Equipment for Mechanically Harvesting Eggs of Heliothis Virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

An improved Heliothis virescens F. egg harvester was designed, constructed, and evaluated. The machine automatically removes eggs oviposited on screens, recycles the wash solution (sodium hypochlorite) for reuse, and rinses the eggs with tap water. Results showed that H. virescens eggs removed mechanically with the egg harvester hatched as well as eggs removed manually. Daily collection rates over a 60-d test period averaged 360,000 eggs. On peak day of egg collection, ≈700,000 eggs were collected in ≈20 min. The improved machine has built-in features for limiting the time eggs are exposed to the sodium hypochlorite solution, immediately rinsing the eggs with tap water, and a feature to prevent harvest of eggs if the collection screen is not properly in place.