John Innes Centre Entomology Facility and Insectary

The JIC Entomology Facility is a specialised service that maintains and studies, a wide range of both indigenous and exotic insect species. It is staffed by a team of entomologists who are trained in breeding, handling and evaluating insects.

The Insectary supports diverse studies that span insect-plant interactions, plant pathogen-host-vector complexes, natural enemies of pest species and evaluation of crop protection products.

The facility holds DEFRA plant health licences for maintaining and working with many exotic insect species and plant pathogens. It also has DEFRA pesticide safety directorate approval for undertaking crop protection product efficacy studies (ORETO recognition).

The Entomology facility consists of three sections.

• A low quarantine area with laboratory, plant preparation area, offices and meeting room.
• A 'contained' area for cleaning and repairing equipment and insect rearing cages.
• A high containment insectary where all of the licensed insect species are maintained in purpose built insect cages.

The insectary consists of five large walk-in growth rooms, a high containment laboratory, a specialised insect handling unit and a glass walled room for maintaining plants. Most of the insects being maintained in the insectary, are Hemipteran, sap-sucking species of whiteflies, leafhoppers, planthoppers and aphids. Lepidoptera and Dipteran species are also cultured. The facility also houses a breeding unit for the rare Fen Raft Spider, which is currently being studied by scientists from the University of East Anglia.

The Entomology facility is actively seeking collaborative projects with academic and industrial partners.

For further information contact Dr Ian Bedford:

Email: ian.bedford@jic.ac.uk