MXPA96001678A - Bait station for insec - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an insect bait station, characterized in that it comprises: an upper annular surface, a central opening in the lower part of the annular surface, having a continuous wall located downwards leading to a central axial opening in depression, an external continuous side wall located upward, a lower surface peripherally fixed to the outer side wall and an inner portion, said continuous wall located downwardly leading from the upper annular surface toward said portion through said central axial opening in depression said wall located downwards and said outer side wall being coterminal with the upper annular surface, said continuous wall located downwards leading to said central opening in the lower part thereof in communication with the interior of the bait station; bottom surface that has a modified concave receptacle containing do the bait, where said bait is a bait granul

Description

BAIT STATION FOR INSECTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device for destroying insects. Very particularly it refers to an insect bait station with which insects can be administered with insects and with which the insects remove material containing poison from the station and take the material to the habitat of the insect to feed other insects, thus killing other insects This is done with a run-resistant station configuration that minimizes the danger to children and pets. The station of this invention has means for guiding said insects to the bait containing poison. Various types of devices have been known in the prior art to destroy insects. In some devices, insects are ped in the device after entering the device, either by mechanical construction, or by sticking to a sticky substance. In any case, said prior art device soon becomes full and unusable. In devices that contain a poison, the poison could escape or it could be reached with a probe through openings to reach the poison, making it a danger for children or small pets. In addition, the above devices are generally of a construction such that the interior of the devices is difficult to visualize so that it can not easily be seen whether the insects are using the device or how much poison has been used. The Patent of E.U.A. 4,173,093 relates to a cockroach device. This device is a opposite to the bait station of the present invention. The insect moves through the support surface below the device and between the bottom surface of the floor portion of the device. This allows the cockroach to enter the cen axial opening within the housing of the device. The cockroach is driven through a passage to the cen portion of the device ping the insect. The Patent of E.U.A. 4,263, 740 refers to a for crawling insects wherein the device is designed in such a way that upon exiting or entering the cen opening of the annular flange to recover food the insect will fall back into the . Other bait stations in the prior art are of the type wherein a series of guides and deflector means guide the crawling insect through openings in the periphery of the station to the cen point area, for example, the US patent. 4,563,636. These stations must contain bait that is not granulated. The bait in them is preferably of a solid "cookie" consistency in the form of a paste.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide an insect bait station that is attive to the insect that feeds on it. Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide an insect bait station that is substantially resistant to runoff and attive to insects that feed on it. Another object is to provide a feeding station for insects that is not dangerous for children and pets. A further object is to provide a feeding station for insects in which it is easily possible to detect the use of poison bait. Another object is to provide a bait station for insects with means to guide the insects towards the bait containing poison and bring said bait away from the station to the nest of the insects. These and other objects of the invention will be apparent as the description proceeds. The objects of this invention can be achieved and the disadvantage of the devices of the prior art are overcome by the use of the present invention. The device of the present invention has a base portion for carrying a poison bait and a cover. The bait station comprises a cover, a continuous external side wall, a base or bottom surface and has an opening in the cover for access of the insect to the bait in the base portion. In the preferred embodiment, the cover is annular and has a continuous external side wall and a central axial opening for access of insects to the bait. In another embodiment, the opening in the cover may be outside the center. The external case may be of any configuration, e.g., round, oval, square, rectangular or hexagonal and the like. The poison is preferably formulated into a composition of the type known as bait, ie, it is a mixture of poison mixed with food material attractive to the target insects, such as, but not limited to, flour, molasses, peanut butter, pulp of citrus fruits, animal fats such as lard and tallow, with an organic filler such as bran, and crushed grain, defatted corn cob meal in pregel or a starch matrix are also useful. The bait is preferably granulated or paste-shaped. Other additives may be added to the bait formulation, for example, dried silkworm chrysalis, various animal digestive parts, such as dry frozen bird liver, and the like. It is preferable to formulate baits for ants with an ideal matrix material so that the bait is used in a bait station should be one that is picked up by the fodder insect and take it to the nest to pass it to other insects. Contact insecticides would generally not be suitable, unless a slow-acting contact poison is used, since the bait material as used in this invention would be better used to kill fodder insects. Examples of suitable insecticides are sulf imide, hydramet ilnone and avermectin. Preferably, the insecticide constitutes 0.2-10S by weight of the bait. The instant bait station is parculularly useful for feeding bait to insects. The insect baits of this invention are especially effective in controlling ants, such as, but not limited to, the southern ant CSolenopsis xiloniJl. ants with leaf cutters CAcromirmex versicolor J3. ants from Argentina EJIridamirmex hu ilisJJ. corn field ants CLasius alienusJJl. pavement ants CTetra oriu caespitum]. large yellow ants CAcanothomiops interjectusJJl, ants stolen CSolenopsis molesta] and red and black ants íSolenopsis invicta! and CSolenopsis saevissma richeteriJl. respectively. These ants are economically devastating pests that have been known to attack humans, livestock and agricultural crops. Therefore, it is highly desirable to control them. Other ants that can be controlled are pests that cause discomforts such as ants f raonas CMonomorium pharaohnis], domestic odorous ants CTapinoma sessile], and acrobats ants CCremataaaster cerasiJl. The base can be formed as a unitary piece of a deformable material, such as a plastic, by known methods. One method for forming the base is from a flat sheet of plastic that is thermoformed or formed under vacuum onto a mold suitably designed to form inverted conical portions that act as a receiving area for the bait. It is also possible to form the base by injection molding a molten plastic in a suitably designed mold. The cover of the device is also formed in a similar manner as a unitary piece which is fixed to the upper part of the device. The cover is permanently fixed to the top of the device. The cover is permanently fixed to the base, and optionally has at least one part that is transparent so that the poison can be seen through the cover. The insect bait station of the present invention can be made of paper, wax, plastic or metal, provided that the ascending and descending portions of the slope are of a particular material to allow the insect, particularly ants, walk efficiently on it so that they have access to the bait that contains poison inside the station and to leave the station and return to the nest. Although any of the materials listed will suffice, moldable plastic such as polystyrene is preferred. In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover that is fixed to the base has at least a section thereof that is transparent because the poison is visible therethrough. Alternatively, the entire cover can be transparent. In this embodiment, it may be convenient to color the floor of the compartment with a contrasting color before filling the bait station, and very desirably the contrast color may be luminous so it is easily visible in darkened areas. As the bait is removed by insects, the contrasting color below is visible and provides an indication of whether the insects are using the station and how much bait has been used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The insect bait station of the present invention overcomes deficiencies of the prior art station traps for ants and other crawling insects by providing a bait station having a continuous external wall that leads from the base or bottom surface upwards to an upper surface having a depression opening therein that leads downward to a bait source contained within the station. The interior of the station having a concave receptacle such as an inverted conical shape or bowl to facilitate the flooding or concentration of the bait to the point of the cone or bowl communicating in close proximity to an opening or hole in the bottom of the opening in central axial depression. It is also provided that the insect can walk through the outside wall to enter the station and recover the bait and then return to the station exit, taking the bait to the insect's habitat. & Preferably, the bait station is frusto-conical in shape with an annular top surface with a central axial depression opening therein for covering the bait inside the station.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS As seen in the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an insect bait station in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an elevation view of an insect bait station in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a side elevation view in section taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1? Figure 4 is a bait station of Figure 3 with a typical creeping insect, such as an ant, entering the bait station with a bait present; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment; Figure 7 is a sectional side elevational view taken along line 7-7 of Figure 5; Figure fl is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the third embodiment; Figure 10 is a sectional side elevational view taken along the line IO-10 of Figure 6; Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of a bait station having a bait receptacle in the shape of a concave bowl in the base and an adhesive pad. Figure 12 is a perspective view of a bait station of this invention with a cover positioned over the opening in central axial depression; and Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the bait station of Figure 3 with a cover in place over the opening in central axial depression and in the open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention will be further described with further reference to the drawings, wherein the same number in the various figures has an identical meaning. In Figures 1-4 there is shown a bait station for crawling insects comprising an upper annular surface 11, a lower surface 12, and a side wall 13 in the general configuration of a frusto-conical or truncated pyramid. Although the side wall 13 is shown inclined upwards at approximately a 45 ° angle; this angle is arbitrary. The overall configuration can be modified so that instead of being truncated, the pyramid can be a truncated cone or oval or other desired shape. Extending downwardly from the central axial opening 20 is an inwardly inclined wall 21 which extends in an inwardly and downwardly inclined direction to a smaller opening or hole 22 in the bottom of the inverted axial depression opening like an inverted cone. . The opening 22 leads into the interior of the bait station 30. At the bottom of the central axial depression opening 20 is an opening or hole 22 that leads to the bait source inside the bait station 30. The opening 22 is large enough to allow the insect to enter the bait station. bait 30 and to allow the crawling insect to recover the bait, such as a granulated bait, and exit the opening 22 and ascend to the ascending part of the slope 21 and exit the opening 20, leaving the bait station. Subsequently, it is preferred that the opening 22 be no larger than that necessary to allow the free passage of the target insect out of the opening. The restricted size of the opening 22 makes the station substantially resistant to runoff. The interior of the bait station 30 contains an inverted conical portion of concave receptacle 33 having an internal flooding angle ß of about 50 ° about 145 °, preferably from about 65 ° to about 145 °, most preferably around 65 ° approximately 90 °. The angle of the inverted cone 33 is critical to allow the bait to be self-powered or to concentrate at the lowest point of the cone or bowl 34 cooperating in close dimensional proximity with the opening 22 at the bottom of the inclined wall 21. The cone Inverted 33 or the concave bowl portion 37 of Figure 11 within the bait station is a reservoir for the bait. In order for the bait to be easily available for the insect entering the opening 22, it is necessary that the bait be concentrated at the point of the inverted cone adjacent to the opening 22. The necessary internal angle ß formed by the sides of the inverted cone will depend of the nature of the bait. If the bait is a loose free flow granule, the internal angle ß may be larger. However, if the bait is a viscous paste or gel, then the angle may be substantially inclined, that is, the internal angle (3 may be smaller, to maintain the flow of the bait material to the point 34 of the inverted cone 33 at bowl 37. The embodiments of Figures 1 to 10 are used by poisoning food or other suitable bait containing insecticide below the central axial opening 20 after poisoning the device in a place frequented by insects. the central axial opening 20 is sealed or covered by suitable sealing means, for example a removable adhesive cover or adhesive cover with a stopper extending towards the central axial opening 20 to cooperate with the central axial opening 20 and thus seal The natural inclination of the insect, especially ants, is to walk upwards on the side wall 13 of the annular surface 11 and then downwards along of the inclined wall 21 in the central axial opening 20 and through the opening 22 towards the interior of the bait station 30. After the insect has found the bait and has selected a piece to be carried to the nest, the insect then leaves through the opening 22, it ascends the inclined wall 21, crosses the annular surface 11 and descends through the side wall 13. The upper annular surface 11 is shown in figures 1 to 4, as flat; however, a raised curved or annular surface, such as a toroidal surface, is acceptable. Figure 4 includes representation of an adhesive pad 51 fixed to the bottom surface 12. Said pad 51 can then be used to removably locate the bait station at a temporary site. Figures 5 to 7 and A to 10 illustrate a second and third embodiment, respectively, of the invention which is generally of rectangular or toroidal configuration opposite to the circular circular configuration of the embodiment represented by figures 1 to 4. These modalities are the functional equivalent of the corresponding members of figures 1-4, but are identified by adding a "1" and "2" to the reference numbers, eg, "130", "131", "230", "231", etc. . In any embodiment, the interior of the bait station is an inverted conical 33 or bowl-shaped portion where the point 34 of the conical portion is placed in close proximity to the opening 22 of the central axial opening 21 leading from the outside from the base station. The inverted conical portion 33 of the interior of the bait station has a diverging wall portion ascendingly inclined 35 to the vicinity of the continuous outer side wall of the annular cover. The lower surface is preferably molded into a portion for tilting the inverted conical portion 33 and a peripheral base flange 36 which cooperates with the outer sidewall flange of the annular cover to form a region by which the two portions can be permanently fixed. , by means of adhesive, sonic welding, or any other suitable means. It will be seen that each of the modalities described above are similar to one another. Consequently, it will be seen that each provides a unique but effective device to present bait to insects, especially ants, from a non-spillable container where the granulated bait may be used, such as gels or pastes. Numerous modifications of the preferred embodiments and features herein described will undoubtedly occur to those skilled in the art and it should be understood that the spirit and scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims (7)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - An insect bait station comprising an upper annular surface, a central opening therein, having a continuous wall located downward, a continuous external side wall located upward, a lower surface peripherally fixed to the external side wall and an internal portion; said continuous wall located downwards leading from the upper annular surface to the internal portion of said station; a wall located downwardly and said lateral wall exterpates being co-terminal with the upper annular surface; said wall located downwards leading to said opening in the bottom thereof in communication with the interior of the bait station; and a bottom surface having a concave receptacle modified to contain the bait.

2. An insect bait station according to claim 1, further characterized in that said bait is a granulated bait.

3. An insect bait station according to claim 1, further characterized in that said bait is a paste bait

4. An insect bait station according to claim 1, further characterized in that said concave receptacle is a Inverted conical shape.

5. An insect bait station according to claim 4, further characterized in that said concave receptacle is an inverted conical shape having an internal flood angle of about 50 ° to approximately 145 °.

6. An insect bait station according to claim 4, further characterized in that said concave receptacle is an inverted conical shape having an internal flood angle of about 65 ° to approximately 125 °.

7. An insect bait station according to claim 4, further characterized in that said concave receptacle is an inverted conical shape having an internal flood angle of about 65 ° to approximately 90 °. & . - An insect bait station according to claim 1, further characterized in that said concave receptacle is a bowl shape. 9. An insect bait station according to claim 1, further characterized in that said wall located downwards leads to the internal portion through a hole in the bottom of the same and communicates closely with the bait on the lower surface . 10. An insect bait station comprising a flat upper annular surface, a central axial opening having therein a continuous wall located downwards, an external side wall continuing to be located upwards, a corresponding inner surface perfectly fixed to the external lateral wall and internal portion; said continuous wall located downwards leading from said upper annular surface to an opening leading to the internal portion of said station; said wall located downwardly and said outer wall being co-terminal with said upper annular surface; an interior surface having a modified concave receptacle inside the bait station to contain the bait; and said opening in the bottom of said central axial opening cooperating in close dimensional proximity with the bait in the receptacle inside the bait station. 11. An insect bait station comprising an upper annular surface, a central opening therein, having a continuous wall located downward, an external continuous lateral wall located upward, a lower surface peripherally fixed to the side wall external and an internal portion; said continuous wall located downwards leading from the upper annular surface to the internal portion of said station; a wall located downwards and said outer side wall being co-terminal with the upper annular surface; said wall located downwards leading to said opening in the bottom thereof in communication with the interior of the bait station; and a bottom surface having a modified counter receptacle for containing the bait. lß BAIT STATION FOR INSECTS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A run-resistant insect bait station having a continuous external wall that leads from the base or bottom surface upwards to an upper annular surface having a central axial depression opening which leads therethrough downward to a source of bait contained within the station, the interior of the station having a cone-shaped inverted concave shape, to provide flooding or concentration of the bait to the lowest point of the cone or concave part communicating in close proximity with an opening at the bottom of the opening in central axial depression in which the insect can walk towards the outside wall to enter the station and recover the bait and then leave the station carrying the bait to the habitat of the insect. 33 / cpm