GB2456585A

GB2456585A - Insect trap with two light sources

Info

Publication number: GB2456585A
Application number: GB0801407A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Smith
Original assignee: RIWA Ltd
Current assignee: RIWA Ltd
Priority date: 2008-01-21
Filing date: 2008-01-21
Publication date: 2009-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 2028-01-21
Also published as: GB2456585B; GB0801407D0

Abstract

An insect trap 10 comprising a housing 12, a trapping surface 14 for trapping target insects, screening means 16 for excluding desirable insects from the trapping surface, first light attractant means 18 positioned in front of the screening means for attracting the target insect to the trap and second light attractant means 20 positioned behind the screening means for attracting the target insect to the trapping surface. The trapping surface is in close proximity to the second light attractant means. Preferably the light sources comprise a green light source. Preferably the trapping surface is black in colour and sticky.

Description

AN INSECT TRAP

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2456585

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an insect trap and more particularly to one for preferentially catching midges and mosquito's, particularly those associated with the transmission of diseases such as Bluetongue virus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Insect traps may be used to catch a target species for either monitoring or culling purposes. The recent outbreak of blue tongue virus in the UK, transmitted by Culicoides (midges), has highlighted the need for improved traps for catching, whether for monitoring or culling purposes, target species.

A number of specialist traps of various degrees of sophistication are known and a number of reports in the literature have commented on the effectiveness of such traps.

Three articles have focussed on traps used for the midges that are the vector insect in the transmission of Bluetongue virus:

In Review of Medical and Veterinary Entomology, Vol 77, Abs 00064, there is a discussion on the use of suction traps and light traps in monitoring various species of Culicoides.

In Veterinaria Italian, Vol 40, no 3, p226-229, it was observed that the species C. brevitarsis kieffer was significantly attracted to green light. This species is the major vector of Akabane and Bluetongue virus in Australia.

Australian Journal of Entermology, Vol 45, no 3, discloses field trials which also demonstrated the superiority of green LED's for catching C. brevitarsis.

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More general disclosures on insect traps include:

US20050019361 which discloses trapping flying insects using chemical attractants;

Journal of American Mosquito Control Association, Vol 18, no 3, p228-231 which discloses baiting mosquito traps with octenol/ propyl phenol/ methyl phenol mixtures alone or in combination with CO2.

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10 Commercially available mosquito traps include:

John Hock model 1012 CDC style light trap; model 1712 CDC Gravid trap; American Biophysics Corporation mosquito magnet experimental and MM-professional the later two of which are based on counter-flow technology.

15 An object of the present invention was to produce a simple yet effective trap which would trap target insects, particularly mosquito's and midges, but would not indiscriminately capture a wide variety of insects including those which might be desirable.

20 A problem that the applicant experienced was one of attracting the target insects, but not non-target insects, to the trapping surface.

There initial approach of using dark glue boards in combination with a screening means infront of the light means resulted in an insufficient number of the target 25 insects being drawn to and trapped on the trapping surface.

This problem was overcome by using a two-tiered attractant system in which a first light source was used to draw insects to the trap and a second light source was used to draw the attracted insects through a screening means to the 30 trapping surface.

PRESENT INVENTION

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According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an insect trap comprising:

o a housing;

o a trapping surface for trapping target insects;

5 o a screening means for excluding desirable insects from the trapping surface;

o a first Sight attractant means positioned in-front of the screening means for attracting the target insect to the trap; and o a second light attractant means positioned behind the screening 10 means for attracting the target insect to the trapping surface which is in close proximity to the second light attractant means.

Preferably the first and second light attractant means emit light in the green part of the electromagnet spectrum. It is of course possible to use differing light • " 15 means to:

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• first draw the insects to the trap; and

• then draw the attracted insects through a screen to the trapping surface.

In a particular favoured embodiment the respective light source is an insect 20 attractant fluorescent lamp adapted when energised to emit UV light comprising a phosphor which emits green light in the region of about 550 nm (as described in GB2266649). Preferably at least two phosphors are used, the second being in the UV region of about 350nm

25 The preferred trapping surface is a glue board which "sticks" the insects to the surface on contact. This is most preferably mounted in the housing in a manner which allows it to be readily replaced. Preferably the board is dark in colour, preferably black. This colour, together with the use of a screening means which further reduces light meant that placing a single light means in the housing failed 30 to attract the target insects to the trapping surface in sufficient numbers.

Thus, the housing is typically of generally a box shaped construction comprising a base,, two side panels; and a rear panel. The front is generally "open" and is

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covered by a wire guard. A lid sits over the open top and can be readily removed to gain access to the glue board and lamps.

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The glue board is slidably mounted towards the rear panel of the trap by runners 5 (not shown) which are provided on the innermost facing faces of the side panels.

Mounted horizontally across the respective side panels are the first and second light attractant means. In the preferred embodiment there are a plurality of each.

10 The first light attractant means are mounted towards the open front (32) and the second light attractant means are mounted towards the rear, adjacent the glue board. Mounted between the respective light attractant means is the screening means (16) which like the glue board may be slidable mounted. The screen may be a suitably sized wire mesh or fabric held taught on a perimeter frame. It is 15 preferably sized to allow the target species, in a favoured embodiment midges and mosquito's, through but retain larger insects.

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A suitable power source, battery or mains supply, is provided to power the light attractant means.

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Additionally, means could be provided to additionally provide chemical attractants, such as for example pheromones or carbon dioxide, a humidifying means and or a means for drawing air towards the trap.

25 The various aspects of the invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the single figure in which:

Fig 1 is a perspective view of a trap according to one aspect of the present invention

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the single Fig 1, the insect trap (10) is of a simple construction.

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It comprises a box housing (12), of sheet metal comprising a base, (24), two side panels (26; 28); and a rear panel (30). It's front (32) is generally "open" and is covered by a wire guard (34). A lid (36) sits over the open top (38) and can be readily removed to gain access to a glue board (14) and lamps (18;20) which are 5 housed within and are separated by a screen. The lid may also comprise a means, e.g. a hook, for mounting the trap by hanging inside, for example a cow shed.

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A trapping means (14), preferably takes the form of a glue board which is slidably 10 mounted towards the rear panel (30) of the trap by runners (not shown) which are provided on the innermost faces of respective side panels (26; 28).

Mounted horizontally between the respective side panels are first (18) and second (20) light attractant means. In the embodiment shown there are two of 15 each, and they take the form of fluorescent lamps which emit light in both the UV spectrum (350nm) and green spectrum (550nm). Such bulbs have been demonstrated to be particularly beneficial in attracting insects as disclosed in GB2266649.

20 The first light attractant means (18) are mounted towards the open front (32) and the second light attractant means (20) are mounted towards the rear, adjacent the glue board (14). Mounted between the respective light attractant means is a screening means (16), which like the glue board may be slidable mounted in the housing (12). The screen may be a suitably sized wire mesh or fabric held taught 25 on a perimeter frame. It is preferably sized to allow the target species, in a favoured embodiment midges and mosquito's, through but retain larger insects.

A suitable power source, battery or mains supply (not shown), is provided to power the light attractant means.

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The embodiment illustrated can of course be readily modified by one skilled in the art to additionally provide chemical attractants, such as for example

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pheromones or carbon dioxide, a means for humidification and or a means for drawing air towards the trap.

Claims

1. An insect trap (10) comprising: a housing (12);

o a trapping surface (14) for trapping target insects;

o a screening means (16) for excluding desirable insects from the trapping surface;

o a first light attractant means (18) positioned in-front of the screening means for attracting the target insect to the trap; and o a second light attractant means (20) positioned behind the screening means for attracting the target insect to the trapping surface (14) which is in close proximity to the second light attractant means.

2. An insect trap as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second light attractant means emit light in the green part of the electromagnet spectrum.

3. An insect trap as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first and second attractant means are fluorescent lamps which when energised emit both UV light in the region of about 350nm and green light in the region of about 550 nm.

4. An insect trap as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the trapping surface comprises a glue board.

5. An insect trap as claimed in claim 4 wherein the trapping surface is slidably mounted towards a rear panel of the housing.

6. An insect trap as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the housing has a front which is substantially open and is protected by a guard.

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7. An insect trap as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the screening means is slidable mounted in the housing.

8. An insect trap as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the housing comprises a removable lid.

9. An insect trap as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the screening means is sized to allow midges and mosquito's there through.

10. An insect trap as claimed in any of the preceding claims which is a midge or mosquito trap.