AU2019100785A4 - A termite monitoring and baiting device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is a termite monitoring and baiting device that assists in the eradication of termites, whilst also providing a simple means of detecting termites via visual inspection without disturbing the device. This device comprises: a cellulose-based housing comprising a first and second chamber, at least one open-ended channel, and a viewing end and penetrating end, wherein each chamber only has one end that is open to the exterior at the viewing end of the housing, and the at least one channel has a proximal end that is open to the exterior of the housing and a distal end that extends through the first and second chamber; an at least partially-transparent cover; and a termiticide, wherein: the open ends of the first and second chambers at the viewing end of the device allow a view of the interior of the chambers; the at least partially-transparent cover is adapted to reversibly seal the chambers at the viewing end of the housing and maintain the view of the interior of the chambers; and the second chamber is adapted to reversibly accept the termiticide. (a) 110 -- 130 (b) F0g (C) 400 Figure 1

Description

A termite monitoring and baiting device [0001] The present invention is related to termite monitoring and baiting stations. More specifically, the present invention relates to termite monitoring and baiting devices that assist in the eradication of termites, whilst also providing a simple means of detecting termites without disturbing the device.

Background of the invention [0002] Any references to methods, apparatus or documents of the prior art are not to be taken as constituting any evidence or admission that they formed, or form part of the common general knowledge.

[0003] Termites are a pest that feed on cellulose-based plant materials, with a major component of the termite diet being wood, and all homes, regardless of their construction type, can provide cellulose food for termite infestation. A termite infestation in property can be incredibly damaging, though the damage can go unnoticed for quite some time as the presence of termites is not always immediately detectable. Unfortunately, this can lead to compromisation of the structural integrity of the home, requiring lots of time and money to redress. In some cases, a property may need to be destroyed if the damage is too severe.

[0004] It would be useful to have simple methods of inspecting and monitoring properties for termite infestations, that do not require sophisticated equipment such as heat sensors. As termite infestations in properties commonly start with wood near soil, many existing methods include the use of monitoring stations, bait stations or inspection stations positioned in the ground near the property. These methods tend to work by attracting the termite with a bait, so they aggregate in the station, which can be manually inspected to determine if there are termite in the vicinity. However, the simple act of inspecting these stations requires that the stations be disturbed by pulling the station out of the ground and/or removing a lid or cap, which inevitably results in the termite scattering. This is incredibly problematic, because the absence of termites during the inspection can provide a false impression there are no termites, leading the property owner to delay actions to treat a termite infestation.

[0005] Moreover, merely being aware of the termites is not sufficient if the termites cannot be eradicated. However, simply baiting the termites may not be informative on success as it is difficult to discern whether the bait is being consumed by the termites,

2019100785 02 Aug 2019 and/or being taken back to a termite nest, or whether the bait is being consumed by another organism, or is just being degraded by the elements of nature.

[0006] Accordingly, it would be attractive, practically and commercially, to have a termite station that comprises both a termite bait, or termiticide, that is picked up by the termites in the stations and then transported back to the main nest to be transmitted to the rest of the termite colony by trophallaxis to eradicate the colony, as well as a means of detecting the presence of termite by a simple visual inspection that does not disturb the station.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate the above discussed disadvantages of the prior art, or at least offer a useful alternative.

Summary of the invention [0008] Accordingly, in a first aspect of the invention, there is provided [0009] The invention is advantageous over the stations that currently exist in that it provides a means of detecting the presence of termites without disturbing the station, but also includes a bait for treating the termite infestation. The device of the invention is also useful in that it also provides confirmation that the termites are consuming the bait, but allowing a view of the chamber comprising the bait.

[0010] The device may be targeted to any type of termite, including, but not limited to, any termite classified as subterranean, drywood and/or dampwood. It would be understood that different type of termites may have preferences for the type of termiticide and or housing used, and the device may be adapted accordingly.

[0011] By baiting is meant that the device is designed to be attractive to termites in the vicinity of the device to encourage nearby termites to enter the device, and this is achieved by virtue of the materials used, the conditions created within the device and/or the termiticide. By monitoring is meant that the device is designed to allow a person to view the internal chambers of the device to determine the presence of termites either at the time of viewing, or any other time by way of viewing evidence left by termite that had been in the device.

[0012] Termites get nutrients from cellulose, and the housing is cellulose-based to assist in baiting the termites to bring them to the device, and also to allow consumption of at least part of the device such that the termites will leave termite mud trails indicative of their presence within the device. In embodiments of the invention, the housing may

2019100785 02 Aug 2019 comprise wood, paper, drywall, or particle board and combinations thereof. Preferably, the housing comprises a wood product, and this wood product would preferably not be pressure treated a naturally termite resistant woods such cedar or red wood, or woods treated with any form of termiticide. The housing need not be made entirely of a cellulosebased substance, and in embodiments, the housing may be reinforced by a material that is not ingestible by termites to extend the lifespan of the device. In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the housing may be ant-repellent or ant-resistant.

[0013] The device of the invention comprises at least two internal chambers, wherein one of the chambers, the second chamber, is adapted to accept a termiticide, in that the chamber may be any size or shape to accept a liquid, powdered or solid termiticide. By termicide is meant the substance per se, or a liquid, powder or solid comprising a termiticide. In embodiments of the invention where the termiticide is embedded in a solid element, the element would preferably comprise cellulose so as to be more attractive to the termites. The termiticide may be added to the void space of the chamber and occupy that space, or the termiticide may simply be embedded into the inner surface of the chamber.

[0014] The termiticide may be any non-repellent termiticide capable of killing a termite, and would preferably be a substance that does not kill the termite immediately. By not killing the termite immediately in the chamber of the device of the invention, the termiticide may be more effective at treating a termite infestation, as the termiticide may be transmitted to other termites in a colony by the process of trophallaxis. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the termiticide comprises a chitin synthesis inhibitor, which kills termites by preventing the termites from completely the moulting process. In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the termiticide is ant-repellent or ant-resistant.

[0015] The chambers of the device are void spaces that extend partially or substantially into the housing, but they are only open at one end, so as to provide the device with some structural integrity. The first chamber may be any shape or size, and is designed to allow termites to feed on the housing, while also creating termite mud, which will provide evidence of the termite’s presence. The mud produced by the termites, or “mudding”, is used by the termites to create dark, humid and protected areas, and the device of the invention is designed such that the user can view into the chambers and see the mud. The device also comprises at least one channel that connects the two chambers. The channel has one open end that is exposed to the outside of the device,

2019100785 02 Aug 2019 while the other end opens out into the second chamber, thereby allowing termites to enter the device and feed on the housing and the termiticide.

[0016] The device of the invention has a directionality in use, and this is predominantly determined by the housing, which has a viewing end and a penetrating end. The viewing end is the end on which the first and second chambers open and is so named because it is the end of the device that is left exposed on the surface of the ground when in use, so that the user can view the chambers. The penetrating end is the end of the housing used to drive the device into the ground in an area where the user wants to bait and monitor termite activity, which would generally be in soil near a property at risk of potential termite infestation. A property at risk of termite infestation may be any property made with any cellulose-based building materials.

[0017] When assembled for use, the device of the invention has an at least transparent cover over the viewing end, wherein the purpose of the cover is the seal and protect the open ends of the chambers from the elements (wind, rain, exposure and other animals) to create an environment in the chambers suitable for termites. By transparent is meant that the cover is sufficiently see-through that light can pass through it so that the chambers or contents of the chamber behind the cover can be clearly seen. The cover may be rigid or semi-rigid and completely flexible and can be made of any suitable material. For example, the cover may be made of a rigid, transparent plastic that locks or screw into place and is ideally, quite secure when in place such that it will not be displaced if the device is knocked. The cover may even be essentially a transparent tape cover that can be removed and replaced by another piece of tape.

[0018] The cover need only be transparent in the areas that align with the openings of the chambers so as to create view of the inside of the chambers. In the event of termites being present in the device, it is expected that the view into the length of the chambers will be blocked or obscured by termite mud (because the termites will mud up the inner side of the transparent cover to prevent light from entering the chambers), but that the view of this mud in itself will be the indicator of the presence of termites.

Detailed description of the invention [0019] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following detailed description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The detailed description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding summary of the invention in anyway.

2019100785 02 Aug 2019 [0020] Specific embodiments of the present invention are described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 shows the components of a device of the invention prior to assembly for use, wherein (a) is an angled view of a 3D-housing that has been rendered transparent to allow a view of the internal channels and chamber, (b) is a transparent cover and optional backing layer, and (c) is a termiticide-embedded element; and

Figure 2 shows a device of the invention for use, wherein (a) is a flat side view of the device and (b) is an angled, solid 3D view of the device.

[0022] Referring to Figure 1(a), a housing 100 of a device of the invention, is shown to have a first chamber 110 and a second chamber, that are open at the viewing end of the housing 140, while they are closed in at the penetrating end of the housing 150, which is wedged-shaped for ease of insertion into the ground. On the side of the housing are the opening of two channels 130, which extend into the housing and intercept with the first and seconds chambers 160, but do no extend further than the second chamber. In the embodiment shown, the chambers and channels have circular internal dimensions, wherein the second chamber is the widest to accommodate the termiticide embedded element (Figure 1(c)), and the channels are very narrow so as to allow the termites to enter the device without allowing the device to become clogged or blocked by soil when the device is penetrated into the ground.

[0023] In the embodiment shown, the chambers and channels intersect at rightangles, though in other embodiments the channel(s) may be created to extend through the housing at an angle provided they intersect the chambers and create a means for the termites to access the chambers. The channels and chambers shown in the figures have circular cross-sections as these are easy to create by simple drilling techniques. In other embodiments of the invention, the channels and chambers may have internal dimensions of any shape.

[0024] The at least partially transparent cover 200 of Figure 1(b) is a transparent, essentially rigid, cover that has the same cross-sectional dimensions of the face of the viewing end of the device 140, so as to fit over the viewing end of the device. In between the device 100 and the cover 200 may be placed a backing layer 300, which, in the embodiment shown, is not transparent, but has sections removed from the layer to create windows 310 that align with the openings of the chambers when assembled to prevent the view of the chambers being blocked by the backing layer. In the embodiment shown,

2019100785 02 Aug 2019 the layer also has an opaque white square 320 for recording information that may need to be viewed without disturbing the station, such as, for example, the installation date, expiration date of the termiticide, device number or serial number.

[0025] In the embodiment shown, the termiticide is a termiticide embedded in an element 400 comprising a source of cellulose that is solid, such as, for example, a Sentricon Always Active Bait stick, or a variant thereof.

[0026] Referring Figure 2(a) a side-view of an assembled device of the invention 10 is shown, which includes the dimensions of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device may be smaller or larger, depending on the requirements of the user. The wedge of the penetrating end 150 can be seen from the side, as can the transparent cover 200 and the backing layer 300 on the viewing end of the housing 140.

[0027] Figure 2(b) shows a 3D image of the device when assembled, form the viewing end of the housing. The backing layer 300 and the plastic transparent cover are held flush against the housing by a screw 210. The windows of the backing layer 310 are aligned with openings of the first chamber 110 and the second chamber 120, which comprises the termiticide embedded element 400. To use, the device 10, would be driven into the ground with the penetrating end 150, such that only the viewing end 140, would be visible (i.e., sitting flush with, or only slightly protruding form, the ground).

[0028] Without wishing to be limited by the description, the present device would work by attracting nearby termites in the soil that the device is driven into to feed on the cellulose-based housing and consume the termiticide embedded in the cellulose-based element. The termites enter the device via the channels and feed on both the housing and the termiticide element in the chamber. As termites do not like being exposed to light, they proceed to “mud up” the inner side of the partially transparent cover that is letting light into the chambers, which would be seen on the outer side of cover by simply inspecting the portion of the device exposed on the surface - and this inspection can be done without touching the device at all. The distinctive termite mud in the first chamber is indicative of termites, while the distinctive termite mud in the second chamber is indicative of both the presence of the termites and the consumption of the termiticide element. At any time, the cover of the device may be removed and cleaned and/or a new termiticide element added to the second chamber. This would allow the user to determine if the termite infestation persists, which would be indicated by the cover being

2019100785 02 Aug 2019 “mudded up” again after being cleaned and any termites previously being present being disturbed.

[0029] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. The term “comprises” and its variations, such as “comprising” and “comprised of” is used throughout in an inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any additional features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

[0030] Throughout the specification and claims (if present), unless the context requires otherwise, the term substantially or about will be understood to not be limited to the value for the range qualified by the terms.

[0031] Any embodiment of the invention is meant to be illustrative only and is not meant to be limiting to the invention. Therefore, it should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to any embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. A termite monitoring and baiting device comprising:

a cellulose-based housing comprising a first and second chamber, at least one openended channel, and a viewing end and penetrating end, wherein each chamber only has one end that is open to the exterior at the viewing end of the housing, and the at least one channel has a proximal end that is open to the exterior of the housing and a distal end that extends through the first and second chamber;

an at least partially transparent cover; and a termiticide, wherein:

the open ends of the first and second chambers at the viewing end of the device allow a view of the interior of the chambers;

the at least partially transparent cover is adapted to reversibly seal the chambers at the viewing end of the housing and maintain the view of the interior of the chambers;

the second chamber is adapted to reversibly accept the termiticide.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing is made of wood.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the termicide is comprised within sold or semi-solid cellulose-based element.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises two channels.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the second chamber is the chamber furthest from the proximal end of the channel.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the channel opens into the second chamber.

7. The device of claim 9, wherein the penetrating end comprises a wedge-shaped ground penetrating means.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a backing layer between the transparent cover and the viewing end of the housing.