Cornell University now has a quarantine facility to securely contain non-indigenous arthropods for experimentation on their biology and control. The organisms of interest include both exotic pest species as well as arthropods from other countries that might serve as biological control agents of pests. The availability of this type of facility at Cornell is a great addition because of the increasing problems associated with invasive exotic pests in the state and the nation as a whole. The facility has two laboratories and two greenhouses and is a multi-user facility so several researchers may use it simultaneously. The Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station administers use of the building, but the facility is intended to serve the needs of researchers throughout Cornell.

As with any quarantine facility heating and ventilation systems generate negative pressure within the quarantine space to minimize the chance that an arthropod can gain escape through the HVAC system. Entry to the quarantine area is controlled by a double-door vestibule. Overall, this building has been constructed to comply with quarantine standards developed by USDA APHIS.

There are two large walk-in chambers (above left) in which arthropods can be reared. There is also a room with 16-controlled atmosphere chambers that allow replicated environmental conditions needed in experiments (above middle) and a large capacity autoclave (above right).

There are two laboratories in the facility (above right). One is equipped with a laminar flow hood (above middle). The laboratories also contain a fume hood, safety cabinet and a large capacity autoclave. Above left is a view from inside one of the two greenhouses. The greenhouses are independent from each other, thereby allowing multiple experiments to occur concurrently.

Sarkaria Arthropod Research Laboratory - pdf brochure 

For more information contact Nick Van Eck: njv1@cornell.edu or 607-255-8697