APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCTION OF DIPTERAN INSECTS

A modular system for breeding and harvesting flies, comprising: an egg-growth chamber configured to receive fertilised eggs and to permit the fertilised eggs to develop and hatch as larvae, the egg-growth chamber comprising at least one egg holder, the or each egg holder being adapted to retain the fertilized eggs and allow passage of the larvae from the egg-holder to a food source to provide larvae in the food source; a larval chamber configured to receive the larvae in the food source and to permit the larvae to feed on the food source and develop into pre-pupae to provide pre-pupae in the food source; a pupation chamber configured to receive the pre-pupae in the food source and to permit the pre-pupae to develop into pupae, the pupation chamber being configured to dry the food source and the pre-pupae to provide pupae in a dried food source; a release box configured to receive the pupae in the dried food source and to permit the pupae to develop into adult flies, the release box comprising one or more outlets for adult flies to leave the release box; and a breeding chamber configured to receive adult flies via the one or more outlets in the release box and to permit adult flies to mate to provide gravid females, and wherein the gravid females oviposit fertilised eggs in one or more ovipositing racks. Methods and apparatus for breeding flies and apparatus for counting flies and larvae are also disclosed.