Delivering substances to invertebrate organisms

Particles according to any of the preceding claims wherein the organism is an aquatic invertebrate.

Particles according to any of the preceding claims wherein the active ingredient has a physiological effect on the organism when ingested by the organism.

Particles according to any of the preceding claims wherein the carrier material is nutritious for and/or attractive to the target organism, thereby enhancing the ingestion of the particles.

Particles according to any of the preceding claims and manufactured using complex coacervation, fluidised bed spray coating, or spray congealing techniques.

Particles according to any of the preceding claims wherein the active ingredient is an inorganic solid.

Particles according to any of the preceding claims wherein the particles are at least partially resistant to water.

Particles according to any of the preceding claims wherein the carrier material is selected from the group including starch, chocolate, waxes, beeswax, fatty acids, oils, fats or derivatives thereof, and dried plankton.

Particles according to any of the preceding claims and having neutral buoyancy in freshwater.

Particles according to any of the preceding claims and including a surfactant such as sodium palmitate.

A method of inducing an invertebrate organism to ingest a substance having desired biological activity in the organism when ingested by the organism, the method including introducing into the organism's environment particles ingestible by the organism and including the substance and at least one carrier material, wherein the substance is solid and coated with or encapsulated within the carrier material and wherein the substance is toxic to the target organism.

A method of concentrating, to a biologically active concentration within an invertebrate organism, at least one substance, the method comprising providing in the organism's environment particles containing the substance and at least one carrier material, the particles being ingested by the organism such as to effect said concentration of the substance, wherein the substance is solid and coated with or encapsulated within the carrier material and wherein the substance is toxic to the target organism.

A method of preventing cessation of feeding in an invertebrate organism which would otherwise occur due to the presence of a substance in the organism's environment, the method including the step of providing the substance in the form of particles ingestible by the organism, said particles also including a carrier material, wherein the substance is solid and coated with or encapsulated within the carrier material and wherein the substance is toxic to the target organism.

A method of controlling an invasive or potentially invasive population of invertebrate organisms, comprising feeding said population with an effective amount of a composition comprising particles containing a carrier material and at least one active ingredient, wherein the active ingredient is solid and coated with or encapsulated within the carrier material and wherein the active ingredient is toxic to the target organism.

A method of treating water containing invertebrate organisms, comprising adding to the water particles containing at least one carrier material and at least one active ingredient, said particles being ingestible in an effective amount by the invertebrate organisms, wherein the active ingredient is solid and coated with or encapsulated within the carrier material and wherein the active ingredient is toxic to the target organism.

A method of controlling parasites or symbionts in or on a host invertebrate organism, the method comprising feeding the host organism with particles including at least one carrier material and at least one active ingredient having biological activity in the host and/or in the parasite or symbiont, wherein the active ingredient is solid and coated with or encapsulated within the carrier material and wherein the active ingredient is toxic to the target organism.

A method of rendering an environment suitable for the farming of invertebrate organisms, the method comprising adding to the environment particles containing at least one carrier material and at least one active ingredient, said particles being ingestible by the organisms, wherein the active ingredient is solid and coated with or encapsulated within the carrier material and wherein the active ingredient is toxic to the target organism.

A food product for the farming of invertebrate organisms, the food and product comprising particles ingestible by the organisms having at least one active ingredient and at least one carrier material, wherein the active ingredient is solid and coated with or encapsulated within the carrier material and wherein the active ingredient is toxic to the target organism.

Particles for ingestion by an invertebrate organism, said particles including at least one ingredient having desired biological activity in the organism when ingested by the organism and at least one carrier material.