The insectarium is designed to rear beneficial insects within research and application programs aimed at the control of insect pests of Mediterranean crops. Beneficial insects are reared in chambers in controlled climatic conditions on their hosts inside cages. Besides, the insectarium includes also species reared for feed and food. It is located at CIHEAM Bari campus, Italy.

Insectarium also allows:

- the identification of insects through stereomicroscopes;

- the study of insects behaviour through instruments as Electrical Penetration graph (EPG) and the Olfactometer;

- the assessment of lethal and sublethal effects on beneficial insects caused by innovative pesticides or already used in organic agriculture;

- assessment of alternative diets on the growth performances of the reared insects.

Molecular biology analysis are conducted in order to test the presence of Xylella fastidiosa in the potential vectors.