Hi all, I'm looking to buy some growth chambers for rearing insects (mostly defoliating and woodboring beetles, parasitic wasps, maybe some moths, etc. etc.) at different temperatures. I am wondering about the following specifications:
1. How important is the type of lighting? I have seen florescent, LED and incandescent lighting as various chamber options, but wonder if there is a best choice for simulating seasonal changes (e.g., by altering day-night cycles) and otherwise stimulating insect (and perhaps host-plant) growth. 2. I have no immediate plans to manipulate relative humidity as part of any experimental design, but wonder if it the long term RH control will be worth the extra expense. 3. Apparently, phenolic-coated cooling elements are key when working with Drosophila (since their frass is acidic and corrosive). Is this a common phenomenon for insects feeding on foliage as well? 4. Anything else that is fundamental to insect rearing that I'm not thinking of at the moment? Info on particular brands/models is welcome, but I'm in South Africa and not all brands are available. So far I've been looking at Sanyo, Thermo Scientific Forma, plus some local brands (no Percival here, unfortunately). Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks! Jeff P.S. I will summarize all input and recommendations after a few days. Please feel free to contact me on or off list.
