CA2730828A1 - Insect trap - Google Patents

Insect trap Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2730828A1
CA2730828A1 CA 2730828 CA2730828A CA2730828A1 CA 2730828 A1 CA2730828 A1 CA 2730828A1 CA 2730828 CA2730828 CA 2730828 CA 2730828 A CA2730828 A CA 2730828A CA 2730828 A1 CA2730828 A1 CA 2730828A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
container
insect trap
trap according
apertures
insect
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2730828
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Hugh Pommells
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA 2730828 priority Critical patent/CA2730828A1/en
Publication of CA2730828A1 publication Critical patent/CA2730828A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01MCATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
    • A01M1/00Stationary means for catching or killing insects
    • A01M1/10Catching insects by using Traps
    • A01M1/106Catching insects by using Traps for flying insects
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01MCATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
    • A01M1/00Stationary means for catching or killing insects
    • A01M1/02Stationary means for catching or killing insects with devices or substances, e.g. food, pheronones attracting the insects
    • A01M1/04Attracting insects by using illumination or colours
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01MCATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
    • A01M1/00Stationary means for catching or killing insects
    • A01M1/10Catching insects by using Traps
    • A01M1/103Catching insects by using Traps for crawling insects

Abstract

Insect trap comprising a container, a removable cover, and at least one slide member. The container has an access opening in a top section of the container and at least one aperture formed in a side wall of the container. The removable cover is for closing the access opening. The or each slide member extends inwardly into a chamber formed by the container from a respective one of the at least one aperture. The or each slide member has a slippery surface that slopes inwardly and downwardly from its respective aperture. During use of the trap, an insect entering one of the at least one aperture will slide down the associated slide member and become trapped in the container.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to apparatuses for trapping crawling insects, in particular, apparatuses for trapping earwigs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

While insects are a necessary part of life, they can at times become a nuisance.
For most, coming into direct contact with an insect is an unpleasant experience.
Several insects are known to bite humans and some may even spread infection and disease. Accordingly, if their populations are not controlled, insects can be a considerable nuisance which reduces the enjoyment of an area.

Another way that insects can be a nuisance if their populations are not controlled is by causing damage to vegetation. It is not uncommon to have entire household gardens destroyed by feeding insects. In recent years urban farming has grown in popularity. Therefore, apart from being maintained to be aesthetically pleasing, more and more household gardens are being maintained to provide a source of food. The consequence of an insect infestation is all the more devastating to those relying on such a garden to provide them with nourishment.

Moreover, while urban farming become more prevalent in the last few years, so has organic farming. As such, notwithstanding that controlling the population of insects is desirable, the conventional approach of spraying chemical insecticides has fallen into disfavour. For similar reasons, the use of genetically modified plants that are pest resistant has also fallen into disfavour. Many would rather accept the risk of an insect infestation than spray chemical insecticides or grow genetically modified plants.

A strategy to avoid the need to spray chemical insecticides or use genetically modified plants is to set up a trap. The typical trap will kill an insect upon luring it into the trap. A variety of methods exist for killing an insect once inside the trap.
In some traps the insect will drown, in others it will be electrocuted, and in yet others it will simply die after being trapped for a prolonged period of time.

A particularly problematic insect is the earwig, which is often to blame for extensive damage occurring to foliage, flowers, and crops. The earwig typically travels by crawling, despite being capable of flight.

There is a need for an improved apparatus for trapping crawling insects, particularly one for trapping earwigs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is disclosed an insect trap comprising a container, a removable cover, and at least one slide member. The container has an access opening in a top section of the container and at least one aperture formed in a side wall of the container. The removable cover is for closing the access opening. The at least one slide member extends into a chamber formed by the container. The or each slide member extends inwardly from a respective one of the at least one aperture. The or each slide member has a slippery surface that slopes inwardly and downwardly from its respective aperture. During use of the trap, an insect entering one of the at least one aperture will slide down the associated slide member and become trapped in the container.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is disclosed an insect trap comprising a container and a slide member. The container is capable of holding a liquid substance for attracting insects. The container has an access opening in a top section of the container for allowing the liquid substance into an interior of the container, and a plurality of apertures formed in a side wall of the container. The slide members are mounted in the side wall, each extending inwardly into the interior from a respective one of the apertures. Each slide member has a slippery surface that slopes inwardly and downwardly from the respective aperture at the outer end of the slide member. During use of said trap, the liquid substance can be placed in the container and an insect entering the container through one of the apertures will slide down its respective slide member and drown in or become trapped in the liquid substance.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is disclosed an insect trap comprising a container, a passage system, and brightly coloured strips. The container has an access opening in a top section of the container, a side wall, a bottom, and a plurality of apertures formed in the side wall, for entry of insects into a chamber formed by the container. The passage system is for trapping insects that enter into the chamber through the apertures. The passage system is provided on the side wall and comprises passages members each extending inwardly into the chamber from a respective one of the apertures. The brightly coloured strips are provided on an exterior surface of the side wall, each strip extending downwardly from a respective one of the apertures to a location adjacent the bottom of the container. The strips act as attractants for luring insects towards the aperture and the passage members.

Other advantages, features and characteristics of the disclosed apparatus, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements thereof, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described herein below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that those having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains will more readily understand how to make and use the subject invention, exemplary embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the apparatus taken along the line II-II of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus taken along the line III-III of Figure 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be discussed with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The apparatus is indicated generally by reference to numeral 20.
The body 22 has a base 24, side walls 26, and top 28 which together define a chamber or cavity 50.

The side walls 26 can be integral with the base 24. The side walls 26 are bulbous which provide the body 22 with a pot-like shape. The side walls 26 terminate at a top opening 30 which enables access to the chamber 50 when the top 28 is removed. The top 28 has tapered edges such that it can engage the access opening 30 in an interference fit.

In the side walls 26 are a plurality of circumferentially arranged openings 32 which are approximately mid-height on the side-walls 26. In the illustrated trap there are five of these openings 32. These openings 32 provide access to the chamber 50.
The openings 32 are about 2 cm in diameter which is large enough to allow the passage of an insect, but not large enough to allow the passage of another creature such as, for example, a bird.

Proximate to the openings 32 is an attractant 34. The attractant 34 encourages the insect to move towards one of the openings 32. In this exemplary embodiment, the attractant 34 is a bright color that is applied to the surface of the side walls 26.
The color yellow is particularly effective for encouraging earwigs towards the openings. The attractant 34 is applied underneath the openings 32 from the base 24 to the openings 32, and around the openings 32. This guides an insect crawling on the ground on which the apparatus 20 rests up the side-walls 26 and into one of the openings 32.

As shown in Figure 3, the chutes 40 project into the chamber 50 at a downward angle. In the exemplary embodiment, the chutes 40 are standard plastic tubes having inlets 42 and outlets 44. The inlets 42 are substantially contiguous with the openings 32. The chutes 42 are defined by lubricious or smooth surfaces 46. In this case, the lubriciousness or smooth slippery surface is provided by the plastic material from which the chutes 40 are made. It will be appreciated that the lubriciousness of the chute surfaces 46 and downward angle of the chutes 40 are such that an insect which accesses one of the openings 32 will slide into the chamber 50.

In the bottom of the chamber 50 there can be a liquid 52. The liquid 52 in the chamber 50 will cause an insect falling into the chamber 50 to drown or become stuck. The liquid 52 is preferably a sticky syrup. As a syrup, the liquid serves the additional function of further attracting insects to the apparatus by reason of its sugar content. A strawberry syrup is particularly effective for attracting earwigs.
The sticky characteristics of the syrup also make it difficult for an insect that has fallen into the syrup to escape.

An optional feature of the trap is the provision of a hanging wick device 60.
The hanging wick device 60 is a receptacle 62 that is suspended underneath the top by a flexible line 64. The receptacle 62 is capable of holding a quantity of an aromatic liquid. The hanging wick device 60 increases the trap's effectiveness by enhancing the aromas given off by the trap. The aromatic liquid in the receptacle 62 can be a different liquid from the liquid 52. While any aromatic liquid may be held in the receptacle, honey is particularly effective for attracting earwigs.

The functioning of the trapping apparatus will now be apparent from the foregoing description. After coming close to the trap, the insect will be guided up the trap and into the opening by the attractant. Thereafter, upon accessing the opening, the insect will slide down the chute and into the liquid, where it will eventually drown or expire. In this way, the trap traps and kills the insect in a natural, environmentally friendly way.

It will be appreciated that routine changes in the size, shape and configuration of the trapping apparatus can be made without affecting the functioning of the invention.

The body can be a variety of enclosing shapes and has any number of side walls. It need not be pot-like but could, for example, be in the shape of a cube or pyramid.
The base, a top, and side walls can be entirely integral or discrete elements which together form the body. The top need not engage the side walls in an interference fit but can, for example, be releasably fixed by way of having threads which engage matching threads on the side walls or detents which engage apertures in snap-fit relation.

In addition, there can be any number of openings and the openings can be in any elevated location on the body. Further, the chutes can be formed in different ways and formed of materials other than plastic. Each chute can be, for example, a thin piece of metal. The chutes can also be formed integrally with the body.

Finally, in addition to brightly colored paint, the attractant could be any feature that would attract an insect to the openings, for example, a scent, such as a pheromone, a light, or a heat source, or any combination thereof.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in various exemplary embodiments, e.g., embodiments having particular utility for trapping insects, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the details shown herein, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the form and detail of the disclosed trapping apparatus and its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (20)

1. An insect trap comprising:

a container having an access opening in a top section of the container and at least one aperture formed in a side wall of the container;

a removable cover for closing said access opening; and at least one slide member extending into a chamber formed by said container, the or each slide member extending inwardly from a respective one of said at least one aperture, the or each slide member having a slippery surface that slopes inwardly and downwardly from its respective aperture, wherein during use of said trap, an insect entering one of said at least one aperture will slide down the associated slide member and become trapped in the container.
2. An insect trap according to claim 1, wherein said at least one slide member is made of plastic tubing.
3. An insect trap according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said container has a plurality of said at least one apertures distributed around said side wall of the container and there are a plurality of said at least one slide members.
4. An insect trap according to claim 3, wherein a brightly coloured surface on the container extends around each of the apertures and acts as an attractant for luring the insect towards the respective aperture.
5. An insect trap according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a brightly coloured surface on the container extends from each of the apertures towards a bottom of the container.
6. An insect trap according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said brightly coloured surface is the colour yellow.
7. An insect trap comprising:

a container capable of holding a liquid substance for attracting insects, having an access opening in a top section of the container for allowing said liquid substance into an interior of the container, and a plurality of apertures formed in a side wall of the container, and slide members mounted in said side wall, each extending inwardly into said interior from a respective one of said apertures, each slide member having a slippery surface that slopes inwardly and downwardly from the respective aperture at the outer end of the slide member, wherein during use of said trap, said liquid substance can be placed in said container and an insect entering the container through one of said apertures will slide down its respective slide member and drown in or become trapped in said liquid substance.
8. An insect trap according to claim 7, wherein each slide member is a tube made of plastic material.
9. An insect trap according to claim 7 or 8, wherein a brightly coloured surface on the container extends around each of the apertures and acts as an attractant for luring the insect towards the respective aperture.
10.An insect trap according to claim 9, wherein an elongate brightly coloured surface extends downwardly from the brightly coloured surface that extends around each aperture.
11.An insect trap according to claim 10, wherein each of the brightly coloured surfaces is the colour yellow.
12.An insect trap according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein said container includes a lid to cover said access opening.
13.An insect trap according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein said container is made of hardened clay.
14.An insect trap according to claim 12, including a hanging wick device mounted on said lid, said wick device including a small receptacle for holding an aromatic liquid or syrup and a flexible line for hanging said receptacle from said lid so that during use of the trap, said receptacle is suspended in the container.
15.An insect trap comprising:

a container having an access opening in a top section of the container, a side wall, a bottom, and a plurality of apertures formed in the side wall for entry of insects into a chamber formed by the container, passage means for trapping said insects that enter into the chamber through the apertures, said passage means being provided on the side wall and comprising passages members each extending inwardly into the chamber from a respective one of said apertures, and brightly coloured strips provided on an exterior surface of said side wall, each strip extending downwardly from a respective one of the apertures to a location adjacent the bottom of the container, wherein said strips act as attractants for luring insects towards the aperture and the passage members.
16.An insect trap according to claim 15, including brightly coloured annular bands each extending around a respective one of the apertures, wherein each brightly coloured strip extends to a respective one of the annular bands.
17.An insect trap according to claim 15 or 16, wherein both the strips and the bands are yellow in color.
18.An insect trap according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein said passage members comprise plastic tubes.
19.An insect trap according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein said container includes a removable cover for closing the access opening.
20.An insect trap according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein said container contains a liquid or syrup in which insects will drown or become trapped after entering the chamber.
CA 2730828 2011-02-07 2011-02-07 Insect trap Abandoned CA2730828A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2730828 CA2730828A1 (en) 2011-02-07 2011-02-07 Insect trap

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2730828 CA2730828A1 (en) 2011-02-07 2011-02-07 Insect trap

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2730828A1 true CA2730828A1 (en) 2012-08-07

Family

ID=46634651

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2730828 Abandoned CA2730828A1 (en) 2011-02-07 2011-02-07 Insect trap

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2730828A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR3030189A1 (en) * 2014-12-23 2016-06-24 Ab7 Innovation ROCKING INSECTS TRAP
CN110024762A (en) * 2019-05-14 2019-07-19 浙江省农业科学院 A kind of insect trap

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR3030189A1 (en) * 2014-12-23 2016-06-24 Ab7 Innovation ROCKING INSECTS TRAP
WO2016102787A1 (en) 2014-12-23 2016-06-30 Ab7 Innovation S.A.S.U Crawling-insect trap
CN110024762A (en) * 2019-05-14 2019-07-19 浙江省农业科学院 A kind of insect trap

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Date Code Title Description
FZDE Dead

Effective date: 20160727