GB2355380A

GB2355380A - Adhesive insect trap

Info

Publication number: GB2355380A
Application number: GB9923117A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ranjith Wijekoon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-10-01
Filing date: 1999-10-01
Publication date: 2001-04-25
Also published as: GB9923117D0

Abstract

Insect-paper (10) comprises a substrate (12) coated with a transparent tacky adhesive (16), the substrate (12) is printed with at least one discrete optically distinguishable image (14). The insect-paper (10) is formed by printing the substrate (12) with the image (14) and then coating the printed substrate (12) with the adhesive (16). The image (14) may be an irregular shape such as an insect. The paper may have a protective covering (18) with a layer of release material 20.

Description

2355380 FLYPAPER GB1677 INSECT-PAPER AND METHODS FOR ITS FORMATION AND USE

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an insect-paper and to methods for its formation and use.

Background of the invention

Insect-papers such as fly-papers are known which comprise a substrate, usually formed of paper, having an exposed coating of a composition comprising a tacky adhesive. The composition usually includes components which attract flying insects, for example by odour. In use the product is hung in a position where flying insects are considered a nuisance. Flying insects which are attracted to the product contact the tacky adhesive and are unable to detach themselves therefrom.

Unfortunately, the attractant components which are used in such products often have an odour which is unpleasant to humans and/or are toxic. The use of such products is therefore limited, their use in kitchens and eating places being substantially excluded. Although more sophisticated devices are available for use in such environments, they are costly and require the use of electrical power which may not always be readily available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is based upon the surprising discovery that the appearance of the product significantly influences the attraction of flying insects thereto.

Thus, according to a first feature of the invention, there is provided an insect-paper comprising a substrate having an FLYPAPER - 2 - GB1677 exposed coating of a tacky adhesive, characterised in that the adhesive is transparent and the substrate is printed with at least one discrete optically distinguishable image.

While not wishing to be bound by theory, we believe that flying insects observe the printed image on the insect-paper and, depending upon the shape, size and distribution thereof, confuse this image with the appearance of another insect. The natural gregarious nature of the insects encourages them to land upon the insect-paper. It would appear that the fact that the printed image is stationary only adds to this confusion. It is possible that the image appears to the flying insect as a dead insect of the same species.

The size, shape and distribution of the printed images can be optimized according to the prevailing insect species.

For example, each image may occupy a surface area of from 20 2 MM2 to 200 mm, while the total printed area is preferably from 1% to 10% of the coated substrate area. Ideally, the number of the images lies between 150 and 1500 per m2. The images preferably have an irregular shape, and in particular the images have the shape of the prevailing insect. It is of advantage if the image is substantially life-size, that is the dimensions of the image are between 50% and 150% of the corresponding average dimension of the prevailing insect population.

It has also been found that the colour of the substrate and of the printed images is important. The colours to be used can be optimised according to the prevailing insect species.

While images printed in black on a white substrate background give successful results, improved results can be

FLYPAPER - 3 - GB1677 obtained where the image is printed in green on a contrasting colour. In any event, it is preferred that the images are printed in a relatively dark colour on a relatively light background.

A suitable tacky adhesive is preferably selected from hot melt adhesives. The coating temperature can be optimised according to the nature of the adhesive used. Preferably the coating temperature is high enough for the adhesive to be sufficiently mobile to enable uniform coating, but not so high that degradation of the adhesive occurs, resulting in a loss of transparency. A preferred coating temperature is between 1000 and 2000C. The coating thickness of the transparent tacky adhesive is preferably between 30 and 300 g/M2. If a thinner coating is used, it may be insufficient to retain the trapped insects. With a higher coating thickness, some loss of transparency may occur. The adhesive is preferably free of components toxic to humans.

The adhesive may be coated onto one or both sides of the substrate.

The substrate may be in the form of a film, sheet or web.

The substrate material will usually be paper, although substrates formed of plastics or other materials may also be used. The word "paper" in the term "insect-paper" used herein is to be interpreted accordingly.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of forming insect-paper comprising printing a substrate with at least one discrete optically distinguishable image and thereafter coating the printed substrate with a transparent tacky adhesive.

FLYPAPER - 4 - GB1677 The printed coated substrate may thereafter be laminated with a peel-off protective covering, such as a removable coated paper strip, having a layer of release material, such as a silicone, in contact with the tacky adhesive coated on the substrate. The protective covering is peeled off before the product is used. In use, the insect-paper is exposed in an environment where flying insects of the same or visually similar species to that represented in the printed images are a nuisance. The flying insects are attracted to the in3ect-paper and become trapped thereon by the tacky adhesive.

The invention will now be further described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an enlarged diagrammatic cross-section of a flypaper according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view of the fly-paper shown in Figure 1, with the peelable protective covering removed. As shown in the drawings, a fly- paper 10 according to the 25 invention comprises a white paper substrate 12 having a dimensions of about 160 mm by 110 mm. Nine discrete optically distinguishable images 14, each in the shape of a fly, are printed in black by offset printing 30 onto one face of the substrate 12. Each image 14 is life size and occupies a surface area of about 60 mm2. The total printed area is about 540 mm2, amounting to about 3.1% of the coated substrate area.

FLYPAPER - 5 - GB1677 Also printed on the substrate is some text 22 in green and lateral bars 24 in red. The printed substrate is coated with Pressen 957 V Pale Amber Block hot melt adhesive (ex Beardow & Adams (Adhesives) Limited, Milton Keynes, England), which is a substantially transparent tacky adhesive 16, to a coating thickness of between 80 and 100 g/m2. The coating process is carried out by preheating the adhesive to 150'C and coating using a coating slot heated to the same temperature. After coating, a peel-off covering 18, having a surface layer 20 of silicone release material, is laminated to the product with the silicone layer 20 in contact with the tacky adhesive 16.

In a comparative test, the fly-paper is exposed in an environment where flies are a nuisance, close to a similar control fly-paper which is identical except that no discrete optically distinguishable images are printed on the substrate. Flies are attracted to the fly-paper and become trapped thereon by the tacky adhesive, particularly adjacent the printed fly images and the green printed text. The fly paper according to the invention attracted many more flies thereto, than the control product.

FLYPAPER - 6 - GB1677

Claims

1. Insect-paper comprising a substrate (12) having an exposed coating of a tacky adhesive (16), characterised in that the adhesive (16) is transparent and the substrate (12) is printed with at least one discrete optically distinguishable image (14).

2. Insect-paper according to claim 1, wherein the or each optically distinguishable image (14) occupies a surface 2 2 area of from 20 mm to 200 mm

3. Insect-paper according to claim 1, wherein the or each optically distinguishable image (14) has an irregular shape.

4. Insect-paper according to claim 3, wherein the or each optically distinguishable image (14) has the shape of an insect.

S. Insect-paper according to claim 1, wherein the total printed area is from 1% to 10% of the coated substrate area.

6. Insect-paper according to claim 1, wherein the number of the optically distinguishable images (14) lies between 150 and 1500 per m2.

7. Insect-paper according to claim 1, wherein the substrate (12) has a relatively light colour and the or each optically distinguishable image (14) is printed in a relatively dark colour.

FLYPAPER - 7 - GB1677

8. Insect-paper according to claim 7, wherein the, relatively dark colour is selected from green and black.

9. Insect-paper according to claim 1, wherein the coating thickness of the transparent tacky adhesive (16) is between 30 and 300 g/m2.

10. Insect-paper according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive (16) is free of components toxic to humans.

11. Insect-paper according to claim 1, wherein the substrate (12) is in the form of paper.

12. Insect-paper comprising a substrate (12) having a coating of a tacky adhesive (16), laminated with a peel-off protective covering (18), having a layer of release material (20) in contact with the tacky adhesive (16), characterised in that the adhesive (16) is transparent and the substrate (12) is printed with at least one discrete optically distinguishable image (14).

13. A method of forming insect-paper comprising printing a substrate (12) with at least one discrete optically distinguishable image (14) and thereafter coating the printed substrate (12) with a transparent tacky adhesive (16).

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the printed coated substrate is thereafter laminating with a peel-off protective covering (18), having a layer (20) of release material in contact with the tacky adhesive (16) coated on the substrate (12).

FLYPAPER - 8 - GB1677 is. A method of trapping flying insects of a given species comprising displaying an insect-paper (10) comprising a substrate (12) having an exposed coating of a tacky adhesive (16), characterised in that the adhesive (16) is transparent and the substrate (12) is printed with at least one discrete optically distinguishable image (14) representing an insect of said given species.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the or each discrete distinguishable image (14) is substantially life size.