AU2523900A - Moth trap - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: "MOTH TRAP" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 THIS INVENTION relates to a moth trap. The invention is particularly suitable for, but not limited to, a trap for heliathes moths.

Heliathes moths do considerable damage to cotton crops.

A cotton farmer growing a thousand acres of cotton could spend up to $300,000-$400,000 annually in sprays to eradicate, or at least control, the moths.

There are considerable health concerns about the use of :0 sprays and conflict now arises between cotton growers and graziers, as traces of the endosulphan sprays have been found in beef cattle, S" which have excluded the cattle from export sales.

The problem of the moths gets worse each year, as the caterpillars or grubs laid by the moths are becoming more resistant to the sprays; and birds which eat the grubs are also being affected by the sprays.

There have been a number of proposals for insect traps using one or more light sources as an attractant, and examples are disclosed in US 5505017 (Anderson et al); AU-B-75873/94 (666631) (Alexander); US 5365690 (Anderson) and US 4686789 (Williams).

US 5365690 is designed to be mounted on a vertical surface and is used mainly for catching flies. US 4686789 uses a covered light source, and is designed for internal use for the catching of fleas on the ground.

3 It is an object of the present invention to provide a trap, particularly suitable for heliathes moths, which is inexpensive to manufacture and install.

It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide such a trap which is suitable for placement in open areas, eg., cotton fields, to attract the moths.

It is a still further preferred object to provide such a trap which is solar-powered and where the light source is selectively switched on and off.

Other preferred objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

In a broad aspect, the present invention resides in a moth trap including: a base surrounded by an elevated border to form a reservoir for water or other trapping liquid; a mirror on the base adapted to attract the moths towards the water or liquid in the reservoir; a light source mounted above the base and arranged to direct light towards the mirror; and a power source, operable to power the light; so arranged that: moths are attracted to the light reflected by the mirror and are caught in the water or liquid.

Preferably, the light is mounted on a tripod or like wire frame, or on a post engaged in a socket on the border, and the light source may be a fluorescent light, incandescent light or other suitable light.

Preferably, the light source emits light in a wavelength range visible to the moths.

The power source may be a solar power source, battery, wind-powered generator or a mains supply.

Water is the preferred trapping liquid, but other liquids, eg., those of a "sticky" nature may be employed.

S. Preferably, the power source is a solar panel connected to a storage battery; and preferably, a light sensitive switch or timer connects the battery to the light source so that the light only operates when ambient light levels are low or it is night time.

To enable the invention to be fully understood, preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG.1 shows a schematic layout for a first embodiment of a moth trap in accordance with the present invention; and FIG. 2 is a section side view of a second embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the moth trap 10 has a reservoir 11 for the trapping water or liquid 12.

The reservoir 11 has a substantially planar base 14 surrounded by a peripheral wall A mirror 16 is placed on the base 14 of the reservoir and is arranged to reflect light upwardly.

A tripod-type frame 17, eg., formed from wire, is placed above the mirror and supports a fluorescent tube 18 which is arranged to direct at least a portion of the light emitted towards the mirror 16 so that the light will be reflected to the surrounding area to attract the moths.

A solar panel 19 is mounted on a supporting tripod frame o 20 and the solar panel 19 is operably connected to a storage battery 21. (A voltage regulator (not shown) may be provided in the electrical circuit to prevent overcharging of the battery 21 by the solar panel 19.) The battery 21 is connected to the light 18 by a timer 22 mounted on a supporting post 23. The timer is operable to switch on the light 18 at or before dusk, and to switch the light 18 off at or after dawn, ie, when the ambient light levels are low or it is night time.

The light emitted from the fluorescent light 18 is reflected through the water 12 by the mirror 16 to attract the heliathes moths in the surrounding area. The moths are attracted to the light reflected by the mirror and are caught in the water 12 in the reservoir 11 The reservoir 11 can be emptied periodically and the water 12 replaced to catch the next batch of moths.

6 In a modified embodiment, the timer 22 may be replaced by a light sensitive switch which is operable to switch on the fluorescent light 18 when ambient light levels are low.

A partial cover (not shown) may be provided over the fluorescent light 18 so that the moths are not attracted directly to the fluorescent light 18, but are attracted to the light reflected by the mirror 16.

It will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that the fluorescent light 18 can be replaced by other suitable light sources, including incandescent and dichroic lamps which provide the source of light reflected by the mirror. Preferably, the light source which is selected and used emits light in a wavelength range which is highly visible to the moths (or other insects) to be trapped.

By the use of the solar power source (ie, the solar panel 19 and battery 21), the trap 10 can be placed in a cotton field and does not require a reticulated power source mains power) for its operation. However, the power source may be a reticulated power source where conveniently available; or a battery supply (eg, dry cells) or other suitable source, eg, a wind-powered generator.

In the second embodiment of FIG. 2, the incandescent lamp 118 is mounted on a holder 117 which has a post 117a releasably engageable in a socket 115a in the peripheral wall 115 of the reservoir 111. The lamp 118 is adjusted to direct its light out the 7 mirror 116 at the bottom of the reservoir 111, to attract the moths to the water 112.

It is estimated that the trap in accordance with the present invention can be sold for $300.00-$400.00, and even a number of traps are much less expensive than conventional spraying methods without the inherent environmental dangers.

Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described and illustrated without departing from the present invention.

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Claims (9)

1. A moth trap comprising: a base surrounded by an elevated border to form a reservoir for water or other trapping liquid; a mirror on the base adapted to attract the moths towards the water or liquid in the reservoir; a light source mounted above the base and arranged to direct light towards the mirror; and a power source, operable to power the light; so arranged S. 10 that: S. moths are attracted to the light reflected by the mirror and are caught in the water or liquid.

2. A trap as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the light is mounted on a tripod or like wire frame, or on a post engageable in a socket on the border.

3. A trap as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: the light source is a fluorescent light, incandescent light or other suitable light.

4. A trap as claimed in claim 3 wherein: the light source emits light in a wavelength range visible to the moths.

A trap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein: the power source is a solar power source, battery, wind- 9 powered generator or a mains supply.

6. A trap as claimed in claim 5 wherein: the power source is a solar panel connected to a storage battery.

7. A trap as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein: a light sensitive switch or timer connects the battery to the power source so that the light only operates when ambient light levels are low or it is night time.

8. A trap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein: .0 water, or liquids, with a "sticky" nature is the trapping liquid.

9. A moth trap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIG 1, or FIG. 2, of the accompanying drawings. DATED this fourth day of April 2000. ANTHONY JAMES ELLIS By his Patent Attorneys FISHER ADAMS KELLY