Wanted, an outline scheme for bulk production of dried freshwater-copepod cysts (eggs).

Original request was "Copepods are tiny shrimp relatives found in many water environments (lakes, streams, swamps, seas, etc). An outline scheme is wanted for farming fresh-water species to gather their cysts - these are the equivalent of their eggs. Cysts can be dried and remain viable for many years, so that on adding them to a suitable water body they hatch and go through their life cycles."

Copepods have proved effective in eliminating mosquitos, and hence reducing mosquito-borne diseases. The task was to develop means of production of copepods for mosquito control, either by applying the copepods themselves to the area to be treated, or by aerial or other spraying of their cysts over areas to be treated. In the latter case, cysts can be sprayed over jungle or garden areas, when some will lodge in water-retaining features such as leaf axils, and will hatch and eat any mosquito larvae. Copepods have no chemical or other harmful actions, being edible for animals, and over-dosage is not possible.

Paul Brantmier's masterly report, following as a PDF, gives all essential information needed for a commercial or government initiative to eliminate disease-carrying mosquitos. He also referenced two highly useful studies in the area: 1. GM_Copepod-Production - Manual.pdf. 2. Diapause Induction.pdf.

Because these may no longer be current on the Web, these PDFs are reproduced below.

Paul Brantmier's report is titled "An Enclosed Ecological System Selectively Breeding Copepods for Bulk Applications as Mosquito Control in Outdoor Aquatic Environments".