Insect breeding

Insect breeding at Fraunhofer IME

© Fraunhofer IME | Kim Weigand
Insect breeding facility with three specially designed, interconnected containers. The pilot facility is used for research into insects as food and feed, as well as their processing.
© Fraunhofer IME | Kim Weigand
Integrated climate chambers with individually adjustable temperature and humidity create an ideal microclimate for every stage of insect breeding.
© Fraunhofer IME | Kim Weigand
Feeding insect larvae in the laboratory

Our infrastructure

Our state-of-the-art infrastructure enables precise and controlled breeding under optimal conditions. The animals are kept and monitored in specially developed insect containers in a manner appropriate to their species. Climate chambers with individually adjustable temperature and humidity create an ideal microclimate for each stage of development. The system is complemented by powerful incubators that ensure constant conditions for breeding and metamorphosis – for reproducible results and the highest quality in research and production.

 

Insect breeding on commission – your idea, our infrastructure

Are you planning a project involving insects, require controlled breeding conditions, or are you looking for a reliable partner for your research? We offer tailor-made solutions – professional, flexible, and scientifically sound. Whether you need individual experiments, long-term studies or complex breeding series, our modern equipment and experienced team are ready to efficiently implement your requirements. Contact us – we look forward to your enquiry and to making a difference together.

Diverse insect breeding – for research, development and application

In our breeding facilities, we specifically cultivate a wide range of insect species such as...

 

Food and feed insects

  • Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens)  
  • Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor)  
  • Large black beetle „Superworm“ (Zophobas morio)  
  • Grain beetle (Alphitobius diaperinus)  

 

Pest insects

  • Spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii)
  • Beet root weevil (Asproparthenis punctiventris
  • Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)
  • Cockroach (Plutella xylostella)

 

Vector insects

  • Yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti)
  • Reed glasswing cicada (Pentastiridius leporinus)
  • Green peach aphid (Myzus persicae

 

Insects for medical applications

 
  • Tobacco moth (Manduca sexta)
  • Silk moth (Bombyx mori)
  • Blowfly (Lucilia sericata)

 

Model organisms

  • Black-bellied fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster)
  • Greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella)
  • Red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum

The Fraunhofer IME insect breeding facility

Hessischer Rundfunk

Our projects

 

»SymBioÖkonomie«

Insects and their symbiotic microbes for the circular bioeconomy

 

»Bio-Schmier«

Platform technology for bio-based high-performance lubricants utilising sustainable material cycles.

 

»GEMSilk«

Genetically Engineered Medical Silk

 

»SensInsects«

Development of economic, informative and practical insect quality classes, the associated measurement technology and a processing guide.

 

»ASCRIBE«

Screening bioresources to identify novel antiviral agents for the treatment of influenza infections

 

»TenEDEN«

Efficient organic fertiliser from mealworm meal

 

»FutureProteins«

Coupled agricultural systems for resilient and resource-optimised production of high-quality food proteins

Are you interested in this topic? Then please feel free to contact us!

Are you planning a project involving insects, require controlled breeding conditions, or are you looking for a reliable partner for your research? We offer tailor-made solutions – professional, flexible, and scientifically sound. 

Dr. Patrick Klüber

Group Leader

Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME
Ohlebergsweg 12
35392 Giessen, Germany

Phone +49 641 972-19289

 

 

Institute Section Bioresources