Drosophila Stock Maintenance

Abstract

An insect culture maintenance system includes a sequence of open-ended cylindrical tubes [ 500, 502, 504, 506 ] joined pairwise alternately at their tops and bottoms using multiple dual-cap connectors. Each dual-capped connector has a channel from an inside of a first cap to an inside of a second cap. In use, connectors that cap the bottoms of the tubes [ 508, 512 ] are filled with insect food media [ 518, 520 ], while connectors that cap the tops of the tubes [ 510 ] are open. As a result of this design, adults pass from one tube to the next through the top dual-cap connectors, while larvae pass from one tube to the next through the bottom dual-cap connectors, resulting in propagation of subsequent generations of insects through the sequence of tubes.

1 . A method for maintaining insect cultures, the method comprising:
 providing four open-ended cylindrical tubes: a first tube, second tube, third tube, and fourth tube;   providing three dual-cap connectors: a first dual cap, a second dual cap, and a third dual cap; wherein each of the three dual-capped connectors has a channel connecting an inside of a first cap and an inside of a second cap to form a single connected space;   filling the first dual cap, and the third dual cap with food media;   connecting the four open-ended cylindrical tubes in sequence using the three dual-capped connectors, by connecting the first tube to the second tube using the first dual cap, connecting the second tube to the third tube using the second dual cap, and connecting the third tube to the fourth tube using the third dual cap;   inserting insects into the first tube;   capping the first tube;   allowing first generation larvae to propagate through the first dual cap from the first tube to the second tube;   allowing the first generation larvae to mature into first generation adults in the second tube;   allowing first generation adults to propagate through the second dual cap from the second tube to the third tube;   allowing second generation larvae to propagate through the third dual cap from the third tube to the fourth tube; and   allowing the second generation larvae to mature into second generation adults in the fourth tube.   
     
     
         2 . An insect culture maintenance kit comprising:
 four open-ended cylindrical tubes: a first tube, second tube, third tube, and fourth tube;   three dual-cap connectors: a first dual cap, a second dual cap, and a third dual cap; wherein each of the three dual-capped connectors has a channel connecting an inside of a first cap and an inside of a second cap to form a single connected space;   wherein the four open-ended cylindrical tubes and the three dual-capped connectors are sized such each cap of each of the three dual-capped connectors fits on each end of each of the four open-ended cylindrical tubes, allowing the four open-ended cylindrical tubes to be connected in sequence using the three dual-capped connectors.   
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 2  further comprising a first terminal cap, wherein the terminal cap closes the opening of a single tube. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 3  where the terminal cap comprises a cotton ball or a single cap. 
     
     
         5 . A dual-capped connector, comprising:
 a first cap, comprising a first cylindrical inner cap wall defining a first cylindrical region within an inside of the first cap;   a second cap, comprising a second cylindrical inner cap wall defining a second cylindrical region within an inside of the second cap;   a reinforcing portion that mechanically connects the first cap with the second cap; and   a channel forming a passageway from the inside of the first cap to the inside of the second cap to form a single connected space.   
     
     
         6 . The dual capped connector of  claim 5   wherein the first cap further comprises a first cylindrical space within the inside of the first cap, wherein the first cylindrical space has a first inner diameter smaller than a first diameter of the first cylindrical inner cap wall;   wherein the second cap further comprises a second cylindrical space within the inside of the second cap, wherein the second cylindrical space has a second inner diameter smaller than a second diameter of the second cylindrical inner cap wall.   
     
     
         7 . The dual capped connector of  claim 6  wherein the channel forming a passageway from the inside of the first cap to the inside of the second cap connects the first cylindrical space to the second cylindrical space. 
     
     
         8 . The dual capped connector of  claim 5  wherein the connector is made of a single to molded ductile material. 
     
     
         9 . The dual capped connector of  claim 8  wherein the connector is made of plastic, silicone or rubber.