Development of an Incubator System for Polyethylene plastic-eating Wax Worm in Tropical Weather Condition

Wax worms live in cold climates, climates which are colder than the Philippines. Comparing the required temperature, humidity, and light needed by the wax worms to survive versus those environmental conditions in a hot and tropical climate, the wax worms will have less chance of survival in the Philippines than those countries with cooler climates. Usual summer season temperatures in the Philippines ranges up to 35 to 42 degrees Celsius. Wax worm bread faster from 28 to 32°C. Controlled humidity are also required for wax worm’s survival, and health. Same goes their nature to light, it is best for them to grow wax worm in dark places where they are very active. Due to those facts about the essential requirements of wax worm growth and survival, the researchers built an incubator and developed an accurate system which accurately monitors the temperature, humidity, and light inside an incubator. The system has the ability to detect dead wax worms and pupas as well as count the number of wax worms inside the incubator. Detecting dead wax worms are important to the wax worm’s health because prolonging dead wax worms with those alive would spread the dead’s disease causing an epidemic, killing the wax worms in less than 48 hours. Environmental conditions which are responsible for controlling nature, growth, development, and reproduction of wax worms and wax moths. The proponents developed a self-sustaining and automated sustaining of the required environmental conditions and parameters inside the incubator. By developing such a system and machine, the proponents have an incubator which is effective in conducting the wax worm’s survival in a Philippine climate.