Patent Publication Number: US-2020275643-A1

Title: Egg hatching and larvae separation devices and methods

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to the mass-rearing of insects. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, this disclosure relates to devices and methods for separating insect larvae from egg hatching debris. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The mass-rearing of insect larvae can be very time and labor intensive. To produce insect larvae, insect eggs are flooded in a solution (e.g., water plus yeast) and left for a number of hours in a container (e.g., a jar) at an appropriate temperature to allow for the desired number of larvae to hatch. A technician would then perform the difficult task of separating the hatched larvae from the egg hatching debris (e.g., the egg casings and the non-egg debris, such as mosquito body parts) in order to conduct a smooth and accurate larvae counting/allocation operation. Separating the hatched larvae from the egg hatching debris would typically be done by transferring the hatched larvae and the debris from the container to a tray for a technician to hand pluck the larvae from the egg hatching debris. This method often involved significant amounts of human labor and time, such as manually moving the hatched larvae and solution from the container to the tray, hand separating the hatched larvae from the egg casings and the non-egg debris, etc. 
     SUMMARY 
     Various examples are described for devices and methods for egg hatching and larvae separation. One example device includes a fluid-tight container, wherein the fluid-tight container comprises a base having a first portion and a second portion; at least one wall enclosing the base and coupled to the base to form a fluid-tight seal; wherein the first portion of the base comprises a first color and defines a recess; and wherein the second portion of the base comprises a second color darker than the first color. 
     One example method includes providing a fluid-tight container and a liquid disposed in the fluid-tight container, wherein the fluid-tight container comprises a base having a first portion and a second portion; at least one wall enclosing the base and coupled to the base to form a fluid-tight seal; wherein the first portion of the base comprises a first color and defines a recess; and wherein the second portion of the base comprises a second color darker than the first color; dispensing a plurality of insect eggs into the recess of the fluid-tight container; and removing at least one larvae from the second portion of the fluid-tight container, the at least one larvae having hatched from an insect egg of the plurality of insect eggs. 
     These illustrative examples are mentioned not to limit or define the scope of this disclosure, but rather to provide examples to aid understanding thereof. Illustrative examples are discussed in the Detailed Description, which provides further description. Advantages offered by various examples may be further understood by examining this specification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more certain examples and, together with the description of the example, serve to explain the principles and implementations of the certain examples. 
         FIGS. 1-8 and 11  show example devices for egg hatching and larvae separation according to this disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  shows a flowchart for an example method for egg hatching and larvae separation according to this disclosure; and 
         FIG. 10  shows an example computing device for egg hatching and larvae separation according to this disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Examples are described herein in the context of devices and methods for egg hatching and larvae separation. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following description is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of examples as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same reference indicators will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or like items. 
     In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the examples described herein are shown and described. It will, of course, be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made in order to achieve the developer&#39;s specific goals, such as compliance with application- and business-related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. 
     When mass rearing insects, it may be desirable to separate insect larvae (or simply “larvae”) from egg debris without the need for manual separation by a user. Examples according to this disclosure can provide for the separation of insect larvae from insect egg hatching debris by the insect larvae themselves using the instinct of the larvae to flee from stimuli. 
     In an illustrative example, mosquito eggs are placed into a fluid-tight container that contains a liquid. This example fluid-tight container has a base that is divided into two adjacent sections: the first section is colored white and includes a recess where the mosquito eggs may be initially deposited, and a second section that is colored black. The base also has a slope from the recess up to the second portion. Thus, as the mosquito larvae hatch, they will move out of the recess, up the inclined slope, and into the second portion due to the larvae&#39;s inclination to hide in the black section because of the section&#39;s darker color. 
     In this example, the fluid-tight container may include various other features that may help encourage the larvae to leave the recess, thereby separating themselves from the egg hatching debris. The fluid-tight container has a light source that shines light into the first section of the container. Because mosquito larvae are startled by the light stimulus, they will move away from the light source and out of the first section. 
     In addition, the fluid-tight container has a vibration generator coupled to the first portion to output a mechanical vibration that disturbs the larvae and encourages them to move away from the vibration. The vibration may also encourage the hatched eggs and debris to settle, which may leave more room for the unhatched eggs. Additionally, a heat source, such as a heating pad, may be positioned under the first section along with a temperature measuring device, such as a temperature probe, in order to measure and maintain a temperature of the liquid in the container. Heating the first section may encourage the insect larvae eggs to hatch faster and more synchronously. A temperature gradient in the system due to heating the first section may cause the larvae to move toward the second section of the container. A computing device may be in communication with the light source, vibration generator, heat source, and temperature probe to control those devices. 
     Each of these features (e.g., the color of the first section versus the color of the second section, the light source, the vibration generator, and the heat source) would help to separate the larvae if used on its own. However, such a configuration as is described above incorporating each of the features into a single device encourages the larvae to hatch from the mosquito eggs, to leave the first section, and to move into the second section. As a result, the larvae separate themselves from the eggs and the egg hatching debris so a user does not have to manually separate each individual larvae from the debris. After the larvae have separated themselves from the debris, the larvae may be removed quickly and efficiently from the fluid-tight container and moved en masse into another rearing container. 
     This illustrative example is given to introduce the reader to the general subject matter discussed herein and the disclosure is not limited to this example. The following sections describe various additional non-limiting examples and examples of systems and methods for egg hatching and larvae separation. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 1  shows an example of a fluid-tight container  100  for egg hatching and larvae separation. In this example, the fluid-tight container  100  is made out of acrylic; however, it may be made out of any suitable material. The fluid-tight container  100  includes a base  102  and at least one wall  104  enclosing the base. The base  102  may be square, rectangular, circular (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 2  and described below), triangular, trapezoidal, or any other shape suitable for the proper functioning of the fluid-tight container  100 . 
     The at least one wall  104  is coupled to the base  102  to form a fluid-tight seal between the base  102  and the wall  104 . In this example, the at least one wall  104  is coupled to an edge, or edges depending on the shape, of the base  102 ; however, the at least one wall  104  may be coupled to any suitable location of the base  102 . In some examples, the at least one wall  104  may be coupled to the base  102  by using a glue or a sealant, by welding or melting the base  102  and the at least one wall  104  together, by fastening the base  102  and at least one wall  104  together using various fasteners such as screws, bolts, etc., by molding the base  102  and the at least one wall  104  out of a single piece of material, or by any other suitable method of coupling the at least one wall  104  to the base  102 . 
     A liquid  112  may be included within the fluid-tight container  100 . The liquid  112  may have a depth of substantially equal to or less than 0.5 inch or any other suitable depth to permit insect larvae to hatch and move away from any egg hatching debris without drowning in the liquid  112 . In some examples, the liquid  112  may be fresh water, saltwater, a solution of water and yeast, or any other suitable liquid  112  or mixture to support the hatching of the larvae. 
     The base  102  is divided into two contiguous portions, a first portion  106  and a second portion  108  that meet as shown in  FIG. 1 ; however, it is not required that the two portions be contiguous. And while the two portions shown in  FIG. 1  are each approximately half of the base  102 , they may make up various proportions of the base  102  other than halves. 
     The first portion  106  defines a recess  110  into which insect eggs may be deposited and that will generally keep the insect eggs in place. While only a single recess  110  is shown in the example in  FIG. 1 , any suitable number of recesses  110  may be present. The recess  110  may be any suitable shape such as rectangular (e.g., as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3-8 ), circular, ovular, trapezoidal, or curved (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 2 ) and may have any suitable cross-sectional shape. The recess  110  may also be any suitable depth to keep the insect eggs in place while permitting the hatched larvae to be able to leave the recess  110 . Additionally, the recess  110  may extend across an entire dimension of the base  102  (e.g., across the entire width of the base  102 ) or may extend only partially across a dimension. 
     In this example, the first portion  106  and the second portion  108  are differently colored: the first portion  106  is white while the second portion  108  is black; however, any suitable color combinations may be employed. As defined by the hue-saturation-value (HSV) color scheme, a color may be said to be white or substantially white if it has a lightness substantially at a maximum HSV lightness value and a minimum saturation value, and a color may be said to be black or substantially black if it has a lightness value substantially at a minimum HSV lightness value. In some examples, the color of the second portion  108  is darker than the color of the first portion  106  meaning that the second color has a color content closer to black than the first color. For example, in the HSV color scheme, one color is darker than another if its brightness value is less than the other color. Other color schemes may be employed in some examples, but some insects are attracted by darkness as it offers a place to hide and repelled by light, thus colors for the portions may be selected to take advantage of such preferences. In this example, the color of the second portion  108  attracts the hatched insect larvae resulting in the hatched larvae moving to the second portion  108  and separating themselves from the egg debris located in the recess  110  and in the first portion  106 . It should be understood that the use of the HSV color scheme is merely illustrative, and any suitable coloring scheme to determine relative shadings between different colors may be employed. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 11  shows another example of the fluid-tight container  1100  for egg hatching and larvae separation where the second portion  1108  is surrounded by the first portion  1106 . In this example, the first portion  1106  and the second portion  1108  are colored similarly to the first portion  106  and the second portion  108  described above in reference to  FIG. 1 . The insect eggs may be deposited anywhere in the first portion  1106 , and the larvae may migrate towards the second portion  1108 . Such an arrangement may be advantageous as it may allow a larger region for depositing eggs, with a smaller region from which hatched larvae may be more easily gathered. For example, second portion  1108  may be hinged or in a trapdoor configuration to allow the larvae to be periodically dropped into another container, and then reset to allow additional larvae to migrate onto the second portion. 
     As discussed above with respect to  FIG. 1 , the fluid-tight container  1100  includes a base  1102 , four walls  1104 , a first portion  1106 , and a second portion  1108  as are described above in relation to  FIG. 1 . In some examples, the first portion  1106  may instead be surrounded by the second portion  1108  in a reverse configuration to what is shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 2  shows another example of the fluid-tight container  200  for egg hatching and larvae separation. In this example, the fluid-tight container has a circular base  202  with a single wall  204  coupled with and enclosing the base  202  at its edge to form a fluid-tight seal. The fluid-tight container  200  includes two portions, the first portion  206  and the second portion  208 , and contains a liquid, as discussed above with respect to  FIG. 1 . Additionally, the first portion  206  defines a curved recess  210 . The fluid-tight container  200  may also incorporate a similar color scheme of the first portion  206  and the second portion  208  as discussed above. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3  shows another example of the fluid-tight container  300  for egg hatching and larvae separation. The fluid-tight container  300  includes a base  302 , four walls  304 , a first portion  306  colored white, a second portion  308  colored black, and a recess  310  in the first portion  306  as are described above in relation to  FIG. 1 . In this example, the fluid-tight container  300  includes features in addition to those shown in  FIG. 1  to assist with hatching the larvae and to encourage larvae separation from the egg hatching debris. Some of these features include, for example, a light source  312 , a vibration generator  314 , a temperature measuring device  316 , an inclined slope  318 , a heat source  320  and a computing device  317 . 
     In this example, one wall  304  of the fluid-tight container  300  includes a translucent portion  305  located near the first portion  306 , though any suitable number of translucent portions  305  may be included in any number of walls  304  in the fluid-tight container  300 . As may be seen in  FIG. 3 , the translucent portion  305  extends along an entire wall  304  of the fluid-tight container  300 ; however, in some examples, the translucent portion  305  may extend only partially along a wall  304 . In further examples, the light source  312  may be positioned proximate to the translucent portion(s)  305  of the at least one wall  304  and may be oriented to emit light through the translucent portion  305  into the fluid-tight container  300 . The light emitted from the light source  312  into the fluid-tight container  300  may help encourage the insect larvae to move away from the light source  312 , and thus move from the first portion  306  to the second portion  308 . The light source  312  may be attached to either an inner surface or an outer surface of the fluid-tight container  300  or may be positioned separately from the fluid-tight container  300 . In still further examples, the light source  312  may be positioned in any location around the first portion  306  (e.g., above or below the first portion  306  or the recess  310 ) to emit light into the first portion  306 . 
     In this example, the fluid-tight container  300  includes a vibration generator  314  that outputs a mechanical vibration. The vibration generator  314  may include vibration motors such as eccentric rotating mass (ERM) vibration motors, linear resonant actuators (LRA), an audio speaker, or any other suitable device capable of outputting a mechanical vibration. The vibration generator  314  is positioned to output the mechanical vibration to the first portion  306 . For example, in  FIG. 3  the vibration generator  314  is attached to the outside surface of the first portion  306  of the fluid-tight container  300 ; however, in some examples, the vibration generator  314  may be attached to the inside surface of the first portion  306  or may be positioned separate from the fluid-tight container  300 . The vibration generator  314  is shown attached to one of the at least one walls  304  proximate to the first portion  306 , but the vibration generator  314  may also be attached to a plurality of walls  304  or to the base  302 . The mechanical vibration generated by the vibration generator  314  and output to the first portion  306  disturbs the insect eggs and larvae located in the recess  310  or the first portion  306  and encourages the larvae to hatch from the eggs and then to separate from the egg hatching debris by moving to the second portion  308 . 
     The fluid-tight container  300  shown in  FIG. 3  includes a temperature measuring device  316 . The temperature measuring device  316  may be any device suitable for measuring the temperature of the liquid found in the fluid-tight container  300 , such as a thermometer, thermocouple, infrared sensor, etc. The temperature measuring device  316  is positioned to measure the temperature of the liquid and may display and/or communicate the measured temperature to a user or to the computing device  317 , which will be discussed below. In further examples, the temperature measuring device  316  may be attached to the outer surface or inner surface of the fluid-tight container  300 , positioned proximate to the fluid-tight container  300 , or positioned above the fluid-tight container  300 . 
     In this example, the fluid-tight container  300  includes an inclined slope  318  to assist with the separation of the insect larvae from the egg hatching debris. Some species of insect larvae instinctively climb slopes, thus such a feature may encourage movement of the larvae towards the second portion  308 . The inclined slope  318  may be formed as a single unit with the base  302  and/or the at least one wall  304  or the inclined slope  318  may be a separate piece that may be placed into the fluid-tight container  300  or attached to the base  302  and/or the at least one wall  304 . In the case where the inclined slope  318  is a separate piece, the inclined slope  318  may be made out of the same material or out of different material than the rest of the fluid-tight container  300 . In this example, the inclined slope  318  extends from an edge of the recess  110  to the edge of the second portion  308 . In some examples, the inclined slope  318  may begin spaced apart from the recess  110 . The base  302  of the second portion  308  is sized such that there is no height difference between the edge of the inclined slope  318  and the second portion  308 , though a suitable height difference between the edge of the inclined slope  318  and the second portion  308  may be incorporated into the fluid-tight container. In further examples, the end of the inclined slope  318  may terminate before meeting the second portion  308  such that there is a flat surface of the first portion  306  adjacent to the inclined slope  318  and located between the inclined slope  318  and the second portion  308 . The incline of the inclined slope  318  may be any angle suitable for permitting insect larvae to travel across the slope toward the second portion  308 . 
     In this example, the fluid-tight container  300  includes a heat source  320 , such as a resistive heating element, a heating pad, an incandescent light bulb, or any other suitable device that may heat the liquid found in the fluid-tight container  300 . The heat source  320  may be positioned proximate to or attached to the fluid-tight container  300 . For example, the heat source  320  shown in  FIG. 3  is a heating pad located under the base  302  of the fluid-tight container  300 . The heating pad extends under the entire base  302 , though in some examples the heating pad may extend only partially under the base  302 . The heat source  320  may be positioned to heat the liquid by applying heat to the fluid-tight container  300 , as is the case with the heating pad extending under the base  302 , or by applying heat directly to the liquid. 
     In some examples, the fluid-tight container  300  may include or be controlled by a computing device  317  that may control various features of the fluid-tight container  300 . For example, the computing device  317  may turn the light source  312  on or off or adjust the brightness of the light source  312 . It may turn the vibration generator  314  on or off or adjust the intensity of the vibration generator  314 . The computing device  317  may also turn the heat source  320  on or off or adjust the output of the heat source  320  based on signals and information received by a processor in the computing device  317  from the temperature measuring device  316  in order to regulate the temperature of the liquid found in the fluid-tight container  300 . In some examples, however, the computing device  317  may provide more particularized functionality and greater control over devices used with the fluid-tight container  300  such as permitting synchronized application of the various stimuli on a programmed schedule. While  FIG. 3  only depicts a single computing device  317 , it should be appreciated that multiple computing devices  317  may be employed to apportion various processing tasks. Thus, some examples may split processing amongst multiple computing devices  317  to distribute processing requirements. Further details relating to specifics of the computing device  317  are discussed below in relation to  FIG. 10 . 
     Additionally, chemicals may be used to encourage larvae separation from the egg hatching debris. For example, a chemical deterrent  322 , e.g., ethanol or alcohol, may be added to the liquid near the recess  310  or may be applied or attached to a surface of the first portion  306 . Or a chemical attractant  324 , e.g., a food product, may be added to the liquid found in the second portion  308  or may be applied or attached to a surface of the second portion  308 . In some examples, both a chemical deterrent  322  and a chemical attractant  324  may be used to encourage larvae separation. 
     Many of the features discussed above provide stimuli to encourage larvae separation from egg hatching debris, but examples according to this disclosure are not limited to those examples listed above. It should be understood that any suitable stimuli may be used to help encourage the larvae to separate from the debris. For example, bubbles generated by placing an air pump under the surface of the liquid, cold temperatures generated by an air conditioner or cooling system, shaking generated by the vibration generator  314  or by a moveable base located under the fluid-tight container, mechanical stirring generated using a rod inserted into the liquid, and electric current generated by a generator may all be used as stimuli to encourage larvae separation. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 4  shows another example of the fluid-tight container  400  for egg hatching and larvae separation. In this example, the fluid-tight container  400  includes the same features as were discussed in reference to  FIG. 1 . The fluid-tight container  400  includes a base  402 , at least one wall  404 , a first portion  406 , a second portion  408 , and a recess  410 . Additionally in this example, the fluid-tight container  400  includes a dividing member  412 . The dividing member  412  may help with the separation of the insect larvae from the egg hatching debris by permitting insect larvae to move from one side of the dividing member  412  to the other side through a gap between the base  402  and the dividing member  412  while preventing floating insect egg hatching debris from moving past the dividing member  412 . 
     The dividing member  412  extends over the base  402  and between two wall sections of the at least one wall  404 . In this example, the dividing member  412  extends over the area of the base  402  were the first portion  406  and the second portion  408  meet. In further examples, the dividing member  412  may extend over only the first portion  406 , over only the second portion  408 , or over both the first portion  406  and the second portion  408 . The dividing member  412  may be formed as a single unit with the two wall sections of the at least one wall  404  or may be attached to the two wall sections after the fluid-tight container  400  is formed. The dividing member  412  is shown in  FIG. 4  as attached to the two wall sections at right angles. However, it is understood that the dividing member  412  may be attached to the two wall sections at any suitable angle. In some examples, the dividing member  412  may be made out of the same material as the fluid-tight container  400  or out of different material. The dividing member  412  extends from an upper edge of the two wall sections of the at least one wall  404  towards the base  402 . However, the dividing member  412  will not contact the base  402 . Instead, a gap is formed between a lower end of the dividing member  412  and the base  402 . In some examples, the dividing member  412  extends a distance into the liquid. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 5  shows another example of the fluid-tight container  500  for egg hatching and larvae separation. In this example, the fluid-tight container  500  includes the same features as were discussed above in reference to  FIG. 1 . The fluid-tight container  500  includes a base  502 , at least one wall  504 , a first portion  506 , a second portion  508 , and a recess  510 . Additionally, the fluid-tight container  500  includes a drain  512 , which in this example is a resealable hole. The resealable hole  512  permits the liquid and the insect larvae to be drained from the second portion  508 , such as into another container to transport the larvae to a larval rearing container or directly into a larval rearing container. The resealable hole  512  may be suitably sized to permit the liquid and the insect larvae to pass through and may be positioned anywhere in the second portion  508  where the liquid and the insect larvae may still drain through the resealable hole  512 . Additionally, the fluid-tight container  500  may include more than one resealable hole  512  to drain the liquid and the insect larvae from the second portion  508 . There may also be a resealable hole  512  positioned in the first portion  506  that may help to keep any debris from being drained with the larvae. In some examples, only enough liquid is drained so that the insect larvae are drained from the second portion  508 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 6  shows another example of the fluid-tight container  600  for egg hatching and larvae separation. In this example, the fluid-tight container  600  includes the same features as were discussed above in reference to  FIG. 1 . The fluid-tight container  600  includes a base  602 , at least one wall  604 , a first portion  606 , a second portion  608 , and a recess  610 . Additionally in this example, the fluid-tight container  600  includes a pump  612 . The pump  612  extracts the liquid and the insect larvae from the second portion  608  to another location, such as into another container to transport the larvae to a larval rearing container or directly into a larval rearing container. The pump  612  may be suitably sized to permit the liquid and the insect larvae to pass through and may be positioned anywhere in the second portion  608  where the liquid and the insect larvae may still be extracted through the pump  612 . Additionally, the fluid-tight container  600  may include more than one pump  612 . Multiple pumps  612  may be positioned in the second portion  608 , or pumps  612  may be positioned in both the first portion  606  and the second portion  608  to help keep any debris from being extracted with the larvae. In some examples, only enough liquid is extracted so that the insect larvae are extracted from the second portion  608 . 
     In some examples, the resealable hole  512  discussed in relation to  FIG. 5  and/or the pump  612  discussed in relation to  FIG. 6  may be connected to a pipe or a tube that flows past a larvae counter. This may result in an even more efficient process as the larvae would not have to be manually counted 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 ,  FIGS. 7 and 8  show additional examples of the fluid-tight container  100  for egg hatching and larvae separation. In the example shown in  FIG. 7 , the fluid-tight container  700  includes the same features as were discussed above in reference to  FIG. 1 . The fluid-tight container  700  includes a base  702 , at least one wall  704 , a first portion  706 , a second portion  708 , and a recess  710 . Additionally, the fluid-tight container  700  includes an opaque cover  712  to create a darker environment in the second portion  708  and encourage insect larvae to move to the second portion  708  after hatching in the first portion  706 . As discussed above, some insect larvae may prefer dark areas to light areas. Thus, the opaque cover  712  may be employed to create a desirable environment for the hatching larvae. The opaque cover  712  may be removable from the fluid-tight container  700  or it may be formed as a single unit with the fluid-tight container  700 . Additionally, the opaque cover may extend over the entirety of the second portion  708  or may only partially cover the second portion  708 . 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 8 , the fluid-tight container  800  includes the same features as were discussed above in reference to  FIG. 1 . The fluid-tight container  800  includes a base  802 , at least one wall  804 , a first portion  806 , a second portion  808 , and a recess  810 . Additionally, the fluid-tight container  800  includes a substantially translucent or transparent cover  812  extending over the entire fluid-tight container  800 . The cover  812  may prevent dust, debris, or other contaminants from reaching the liquid and/or the insect larvae. The cover  812  may also serve as an additional surface on which features (e.g., those described in  FIG. 3 ) may be attached to the fluid-tight container  800 . The cover  812  may be removable from the fluid-tight container  800 . The cover  812  may also include openings to permit oxygen flow to the fluid-tight container  800  and/or to permit access to the liquid or interior of the fluid-tight container  800  for any of the features described above in  FIG. 3 , such as the light source  312 , the vibration generator  314 , the temperature measuring device  316 , or the heat source  320 , or any other feature that may be included with the fluid-tight container  800 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 9  shows an example method  900  for separating insect larvae from insect egg hatching debris according to this disclosure. The example method  900  will be discussed with respect to the fluid-tight container  300  shown in  FIG. 3 . However, it should be appreciated that any suitable system for separating insect larvae from insect egg hatching debris may be employed, such as that shown in  FIG. 1-2, 4-8 , or  11 . 
     At block  910 , a fluid-tight container  300  and a liquid contained in the fluid-tight container  300 , as discussed above in relation to  FIG. 3 , are provided. Here, the fluid-tight container  300  includes a base  302  that has a first portion  306  colored with a first color and defining a recess  310 , as discussed above. The base  302  has a second portion  308  that is colored with a second color, which is darker than the first color. The fluid-tight container  300  also includes at least one wall  304  enclosing the base  302  and coupled to the base  302  to form a fluid-tight seal. The first color of the first portion  306  may continue on the at least one wall  304  that is in contact with the first portion  306 , and the second color of the second portion  308  may continue on the at least one wall that is in contact with the second portion  308 . 
     At block  912 , a plurality of insect eggs are dispensed into the fluid-tight container  300 . In some examples, the eggs are dispensed into the recess  310 . As discussed above, any suitably sized recess  310  may be incorporated into the first portion  306  to receive the dispensed eggs and permit larvae to hatch from those eggs. The eggs may be dispensed manually by a user or by using an automated machine. 
     At block  914 , additional features may be included with the fluid-tight container  300  to apply a stimulus, or in some examples to apply multiple stimuli, to the fluid-tight container  300  in order to assist with separating larvae from egg hatching debris. For example, light may be emitted by at least one light source  312  positioned to emit light through the translucent portion  305  of at least one wall  304  of the fluid-tight container  300 , as discussed above in relation to  FIG. 3 . A mechanical vibration may be output to the first portion  306  using a vibration generator  314 , as discussed above. In some examples, a chemical attractant  324  may be introduced to the second portion  308  and/or a chemical deterrent  322  may be introduced to the first portion  306 , as discussed above. Additionally, heat may be applied to the fluid-tight container  300  and/or directly to the liquid using a heat source  320 , as discussed above in relation to  FIG. 3 . 
     The computing device  317  may be used to apply the stimulus or adjust the application of the stimulus. For example, the temperature measuring device  316  may output signals that include temperature information that is received by a processor in the computing device  317 . The processor may then adjust the heat setting of the heat source  320  based on that temperature information. In some examples, the fluid-tight container  300  may include sensors that are able to monitor the various stimuli applied to the fluid-tight container and send information relating to the stimuli to the processor to permit the computing device  317  to adjust the application of the stimuli. 
     Due to the construction of the fluid-tight container  300  and the application of any stimuli, the insect larvae are encouraged to separate themselves. 
     At block  916 , at least one larvae hatched from an egg of the plurality of insect eggs dispensed into the fluid-tight container  300  is removed from the second portion  308  of the fluid-tight container  300 . As discussed above, after the larvae hatch from the insect eggs dispensed in the first portion  306 , they will move to the second portion  308 . This is due in part to the coloring and construction of the fluid-tight container  300  as some insect larvae prefer to be in dark areas. Additionally, applying a stimuli, such as light from the light source  312  or mechanical vibration from the vibration generator  314 , to the first portion  306  will encourage the larvae to move to the second portion  308  because insect larvae tend to flee from stimulation. The at least one larvae may be removed from the second portion  308  manually by a user, by the resealable drain  512  or the pump  612  as discussed above with respect to  FIGS. 5 and 6  respectively, or by any other suitable method of removing larvae from the fluid-tight container  300 . 
     For example, referring again to  FIG. 5 , the larvae may be removed from the second portion  508  by draining, via the resealable drain  512 , the larvae and some of the liquid from the fluid-tight container  500 . As a further example, referring to  FIG. 6 , the larvae may be removed from the second portion  608  by pumping out, via the pump  612 , the larvae and some of the liquid from the fluid-tight container  600 . 
     At block  918 , a processor  1010 , discussed in further detail below in relation to  FIG. 10 , receives at least one sensor signal from a sensor indicating larvae are being removed from the second portion  308 . For example, a flow cytometer may be used to detect the larvae as they flow past a laser. Additionally, a light curtain may be used to detect the larvae as the as they flow through and break up the light beams. 
     At block  920 , the processor  1010  counts the larvae based on the sensor signals. In some examples, the processor  1010  increments a counter based on each sensed larvae passing the sensor. In some examples, the processor  1010  resets its counter before a new batch of larvae are hatched in the fluid-tight container  300 ; however, in some examples, the processor  1010  may maintain a running count of all sensed larvae from multiple batches or larvae. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 10  shows an example computing device  1000  suitable for use in example devices or methods for egg hatching and larvae separation according to this disclosure. The example computing device  1000  includes a processor  1010  which is in communication with the memory  1020  and other components of the computing device  1000  using one or more communications buses  1002 . The processor  1010  executes processor-executable instructions stored in the memory  1020  to assist with egg hatching and larvae separation, such as instructions for part or all of the example method  900  described above with respect to  FIG. 9 . The computing device  1000 , in this example, also includes one or more user input devices  1050 , such as a keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, microphone, etc., to accept user input. The computing device  1000  also includes a display  1040  to provide visual output to a user. 
     The computing device  1000  also includes a communications interface  1030 . In some examples, the communications interface  1030  may enable communications using one or more networks, including a local area network (“LAN”); wide area network (“WAN”), such as the Internet; metropolitan area network (“MAN”); point-to-point or peer-to-peer connection; etc. Communication with other devices may be accomplished using any suitable networking protocol. For example, one suitable networking protocol may include the Internet Protocol (“IP”), Transmission Control Protocol (“TCP”), User Datagram Protocol (“UDP”), or combinations thereof, such as TCP/IP or UDP/IP. 
     While some examples of methods and devices herein are described in terms of software executing on various machines, the methods and devices may also be implemented as specifically-configured hardware, such as field-programmable gate array (FPGA) specifically to execute the various methods. For example, examples can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in a combination thereof. In one example, a device may include a processor or processors. The processor includes a computer-readable medium, such as a random access memory (RAM) coupled to the processor. The processor executes computer-executable program instructions stored in memory, such as executing one or more computer programs. Such processors may include a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and state machines. Such processors may further include programmable electronic devices such as PLCs, programmable interrupt controllers (PICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), programmable read-only memories (PROMs), electronically programmable read-only memories (EPROMs or EEPROMs), or other similar devices. 
     Such processors may include, or may be in communication with, media, for example computer-readable storage media, that may store instructions that, when executed by the processor, can cause the processor to perform the steps described herein as carried out, or assisted, by a processor. Examples of computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to, an electronic, optical, magnetic, or other storage device capable of providing a processor, such as the processor in a web server, with computer-readable instructions. Other examples of media include, but are not limited to, a floppy disk, CD-ROM, magnetic disk, memory chip, ROM, RAM, ASIC, configured processor, all optical media, all magnetic tape or other magnetic media, or any other medium from which a computer processor can read. The processor, and the processing, described may be in one or more structures, and may be dispersed through one or more structures. The processor may include code for carrying out one or more of the methods (or parts of methods) described herein. 
     The foregoing description of some examples has been presented only for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Numerous modifications and adaptations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
     Reference herein to an example or implementation means that a particular feature, structure, operation, or other characteristic described in connection with the example may be included in at least one implementation of the disclosure. The disclosure is not restricted to the particular examples or implementations described as such. The appearance of the phrases “in one example,” “in an example,” “in one implementation,” or “in an implementation,” or variations of the same in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same example or implementation. Any particular feature, structure, operation, or other characteristic described in this specification in relation to one example or implementation may be combined with other features, structures, operations, or other characteristics described in respect of any other example or implementation. 
     Use herein of the word “or” is intended to cover inclusive and exclusive OR conditions. In other words, A or B or C includes any or all of the following alternative combinations as appropriate for a particular usage: A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B only; A and C only; B and C only; and A and B and C.