The document outlines the design, features, and best practices for insectary facilities used in entomological research and biological pest control. It details the essential standards for building and equipment, regulatory measures for bio-pesticides registration under Indian law, and characteristics of an ideal insectary location and layout. Key requirements include environmental control, distancing from pesticide use areas, and proper infrastructure to support insect rearing and research activities.

1. Insectary Facilities and
Equipments,
Basic Standards of
Insectary, Good Insectary
Practices
Prepared By
Aaliya Afroz
Ph. D. Scholar
Dept. of Entomology, IGKV, Raipur

2. Introduction
• This specially designed greenhouse/insectary is used for studying
insect biology, life tables and host plant interactions/relationship. This
facility can be used for biological pest control as it allows
Entomologists to develop insect rearing techniques and mass produce
beneficial insects to be used to help reduce insect and weed
populations below economic levels

3. Insectary Facilities & Features
• Environmentally controlled insect rearing chambers with the ability to regulate
temperature, humidity and photo period to simulate any season or time of day.
• Most of the chambers can be used for development, evaluation and implementation
of biological control programs
• These types of Greenhouses are also in demand for propagating plants required for
the production of host insects that are reared for studying insect biology/phenology
and biological control programs.
• This greenhouse is equipped with high PAR lighting system to resemble natural
light and automatic controls to regulate temperature and air movement.

4. Basic Standards of an Insectary
1. Land
2. Building and civil works
3. Plant and Machinery
4. Raw material
5. Water
6. Power
7. Manpower

5. Regulatory measures
• As the bio-control agents are living organisms, it is very important to
have effective regulatory measures. The quality control of commercial
bioagents must be strictly enforced by the Government. In this
connection, the Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine and
Storage, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of
Agriculture, GOI have issued guidelines/data requirements for
registration of bio-pesticides in the country. As per this, all the units
have to meet the Indian standards and technical specifications to be
eligible for registration under the Insecticides Act, 1968.

6. Bio-pesticides Registration
• At present, Bacillus thuringensis, neem based formulations, microbial
pesticides like fungi, NPV etc., are included in the schedule of
Insecticides Act, 1968. This ensures the quality of bio-pesticides at
farmers level. The standard parameters, protocols for data generation,
guidelines for registration are prepared and circulated to prospective
entrepreneurs by MoA. Now as such, any person dealing with
biopesticides without registration is ill-legal. Accordingly, registration
cost is included

7. Good Insectary Practices
An ideal insectary should have the following characteristics:
• Ideally located in temperature zones. Creating warm conditions (higher
temperature) is easier and cost effective than cold conditions (lower temperature).
• A minimum distance of 0.20-0.25 kms (200-250 mtr.) should be maintained from the
farm area in order to avoid pesticidal drift and minimize the entry of harmful natural
enemies like Bracon spp. Or Corcyra cephalonica contaminate the host culture. At the
same time avoid risk of laboratory host from escaping and attacking on field crops.
• Preferably away from industrial areas because the coccinellid predators and certain
aphelinids are prone to ill-effects of air pollutants.

8. • In order to avoid field contamination, exclude plantation within the
immediate vicinity of the insectary while planning landscaping as
plants attract undesired fauna.
• Let the insectary building face-west direction, especially in areas with
severe summers because natural lighting aids in uniformity. The wall
facing the sunny side can be shaded with a creeper while selecting the
creeper care should be taken to avoid plants attract insects because
they may affect the insectary cultural.
• An area of 288 sq. m. (24 x 12M) is essential in order to house
equipments, generator and staff.
• Uninterrupted water supply is very essential.
• Proofing against dust/ant/rat.

9. • Easy access to the facilitate handling of material, and for disposal of
waste material, etc.
• It should be well equipped to meet the requirements of handling mass
production of a particular insect species.
• Ceiling height should not be more than 2.5 m so as to ease insect
trapping and also reduce load on air conditioners.
• A good and low cost insectary building using indigenous resources is
with efficient security system is advocated.

10. Layout plan for an insectary
• The layout plan for need based insectaries should be designed
accordingly for
• Research insectary having reliable environment control
• Commercial insectary with adequate facilities having optimum
environmental control of 27± 2 degree Celcius temperature with 60± 5
% relative humidity and also light and good hygienic conditions.

11. Layout of an ideal research insectary
Where, EP= Egg parasitoidsPH= Poly/Glass houseLP= Larval parasitoids PP= Pupal parasitoids