ABSTRACT
Insect Rearing Management (IRM) is a complex field that encompasses science, art, and business management. It requires forecasting, planning, organization, personnel and financial management, and application of flow charts and production schedules. This chapter focuses on insect production, the final phase of the insect rearing management process, and explains how an insect order is processed using the IRM protocol. The protocol is common to most multiple-species rearing laboratories, no matter how small or large. The protocol is initiated upon receipt of an insect order form from a user group. This form must be submitted to the insectary manager well in advance of the desired delivery date. Observations on the operation of rearing practices in several multiple-species rearing laboratories in industry, international research organizations, and federal and state departments have indicated that: insect rearing practices can be wasteful. A typical insect order is processed in two stages, evaluation and planning.
