Ecoscience Corporation

Meir Broza

Haim B Gunner

Fernando Agudelo-Silva

David W Miller

Carol Ann Johnson

Vanessa F LeFevre

A convenient, economical, non-toxic and effective apparatus for the control of roaches by administration of entomopathogenic fungi to the cockroaches. The roaches are exposed to the fungi in a contamination chamber having openings through which the cockroaches enter and come in contact with a living culture of a fungus which is pathogenic to cockroaches. The fungal spores attach to the roach, germinate and penetrate into the body of the cockroach, resulting in the death of the infected roach. Death takes approximately two to three weeks after contact with the culture. During this time, the infected roach disseminates spores of the pathogenic fungus throughout the infested areas which may subsequently infect other roaches. Given the proper environmental conditions, the fungus sporulates on the cadaver of the roach and the conidia can be transmitted to other cockroaches, resulting in a further spread of the disease.

Device for the biological control of cockroaches

A method for control and extermination of flying insects, especially the housefly, by infection of the insects with an entomopathogenic fungus, preferably soil-dwelling fungi, by means of an infection chamber. The chamber maintains the spores of a fungus pathogenic to the insects in a viable form, serves as an attractant for the insects, and serves to inoculate the insects with high numbers of spores. The spores attach to the insects and originate germ tubes that penetrate into the insect, resulting in death within three to four days. The chamber design, i.e., shape and color, can be the sole attractants for the insects. Alternatively, food or scents can be used to further enhance the attraction of the insects for the chamber. Although the primary means of infection is by external contact with the fungal growth, the insects may also be infected by contact with each other and by ingestion of the spores.

Growing community of inventors

Haifa, Israel

Meir Broza