Insect Production Services

• Facilitating research on insect outbreaks and protection tools
• Insectarium
• Quality control
• Methods development
• Quarantine
• Products and database

Insectarium

The Insect Production Services (IPS) insectarium is the only facility in North America that rears multiple forest insect species and the only one in the world that mass-produces spruce budworm.

The insects produced are for use in pest management and related research at the Great Lakes Forestry Centre, other CFS establishments, provincial/state agencies and numerous universities across Canada and the U.S. They are also used for teaching purposes at a range of educational institutions and for public education at high-profile establishments.

The majority of the insectarium’s resources are dedicated to the production of diapause and non-diapause strains of spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana), with an annual production of approximately 3.5 million larvae.

Insect Production Services (IPS) is able to respond to the pest management research community’s changing needs by varying the inventory of species reared. New colonies can be established when required by Canadian Forest Service priorities and if needed by multiple clients.