Device and Method for Exposing an Insect to an Active Agent, and Method for Determining the Effect of an Active Agent on an Insect

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention discloses a device and method for exposing insects to an active agent (such as an insecticide, hormone, or toxin) inside a specially designed container. The container holds the agent either coated on its surfaces or carried by an insert, and is closed to darken the interior, causing insects inside to stop flying and settle on the treated surfaces. The method also describes observing the exposed insects afterwards to determine the agent's effect in a standardized, low-stress way, enabling resistance screening and comparative testing at different agent concentrations.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Screening insect populations (farm or wild) for resistance to insecticides or other active agents
• Testing the efficacy of new pesticides, growth regulators, or sterilizing agents in laboratory or field settings
• Assessing the real-world effects of insect treatments directly on insects inside controlled test environments
• Developing and optimizing insect control strategies for agriculture, vector control (e.g., mosquitoes), and pest management
• Educational or research applications in entomology and toxicology to study insect responses
• Quality control for insecticide manufacturing or treated materials (e.g., treated fabrics)
• Field kits for rapid resistance diagnostics of pests on-site

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Provides physiologically relevant, low-stress exposure for insects, improving result accuracy
• Allows rapid, standardized, and scalable testing of many insects at once, enhancing throughput and statistical reliability
• Minimizes test artifacts due to insect immobilization or temperature shocks, common in traditional tests
• Enables field or laboratory use without requiring complex equipment or infrastructure
• Supports testing of different agents and concentration ranges in parallel (with device sets), streamlining comparative analysis
• Simple, portable, and cost-effective setup, including disposable or reusable options
• Facilitates rapid resistance monitoring, helping fine-tune pest management and reduce overuse of chemicals

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a method for exposing an insect to an active agent, comprising the steps of providing a container (1) defining an interior (3) and having an active agent within the interior (3), wherein the interior is equipped with an active agent carrier (6) receiving the active agent and/or a surface of the interior (3) is coated using the active agent; inserting at least one insect into the interior (3) of the container (1); and closing the container (1) such that the insect may not exit the interior (3), and the interior (3) is darkened such that the insect substantially stops flying. The invention further relates to a corresponding device for carrying out the method, and to a set of multiple devices differing with regard to the active agent and/or the concentration thereof.