Cricket habitat and retail receptacle

Abstract

A live insect habitat that also serves as a retail receptacle for point of sale display of the insects. In particular, the invention comprises a cricket habitat and point of sale display receptacle for the sale of live crickets primarily for fishing bait and pet food purposes. The habitat/receptacle includes a housing having side walls with a sight window formed therein for purposes of permitting viewing of the inside of the housing and insect habitat from the outside. A habitat insert is located inside the housing and includes a multiple-sided member that partitions the interior space of the housing into discrete subspaces connected by passages giving the crickets ample room in which to crawl about. The housing and the habitat insert can be made of a moisture absorbent material in order to reduce the moisture content of the cricket environment. An item of cricket food is located in the housing whereby the retail habitat/receptacle has a prolonged shelf life while maintaining healthy live crickets.

1 - 54 . (canceled) 
   
   
       55 . An insect retail package dispenser, comprising:
 a dispenser capable of receiving and housing an insect retail package;   a dispenser opening located on the dispenser for allowing withdrawal of the insect retail package; and   an opening located on the dispenser for allowing insertion of the insect retail package.   
   
   
       56 . The dispenser of  claim 55 , wherein the dispenser has interior dimensions sufficient to accommodate an insect retail package. 
   
   
       57 . The dispenser of  claim 56 , further comprising a sight slot in a front wall of the dispenser to allow for viewing the insect retail package. 
   
   
       58 . The dispenser of  claim 56 , further comprising a lid to cover the insect retail package opening. 
   
   
       59 . The dispenser of  claim 58 , wherein the insect retail packages have a rectangular housing and have side walls defining an interior habitat space for insects. 
   
   
       60 . The dispenser of  claim 59 , wherein the insect retail packages have a habitat insert located in the habitat space of the housing. 
   
   
       61 . The dispenser of  claim 60 , wherein the insect retail packages have a window in the housing. 
   
   
       62 . A habitat dispenser, comprising:
 a dispenser having a front wall, a side wall, a back wall;   a lid located adjacent to a top opening of the dispenser; and   a dispensing opening located at a lower end of the front wall.   
   
   
       63 . The dispenser of  claim 62 , wherein the lid closes and opens over the top opening located at the top of the dispenser carton. 
   
   
       64 . The dispenser of  claim 63 , wherein opening the lid permits loading of the dispenser carton with an insect retail package to be displayed for sale. 
   
   
       65 . The dispenser of  claim 62 , wherein the bottom wall supports an insect retail package held in the habitat dispenser. 
   
   
       66 . The dispenser of  claim 65 , wherein when a first insect retail package is removed through the dispensing opening a second insect retail package drops down to the position of the withdrawn first insect retail package. 
   
   
       67 . The dispenser of  claim 62 , wherein the dispenser can be hung on a wall or placed in a stand. 
   
   
       68 . The dispenser of  claim 65 , wherein the dispenser covers corners of the insect retail package to prevent light seepage. 
   
   
       69 . An insect retail package dispenser, comprising:
 a dispenser having a rectangular cross-section with a front wall, side walls and a back wall;   a bottom wall located at a bottom of the dispenser carton;   a sight slot located in the front wall; and   a dispensing opening located adjacent to the bottom wall.   
   
   
       70 . The dispenser of  claim 69 , wherein the dispenser has interior dimensions sufficient to accommodate an insect retail package. 
   
   
       71 . The dispenser of  claim 69 , further comprising a lid which can close and open over an opening located at the top of the dispenser carton. 
   
   
       72 . The dispenser of  claim 71 , wherein opening the lid permits loading of the dispenser with an insect retail package to be displayed for sale. 
   
   
       73 . The dispenser of  claim 69 , wherein the bottom wall supports an insect retail package held in the dispenser. 
   
   
       74 . The dispenser of  claim 69 , wherein the sight slot allows for viewing the insect retail package and allows direct air exchange to vent air into insect retail package stored within the dispenser. 
   
   
       75 . The dispenser of  claim 69 , wherein the dispensing opening can allow insect retail packages to be withdrawn from the dispenser through the dispensing opening one at a time.