AU660811B2 - Improved insect trap - Google Patents

Description

660811

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Commonwealth Scientific Research Organisation.

and Industrial Actual Inventors: Robert Wilfred SUTHERST Robert Stephen TOZER Address for Service: CCI-G O IP GCroup Cehureh-Street- -R-i-ehmend- VIC I-12lo s r r W 4 06 Invention Title: Improved. Insect Trap Details of Associated Provisional Application Nos: PL3163 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- 1a- IMPROVED INSECT TRAP This invention relates to an insect trap. The invention has been developed for control of buffalo fly infestation on cattle and will be described in this context, however it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to control of buffalo fly infestations and could be used for control of other flying insects on other animals.

Buffalo fly infestation of cattle in the northern regions of Australia is a continuing problem. The flies suck on the blood of the host and the irritation caused by their biting and sensation of their presence on the hide is a source of worry to animals. The cattle usually try to rid themselves of flies by rubbing against posts and trees. However this causes sores to develop which increases the irritation. The disturbance to feeding and resting and the energy expended by animals in their efforts to get rid of the flies result in economic loss. For example, fly worry causes a drop in milk production on dairies and delays in the fattening of beef S cattle.

Control measures have involved the use of insecticides, however this tends to be expensive and environmentally hazardous. Furthermore fly populations can develop resistance to the insecticides thereby reducing the effectiveness of this form of control. Control measures have also included the use of fly traps and an early type of trap for reducing the incidence of buffalo fly on dairy farms is described in the Agricultural Gazette of December 1 1944 at page 540. This trap comprised a chamber with gauze wire trapping boxes forming each side thereof. Flies brushed off cattle by drapings as they passed through a central passageway through the chamber fly towards the light coming through the gauze boxes. The flies enter the boxes where they are held captive and die within a day or two.

2 The structure of the gauze wire trapping boxes in these fly traps adds a level of complexity, and therefore cost, which it would be advantageous to avoid.

In a development of this known trap the roof and sides were replaced by sheets of glass and an insecticide solution, namely DDT, applied to the inside of the glass. Flies brushed off cattle within the trap, being attracted to the light, fly to the inside surface of the glass where they receive a lethal dose of the insecticide. This trap is described in the article "The New Type Buffulo Fly Trap", the Agricultural Gazette, August 1, 1946, page 444-446.

In both of the above traps, flies are brushed off the cattle by hanging screens of canvas as the cattle move through the trap.

A more recently developed fly trap is the subject of Australian Patent Application No. 75380/91.

o* An object of this invention is to provide an improved trap for the control of fly populations.

According to the invention, an insect trap for control of flies on cattle comprising a cattle race passing through a chamber, the chamber having a skin of .transparent or translucent material spaced from the 30 race whereby flies within the chamber are attracted to the skin by the light passing therethrough, the skin also allowing the passage of sufficient sunlight to heat the chamber interior for desiccation and/or heat S. stress of flies therewithin, the chamber including an end wall or one or more partitions extending between the skin and the race wherein a partially enclosed air space is formed within the chamber immediately below ,a the roof whereby the temperature of the air within the air space is increased over that in other portions of the chamber and said air space constitutes a trap within the chamber, wherein means for brushing flies off cattle as they pass through the race are located in the race adjacent to at least the end wall or one partition, the brush means being constructed from a dark coloured material in contrast to the skin to provide a deterrent to flies remaining on the cattle as they approach the end wall or partition.

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p c n *n coloured material in contrast to the skin to provide a deterrent to flies remaining on the cattle as they approach the end wall or partition.

Preferably the brush means forms a dense curtain or obstruction within the race.

The brush means may comprise an array of monofilaments or fibres which are suspended from a support and hang vertically downwardly to contact the body of the animal as the animal passes through the chamber. Suitably each fibre or filament may have a thickness of 0.5mm to 4.0mm. If desired there may be provided a number of arrays of monofilaments whereby a first array of monofilaments may contact the back of the animal, a second array of monofilaments contact the sides and upper body of the animal and if desired a third array of monofilaments contact the lower legs and belly of the animal. Preferably the first and second array of monofilaments are oriented vertically and the third array of monofilaments are oriented horizontally in two separate sections on each side of the walk through passage.

If desired, instead of the monofilaments, the brush means may comprise a dense curtain of dark shade cloth or other suitable fabric which may include one or more or an array or plurality of curtain segments.

One or each of the entry end and exit ends of the housing may be provided with a plurality of straps or drapes which also may contact the body of the animal as it enters or leaves the chamber. One possible arrangement is for the entry end to have such straps or drapes and for the exit end wall to include the brush means.

The skin for the chamber may be chosen from UV protected transparent or translucent plastics material such as r polypropylene or other form of plastics sheet. However other appropriate translucent or transparent fabric may be utilised. The partition(s) may also be formed from transparent or translucent material as described above for the skin or alternatively may be formed from dark coloured material, for example shade cloth which may be suitably fibre reinforced.

The chamber may comprise a support frame having any suitable shape, for example the frame could have a pair of rows of peripheral uprights which may be spaced from each other to form the side walls of the chamber when the skin is attached to the support frame. The support frame may also include a pair of inner rows of uprights wherein each inner row defines the cattle race.

However the above arrangement is only optional. It will be Sappreciated that instead of the cattle race being formed as part of the chamber, the chamber could be constructed around a separate cattle race which will paos through the chamber S• and may extend outwardly therefrom at each end. The cattle race may comprise a preformed floor and side rails and uprights. In this arrangement the support frame for the chamber may only. comprise a pair of outer rows of peripheral uprights.

*44444 The roof of the chamber may be formed in any suitable manner. In one arrangement the roof may be formed by a plurality of cross members interconnecting each peripheral upright. However while a flat or substantially planar roof may be utilised it is preferred that the roof be formed from a plurality of cross members each having a base frame member and a top arcuate frame member which may be spaced from each other and supported by the outer rows of peripheral uprights.

5 A rounded or arcuate roof is preferred for ease of manufacture and wind resistance.

The trap works on the principle that flies that come off animals as the animals walk through the race, being strongly attracted to light, will fly to the inside surface of the chamber where they remain trying to get out towards the light. The flies have a limited life span in hot dry conditions away from their animal hosts which they feed on about 18 times a day. The transparent or translucent sides and ceiling of the chamber allow sun light to penetrate and raise the internal temperature of the chamber to levels well above ambient, such that the flies rapidly desiccate and/or suffer heat stress causing their death from the heat within the chamber. In addition to being brushed off, flies are encouraged to leave the cattle by the dark brush means. The darkness forms a deterrent to the flies which leave the animals and fly outwards towards the light, where they encounter the transparent or translucent sides of the chamber.

S Optionally the chamber may include a generally enclosed air I space beneath its roof. This may be formed by a false ceiling, that is, a sleeve of transparent or translucent 0* material which is arranged beneath the roof of the chamber.

In this arrangement, the temperature of the air within the enclosed space can rise above the temperature of the air within the remaining portion of the chamber because air flow through the enclosed space is more restricted. Consequently flies which have entered the enclosed space will be more rapidly desiccated. Surprisingly, an unexpected (and yet to be confirmed) effect of the false ceiling is that it appears to attract the flies to move up the internal surface of the skin forming the sides of the chamber towards the upper region of the chamber and so accelerate their confinement in the enclosed space.

-6- An exit dark coloured curtain, for example of shade cloth, may be provided where the race exits from the chamber to deter any flies which remain near the animals from trying to fly through it.

Preferably the chamber includes a number of partitions and associated brush means such that it is divided into a series of compartments. The entrance to the chamber may be left open (that is, it is not curtained) to allow the entry of animals via the race.

Strategic placement of traps according to the invention allows effective control of buffalo fly populations. Thus, with milking cows for example, the trap may be built into the fence of the milking yards such that the cattle must pass through it, usually twice daily. For grazing cattle, the trap maybe located between the pasture and a water source or S a salt lick for example, such that the cattle pass through it en route to the water or salt. The trap is best employed in a forced use situation where cattle must pass through it on a S regular basis.

Appropriately located traps reduce the breeding incidence of the flies by not allowing them to remain on cattle for the required two days before they can lay any eggs in the animals dung.

S" Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an insect trap according to the invention; Figure 2 is a front view of a partition surrounding the race and brush means associated therewith; 7 Figure 3 is a perspective view of another form of insect trap which may be used in the present invention; Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 describe the use of dark shade cloth curtain segments as the brush means in contrast to the monofilament arrays used in Fig.l; Figures 8, 9 and 10 are graphs illustrating the results of fly control trials using traps constructed in accordance with the invention; Figures 11 and 12 show an insect trap including a false ceiling; and Figures 13 and 14 are graphs illustrating the effect on temperatures within a trap of a false ceiling as illustrated in Figures 11 and 12.

The trap shown in Fig.l includes a chamber 11 having a cattle race 12 with an entry end 13 passing therethrough. The chamber comprises a support frame 16 including a pair of rows 17 of peripheral uprights or posts 18, a pair of rows 19 of inner posts 20 and arcuate roof members 21 including a base member 22 and arcuate member 23. There is also included ground support longitudinal members 22A and cross members 22B. The support frame 16 is covered with a flexible skin 24 which is transparent or translucent as shown. The race 12 is spaced from the flexible skin 24 by spacing or gap which may be filled with one or more partitions 26 located at spaced intervals along the length of chamber 11. Suitably there are provided an entrance compartment 29A and two subsequent compartments 29. Drapes 15 instead of a brush means 26A may be located adjacent the partition 26 leading into the first compartment 29.

8 It is preferred that the partition 26 be light coloured as shown in Fig.l although it may be dark coloured at least in part or completely dark as shown in Fig.2. It is essential in relation to the invention that the brush means 26A adjacent a partition 26 be dark or black as shown in Fig.l and Fig.2. The brush means 26 may include a first array of filaments 27 which are vertically oriented as shown (see Fig.2) and which may preferably have a thickness of 2.0mm and have a length of 150-250mm and more suitably 200mm. The brush means 26A may also include a second array of filaments 28 which also may be vertically orientated having a thickness of 0.5-2.00mm and more suitably 0.9mm. The second array of filaments 28 may also have a length of 300-500mm and more suitably 400mm and be suspended from a common support with array 27.

There also may be utilised a third array of filaments 29 each divided into sections 30 on either side of race 12 as shown.

Filaments 29 may have a similar thickness to filaments 27.

Another arrangement of brushes (not shown) may comprise filaments that are vertically supported (ie the filaments extend horizontally from the support) along both sides of the race, and which are divided into three brush sections on either side of the race. The top and bottom brush sections are fixed whereas the middle brush sections are hinged and spring loaded to return to their "closed" position (note that the tips of the filaments extending into the race from both sides should touch). The middle brush sections are hinged and spring loaded to reduce pressure on the brushes in the region of the girth of an animal and to facilitate opening of the brush to train new cattle to pass through the brush means. Alternatively, all of the brush sections may be hinged and sprung. The arrangement may also include horizontally supported filaments to hang before and/or after the main brush arrangement.

9 It has been found useful to provide two different forms of insect trap in accordance with the invention. In rel tion to the trap shown in Figs. 1 and 2 this may have a o0e way walk through passage or race 12 and is useful being located at the exit race of a milking shed and thus is appropriate for dairy cattle. In another form f trap 31 shown in Fig.3 there is provided a walk throun passage or race 12A which can be used for entry purpos s at each end 32. Suitably also drapes 15 may be omittd from trap which may be used for beef cattle andc thus be located anywhere in a paddock or range.

The brush means 26A in another alterrtive may use dark or black shade cloth curtains as shown ,in Figs.4-7. In regard to entrance compartment 29A the brusi means 26A may include two curtains 32 attached to opposed tide locations of race 12 which may partially overlap in the -entre of race 12 as shown at 33 and another curtain 34 located rearwardly of curtains 32 and adjacent overlapping area 3. The curtain 34 may be spaced from the sides of race 12 by gaps 34A best shown in Fig.5. The curtain arrays shown 'I n Figs. 6-7 may be similar to the array already shown in 'ig.5 but may additionally include a rear curtain 36 extenc ing downwardly only about a quarter of the height of race 3J- as shown in Fig.4. Suitably curtain 36 has an elastic or 7 silient peripheral cord which may contact the back of an .fimal walking through race 12.

Each of curtains 32, 34 and,'6 may be provided with a metal S weighted bottom seam (not Own) to tension the curtains and cause them to return their normal position after displacement. Also 9rizontal stiffening strips may be attached to the bottom each curtain to avoid folding.

The curtain arr 7 shown in Fig.5 may be located at partition 26 bl~een compartments 29A and the adjacent compartment 29 /n substitution of drapes 15. The curtain array 38 m. be located at the adjacent partition 26 10 intermediate compartments 29 and the final curtain array 39 may be located at the exit end of passage or race 12.

Preferably the drapes 15 which may initially brush the animals back comprise relatively stiffly flexible strips, for example of polyethylene, forming a curtain hanging vertically over the race 12 to displace flies from the sides of the animals.

However the drapes 15 cannot form a suitable brush means 26A in accordance with the invention because as an-animal parts the drapes. a V shaped gap is provided at the top of the drapes which may be easily traversed by flies or other flying insects. This is a major reason why the prior art traps were not effective in use.

The partitions 26 which are used in the insect traps of the invention are also necessary because they function as a seal around the race 12 adjacent the brush means 26A so that the insects are constrained to fly to the internal surface of skin 24.

Appropriately located traps reduce the breeding incidence of the flies by not allowing the.. to remain on cattle for the required two days before they can lay any eggs in the animals dung.

S The chamber 11 when used for an installation in dairies may have an overall length of 4.5m which is divided by partitions 26 into an entrance compartment 29A 1.5m long, followed by two compartments 29 each 1.5m long. The length of the entrance compartment 29A is chosen to allow the cattle to get into the chamber 'before the flies are brushed off. It is anticipated that one or more standard sized chambers 11 will be built in demountable modular form (ie. the chamber 11 may be constructed ct readily demountable prefabricated sections) 11 which will allow different sized installations to be readily constructed.

Dimensions for an example chamber 11 according to the invention are: Height 2.8m with a 1.8m high walk th-ough passage 12, width 2.3m (leaving 0.75m space either side of a 0.8m wide walk through passage). The lengths of curtains 32 and 34 may be 1.8m and the length of curtain 36 maybe 450mm.

Figure 8 illustrates a comparison of buffalo fly numbers on herds of milking cows using the trap with dry cows in different herds on the same farms. The dry cows data are shown cross-hatched while the milkers data are not cross-hatched. Clearly, fly control on the milkers using traps according to the invention is very effective in comparison to fly populations on the dry cows the milkers have much lower "flies/head" than the dry cows as a result of use of the traps). This advantage was obtained despite normal treatment of Lhe dry *attle with insecticidal sprays.

Figure 9 illustrates a comparison of average buffalo fly numbers on milkers using traps according to the invention (non cross-hatched bars) with fly numbers on 5 adjacent control herds (cross-hatched bars) using normal insecticide based fly control measures. (Very few flies were found on any animals on one control farm, possibly caused by heavy use of fowl manure as fertilizer). The data illustrates that fly control using the traps is more effective than insecticide based control measures.

Figure 10 illustrates average numbers of flies on milkers using traps on trial farms as against flies on dry cows not using the traps on the same farms, and on milkers on control farms without traps.

12 Figure 11 is a schematic perspective view and Figure 12 an end view of a trap according to the invention that includes a false ceiling 40. The trap comprises a chamber 11 having a cattle race 12 with an entry end 13 passing there through.

The chamber comprises a support frame covered with a flexible skin 24 which is transparent or translucent. The chamber includes a partition 26 and dark or black brush means 26A within the race 12. False ceiling 40 (which may also be termed a sleeve) may be made from a sheet of transparent or translucent material the same as skin 24. To form the false ceiling 40 within the chamber 11, the longitudinal edges of the sheet are fixed to longitudinally extending frame members 22D and the sheet extends over and is thus supported by a central longitudinal roof member 22E. Frame members 22D are attached to the frame so that they are closely adjacent and substantially parallel to upper longitudinal frame members 22A, and roof member 22E is attached at each of its ends to the arcuate member 23 of the arcuate roof members 21 that constitute the ends of the entry compartment of chamber 11.

The false ceiling or sleeve 40 and the roof portion of the outside skin 24 together with the skin that forms the end Swall and the partition 26 define an enclosed air space 42 which acts as a heat trap. Effectively, enclosed space 42 is a trap for flies within chamber 11. Flies moving vertically up the inside surface of skin 24 enter space 42 via a small gap 44 between longitudinal frame members 22A and 22D. The size of gap 44 may be, for example, about 2mm.

Flies having entered space 42 remain trapped therein and are killed when desiccated or stressed by the heat developed in the space.

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate the effect of the false ceiling. Thus, as shoui in Figure 13, the temperature within the lower portion of the trap remains substantially the same whether or not the ceiling is installed whereas, as shown in Figure 14, the temperature within an enclosed spa.ce 42 is 13 enhanced by 1 to 4"C depending on the time of day, with the increased temperature effect starting around 7am, reaching a peak around 8am and lasting until 3pm before trailing off around 5pm. On hot days, flies within the enclosed space 42 die very rapidly.

An unexpected and yet to be confirmed effect of the false ceiling appears to be that it causes flies to move more readily towards the sides of the trap and then vertically up the inside surface of skin 24 towards the enclosed space 42, such that their confinement within space 42 is accelerated, reducing the escape of flies from the trap through the entrance. It is thought that this effect may be the result of subtle lighting or shading effects produced by the transparent or translucent material of false ceiling The size of enclosed space 42 is not critical, it being required merely that the space be sufficient to achieve the increased heating effect. Nor is it essential that the false ceiling be structured as illustrated in Figures 11 and 12; that is, the invention includes within its scope other constructions which will provide an enclosed space that is operable to trap and desiccate flies in a similar manner to the space 42 shown in Figures 11 and 12. Also, although S Figure 11 illustrates false ceiling 40 within only the entrance compartment of chamber 11, it is to be understood that the invention includes the placement of such a ceiling within any of the compartments of a chamber 11. For example, a false ceiling could be placed in any one or more of the compartments 29A and 29 of the chamber 11 shown in Figure 1.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that additions and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope. All such additions and 14 modifications are to be understood as encompassed by the invention as above described.

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Claims (13)

1. An insect trap for control of flies on cattle comprising a cattle race passing through a chamber, the chamber having a skin of transparent or translucent material spaced from, the race whereby flies within the chamber are attracted to the skin by the light passing therethrough, the skin also allowing the passage of sufficient sunlight to heat the chamber interior for desiccation and/or heat stress of flies therewithin, the chamber including an end wall or one or more partitions extending between the skin and the race wherein a partially enclosed air space is formed within the chamber immediately below the roof whereby the temperature of the air within the air space is increased over that in other portions of the chamber and said air space constitutes a trap within the chamber, wherein means for brushing flies off cattle as they pass through the race are located in the race adjacent to at least the end wall or one partition, the brush means being constructed from a dark coloured material in contrast to the skin to provide a deterrent to flies remaining on the cattle as they 0 0 approach the end wall or partition.

2. An insect trap as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the partition or partitions are formed from transparent or translucent material. 30

3. An insect trap as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the brush means includes a plurality of hanging curtains.

4. An insect trap as claimed in any preceding 35 claim wherein the brush means includes at least one array of monofilaments or fibres.

An insect trap as claimed in Claim 4 wherein more than one array of monofilaments or fibres are provided to form a dense obstruction within and filling the whole or substantially the whole of the cross-section of the race.

6. An insect trap as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the monofilaments or fibres in the arrays extend horizontally into the race from vertically orientated supports on each side of the race such that their tips effectively meet at the centre of the race.

7. An insect trap as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the arrays of monofilaments are hinged and sprung to return to their original positions after passage of an animal.

8. An insect trap as claimed in Claim 6 wherein a central section of the array of monofilaments or fibres on each side of the race is hinged and sprung so as to allow easier passage for the girth of an animal as it passes through the brush means and to return the central section to its undisturbed position after passage of an animal.

9. An insect trap as claimed in any one of 9* Claims 5 to 8 wherein the brush means includes at least one array of monofilaments or fibres that extend ,i vertically into the race from an overhead support.

10. An insect trap as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the partially enclosed air space is 35 formed by a false ceiling extending between the sides and the ends (or one end and a partition) of the chamber, and wherein a small gap is provided between 17 the edges of the false ceiling and the facing sides of the chamber to allow flies to enter the air space.

11. An insect trap as claimed in Claim wherein the false ceiling is formed from transparent or translucent material.

12. An insect trap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

13. An insect trap substantially as hereinbefore described and including a false ceiling as described and illustrated with reference to Figures 11 and 12 of the accompanying dra'ings. DATED this twenty-first day of March 1995. COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION, by its Patent Attorneys, Vs FISHER KELLY. e• 9 0 S S 18 ABSTRACT A trap for the control of buffalo fly infestations on cattle is described. The trap comprises a cattle race (12) passing through a chamber (11) which is formed by a skin (24) of transparent or translucent material attached to a suitable frame (16-23). The skin allows passage of sunlight to heat the interior of the chamber for desiccation of flies therewithin, the flies being attracted to the inside surface of the skin by its light appearance. The race includes a black or dark coloured dense brush means (26A) for brushing flies off cattle as they pass through the chamber. The chamber may be divided into compartments by one or more internal partitions It may also include a flase ceiling (40) to form a partially enclosed air space (42) immediately below the roof of the chamber such that the air temperature within the space is increased over the rest of the chamber interior by sunlight entering through the roof. The partially enclosed air space constitutes a trap for flies within the chamber and flies which enter this space are more rapidly desiccated. *o 0*he a. ea S o a. 0*