Method and housing assembly for farming members of the Phylum Arthropoda

Abstract

A method and a housing assembly ( 10 ) for farming members of the Phylum Arthropoda ( 12 ) to collect silk therefrom in a centralized location without the members exhibiting territoriality tendencies is disclosed. The housing assembly ( 10 ) includes a wall ( 22 ) defining a plurality of frames ( 24 ) in close proximity with one another and disposed about a work space ( 26 ). Each frame ( 24 ) presents an open frame space ( 28 ) having a predetermined area and the work space ( 26 ) has a foot print ( 30 ) of a predetermined area such that a ratio is established therebetween. The ratio of the predetermined area of the open frame space ( 28 ) to the predetermined area of the foot print ( 30 ) is at least 1:5. A roof ( 32 ) is supported by the wall ( 22 ) for covering the frames ( 24 ) and the work space ( 26 ) and has an eave ( 34 ) that extends perpendicularly beyond the wall ( 22 ) a predetermined distance to protect the frames ( 24 ).

1 . A method of farming members of the  Phylum Arthropoda  ( 12 ) in a centralized location without exhibiting territoriality tendencies, said method comprising the steps of: 
 disposing a plurality of frames ( 24 ) about a work space ( 26 ), with each frame ( 24 ) presenting an open frame space ( 28 ) and in close proximity with one another;    covering the frames ( 24 ) and the work space ( 26 ) for protection from exterior environmental conditions;    disposing a member of the  Phylum Arthropoda  ( 12 ) in each of at least two different frames ( 24 ) for building webs ( 20 ) within the open frame space ( 28 );    attracting a food supply into the open frame space ( 28 ) from the exterior environment; and    harvesting silk from the members of the  Phylum Arthropoda  ( 12 ).    
   
   
       2 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the step of disposing the member of the  Phylum Arthropoda  is further defined as disposing a member of the Order Araneae in the frames ( 24 ).  
   
   
       3 . A method as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the step of disposing the member of the Order Araneae is further defined disposing a member of the Genus  Nephila  in the frames ( 24 ).  
   
   
       4 . A method as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the step of disposing the member of the Genus  Nephila  is further defined as disposing a  Nephila Clavipes  spider in the frames ( 24 ).  
   
   
       5 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the step of attracting a food supply into the open frame space ( 28 ) further comprises the step of disposing a light source ( 36 ) within the work space ( 26 ).  
   
   
       6 . A method as set forth in  claim 5  further comprising the step of activating the light source ( 36 ) for drawing the food source through the open frame space ( 28 ).  
   
   
       7 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the step of harvesting silk further comprises the step of removing the member of the  Phylum Arthropoda  ( 12 ) from the open frame space ( 28 ) and withdrawing silk from the member of  Phylum Arthropoda  ( 12 ).  
   
   
       8 . A method as set forth in  claim 7  further comprising the step of disposing a netting ( 38 ) over the open frame space ( 28 ) for limiting defection of the member of the  Phylum Arthropoda  ( 12 ) from the work space ( 26 ).  
   
   
       9 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the step of disposing the frames ( 24 ) about the work space ( 26 ) is further defined as disposing the frames ( 24 ) about the work space ( 26 ) having a ratio of a predetermined area of the open frame space ( 28 ) to a predetermined area of a foot print ( 30 ) of the work space ( 26 ) of at least 1:5 to prevent territoriality of the members of  Phylum Arthropoda  ( 12 ).  
   
   
       10 - 24 . (canceled)