GB2545631A

GB2545631A - Pest trap

Info

Publication number: GB2545631A
Application number: GB1519018.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Holmes Tom
Original assignee: Pelsis Ltd
Current assignee: Pelsis Ltd
Priority date: 2015-10-28
Filing date: 2015-10-28
Publication date: 2017-06-28
Also published as: GB201519018D0

Abstract

A flying insect trap 30 comprises a primary attraction section 50, a primary immobilisation section 46, a body section 32 adapted to retain the primary attraction section 50 and the primary immobilisation section 46, and a power section 20 adapted to provide power to the primary attraction section 50. The body section 32 is adapted to detachably support a secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34. The attraction sections may comprise UV light, flickering light, fruit based or pheromone scented attractants. The immobilisation section may use glue board. A resiliently biased retaining portion may engage protrusion 36a, 36b to lock the components together.

Description

Pest Trap

This invention relates to a flying pest trap and to a module for attachment to a flying pest trap. A flying pest trap typically comprises a housing containing an attracting element, such as an electrically powered light source that emits UV light (usually in addition to visible light), and an immobilisation element, such as a glueboard (usually a board carrying an adhesive that retains the pests when they make contact with the glueboard.

The light source, in particular the colour thereof, is typically chosen to offer the broadest attraction to the widest range of flying pests likely to be encountered.

The flying pest trap functions by attracting flying pests, such as insects, including various types of fly and moth, to the light source. When in the vicinity of the light source the pest will explore the area and come into contact with the glueboard and thereby become immobilised. The glueboard can periodically be replaced when it becomes loaded with trapped pests.

Problems arise with this type of trap when particular infestations of pest occur and the colour of the light source may be suboptimal for attracting the given pest.

It is an object of the present invention to address the above mentioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus and method as set forth in the appended claims. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims, and the description which follows.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a flying pest trap comprising a primary attraction section, a primary immobilisation section, a body section adapted to retain the primary attraction section and the primary immobilisation section, and a power section adapted to provide power to the primary attraction section, wherein the body section is adapted to detachably support a secondary attraction/immobilisation section.

The primary attraction section may incorporate a light source, which may be a light source chosen for emitting UV light as a source of attraction.

The primary immobilisation section may include a glueboard as a means of immobilisation.

The body section may include at least one retaining element for receiving and retaining the secondary attraction/immobilisation section, preferably to a lower face thereof. The at least one retaining element may be a resiliently-biased section. The at least one retaining element may provide an opening/projection for receiving a corresponding projection/opening of the secondary attraction/immobilisation section. The at least one retaining element may provide an opening for receiving a projection of the secondary attraction/immobilisation section. The opening may have sections with different widths, for example a first width to allow the projection to enter the opening and a second width that prevents the projection from leaving the opening.

The body section may be adapted to provide power to the secondary attraction/immobilisation section, which power may be provided by a power output section. The power output section may include a female IEC socket.

The secondary attraction/immobilisation section may be a secondary attraction section, which may provide a different source of attraction to the primary attraction section. The secondary attraction section may incorporate a pheromone for attracting pests. The secondary attraction section may incorporate an attractant, such as a fruit-based attractant for attracting pests. The secondary attraction section may incorporate a flickering light source for attracting pests. The secondary attraction/immobilisation section may be a secondary immobilisation section.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a secondary attraction/immobilisation section for a flying pest trap, which is removably attachable to a flying pest trap according to the above aspect.

The secondary attraction/immobilisation section may be a secondary attraction section, which may provide a different source of attraction to the primary attraction section. The secondary attraction/immobilisation section may be a secondary immobilisation section.

The invention extends to a kit of parts that includes a flying pest trap and at least one secondary attraction/immobilisation section as described above.

All of the features described herein can be combined with any of the above aspects in any combination.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be brought into effect, embodiments of the same will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a prior art flying pest trap;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a flying pest trap according to an embodiment of the invention showing a secondary attraction/immobilisation section being put into position;

Figure 3a is a schematic partial perspective view from below of the flying pest trap of Figure 2;

Figure 3b is a schematic partial perspective view of a retaining section of the pest trap receiving a retaining projection of the secondary attraction/immobilisation section;

Figure 3c is schematic partial perspective view from above of an upper side of one end of the secondary attraction/immobilisation section;

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective front view of the flying pest trap of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a schematic perspective front view of the flying pest trap of Figure 2 with an alternative embodiment of secondary attraction/immobilisation section; and

Figure 6 is a schematic perspective front view of the flying pest trap of Figure 2 with an further alternative embodiment of secondary attraction/immobilisation section;

Existing pest traps for flying pests, an example of which is a pest trap 8 as shown in Figure 1 comprise a body 10, an immobilisation section 12 that includes a glueboard 14 behind and an attraction section 16 that includes one or more light sources 18a,b,c, which typically are chosen to output at least partly in the UV spectrum to attract pests, such as flies and moths. The pest trap 8 includes a power section 20 that receives power from an external source and provides power to the attraction section 16.

It has been realised that there are no pest trap solutions for specific flying insect species, driven by their specific needs and behaviour, because the usual flying pest trap 8 shown in Figure 1 is effectively an one-size-fits-all solution that attempts to attract as many types of flying pest as possible by using a UV light source 18a-d that is effective for attracting many types of flying pest. The attracted pests are then immobilised when they touch the glueboard 14 of the immobilisation section 12.

Figure 2 shows a pest trap 30 to which a secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34 is being attached to a lower part of a body section 32 of the pest trap 30. The pest trap 30 includes a primary immobilisation section 46 that includes a glueboard 48 and an attraction section 50 that includes at least one source UV light source 52. A retaining mechanism for attachment of the secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34 comprises projecting pawls 36a and 36b located at opposite ends of the secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34. The pawls 36a,b project from an upper surface of the secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34 and are received in spring-loaded keyhole slotted tabs 38a,b in a lower face of the body section 32 (see Figures 3a-3c.

The spring-loaded keyhole slotted tabs 38a,b are spring-loaded to be biased outward to outer ends of the body section 32. When pushed inwards against the bias and towards each other larger openings of the keyhole slotted tabs 38a,b are moved to a separation that corresponds to a separation of the pawls 36a,b on the secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34. This allows the secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34 to be pushed upwards for the pawls 36a,b to enter the larger openings of the of the keyhole slotted tabs 38a,b. On release, the spring-loaded keyhole slotted tabs 38a,b return to their wider separation and narrower neck sections of the pawls 36a,b are received in narrower openings of the keyhole slotted tabs 38a, b. The relative widths of the narrower neck section and the narrower openings are arranged so that the pawls 36a,b are retained by the keyhole slotted tabs 38a,b of the body 32.

In order to remove the secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34 the spring-loaded keyhole slotted tabs 38a,b are pushed together to remove the neck section of the pawls 36a,b from the narrower opening in the keyhole slotted tabs 38a,b. The secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34 can then drop down from engagement with the body section 32 of the pest trap 30.

The secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34 may receive power from the body section 32 by means of an electrical lead of the secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34 being received in an electrical socket 40 in the body section that receives an electrical supply from a power section of the pest trap 30.

The secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34 gives additional efficacy against specific pest species.

For example, when targeting specific insect species, additional the secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34 can be attached to the pest trap 30 to provide a specific solution to the specific pest problem.

Examples of secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34 and their relevant species include the following.

The secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34 may be a secondary attraction section 34 that incorporates LEDs 58 that emit UV light, as shown in Figure 4. The UV light from the LEDs has a high frequency flicker due to the driving of the LEDs 58 that is used to attract lesser house flies to the pest trap 30, where they will then come across and be immobilised by the primary immobilisation section 46. The secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34 may include a secondary immobilisation section, such as a secondary glueboard 57.

The secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34 may be a secondary attraction section 34 that carries a species specific pheromone 54 for common house flies -Tricozene Z9 pheromone, as shown in Figure 5. The pheromone is used to attract common house flies to the pest trap 30, where they will then come across and be immobilised by the primary immobilisation section 46.

The secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34 may be a secondary attraction section 34 that carries a species specific attractant 56 for fruit flies - a natural melon-based attractant. The attractant is used to attract fruit flies to the pest trap 30, where they will then come across and be immobilised by the primary immobilisation section 46.

The secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34 may be a secondary attraction section 34 that incorporates a light source 60 operable to emit light at the wavelength of approximately 540nm. The light at 540nm is beneficial for attracting stored product moths to the pest trap 30, where they will then come across and be immobilised by the primary immobilisation section 46.

The secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34 may be a secondary immobilisation section 34 that includes a secondary glueboard 62. The secondary glueboard 62 is used to immobilise, for example, cluster flies that typically are present in larger numbers that other pests. Cluster flies, or other pests in large numbers, are attracted to the pest trap 30 by the primary attraction section 50, where they will then come across and be immobilised by the primary immobilisation section 46 and the secondary immobilisation section 34, more specifically the glueboards 48 and 62.

The option to add a secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34 significantly extends the functionality from the base performance of the primary attraction and immobilisation sections 50,46. The situation where a particular infestation occurs can be catered for by temporarily attaching a relevant secondary attraction/immobilisation section 34 for the duration of an infestation.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A flying pest trap comprising a primary attraction section, a primary immobilisation section, a body section adapted to retain the primary attraction section and the primary immobilisation section, and a power section adapted to provide power to the primary attraction section, wherein the body section is adapted to detachably support a secondary attraction/immobilisation section.

2. A flying pest trap according to claim 1, wherein the primary attraction section incorporates a light source for emitting UV light as a source of attraction.

3. A flying pest trap according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the primary immobilisation section includes a glueboard.

4. A flying pest trap according to any preceding claim, wherein the body section includes at least one retaining element for receiving and retaining the secondary attraction/immobilisation section.

5. A flying pest trap according to claim 4, wherein the at least one retaining element is a resiliently-biased section.

6. A flying pest trap according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the at least one retaining element provides an opening or projection for receiving a corresponding projection or opening of the secondary attraction/immobilisation section.

7. A flying pest trap according to claim 6, wherein the opening comprises a section with a first width to allow the projection to enter the opening and a second width that prevents the projection from leaving the opening.

8. A flying pest trap according to any preceding claim, wherein the body section is adapted to provide power to the secondary attraction/immobilisation section.

9. A secondary attraction/immobilisation section for a flying pest trap, which is removably attachable to the flying pest trap according to any preceding claim.

10. A secondary attraction/immobilisation section according to claim 9, wherein the secondary attraction/immobilisation section is a secondary attraction section and provides a different source of attraction to the primary attraction section.

11. A flying pest trap according to claim 10, wherein the secondary attraction section incorporates a pheromone for attracting pests.

12. A flying pest trap according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the secondary attraction section incorporates a fruit-based attractant for attracting pests.

13. A flying pest trap according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the secondary attraction section incorporates a flickering light source for attracting pests.

14. A flying pest trap according to claim 9, wherein the secondary attraction/immobilisation section is a secondary immobilisation section that includes a secondary glueboard.

15. A kit of parts that includes a flying pest trap and at least one secondary attraction/immobilisation section according to any preceding claim.