Insectary

The Rothamsted Insectary is a specialised facility that maintains a range of both indigenous and exotic insect species.

With 41 insect rearing and insect behaviour study rooms with associated service rooms, it is designed to provide controlled temperature, lighting, humidity and airflow in each computer monitored controlled environment room.

The rooms are suitable for rearing insects in ‘cages’, on plants grown in pots, or on detached leaves in custom-made perspex boxes.

The facility holds DEFRA plant health licences for importing, maintaining and working with many exotic insect species. Most compartments are licensed for the effective containment of quarantined species and insecticide-resistant strains.