Figure 2

A concept adult colonisation and production cage. The cage base measures approximately 1 × 1 m and is approximately 1.8 m high. The bottom sides are rigid and consist of aluminium sheets. The sides and dark resting louvers slope inward to minimize excretion of resting adults onto cage mates. The bottom of the cage is covered with newsprint paper fed into the cage from a roll to allow simple renewal. The appliances consist of devices for egg collection, pupa introduction, blood and sugar feeding tubes. Each is open over part of its length for adult access. The tubular design allows removal of the tubes for cleaning and would allow solutions to circulate through them if desired. All activities associated with such a cage could be mechanized or centrally performed without opening the cage. A cage of this design has been constructed by the authors as have many of the appliances. An artificial horizon as described by Marchand [13] is created between the lower dark portion and the upper translucent cloth cover. We have observed mating swarms occurring at the interface as by Marchand (Figure 3).