33 percent (by weight) to 67 percent (by weight) of the homogeneous mixture. A...

Disclosed are an apparatus and methods for in vivo mass production of insecticidal nematodes, which the efficiency and volume of nematode production. In the method, nematodes are cultured within a natural insect host. The apparatus comprises at least one harvesting area, a water dispensing system that promotes harvest of nematodes from the host organisms, and a water collection and concentration system for nematode collection and storage. The harvesting area comprises reusable stackable perforat...