The Insect module is designed to allow research on the propagation and experimentation on a diverse array of insects such as drosophila, aphids, mites, mosquitoes, bees, moths, butterflies and caterpillars. Critical research enabled involves the study of the effect of ecological conditions on interactions between plants, herbivores, and natural pest predators.
One of impacts of this module is that it provides a basis for the development of insect pest and disease vector control technologies through chemical ecology and/or biotechnology.
Two colony rearing rooms containing a total of 11 specialized environmental controlled facilities for the growth and propagation of various insects from habitats as diverse as the arctic, the tropics and desert regions are located in this module. A separate experimental room contains an array of 19 specialized, environmentally controlled walk-in and reach-in experimental growth chambers with various alterable environmental conditions. Adjoining the colony rearing and the experimental facilities is a central laboratory for sample preparation and separate rooms equipped for microinjection and micromanipulation, media preparation and storage, waste treatment, and a cold room.
An area within the Biotron Tower will be federally certified at Containment Level 3 (CL3) for work on airborne biohazardous plant and animal pathogens. This zone will feature approximately 70 m 2 of CL3 lab space in 2 separately air-locked labs, along with a pass-through autoclave, gowning area, and access to a large, walk-in growth chamber.
