WO2012001442A1

WO2012001442A1 - Trap for capturing flying insects

Info

Publication number: WO2012001442A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/001574
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pizarro Galo Mateos; Gonzalo Naranjo Villalonga; Fernando Olivie Gonzalez De Amezua
Original assignee: Hexapoda, S.L.
Priority date: 2010-06-28
Filing date: 2010-06-28
Publication date: 2012-01-05

Abstract

Trap (20) for capturing flying insects comprising a hollow body whose peripheral structure comprises at least three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces (10), the narrowest opening (12) of each funnel-shaped surface (10) being the closest opening to the geometric centre of the body. This trap is characterized in that the peripheral structure further comprises at least one air- impermeable and light-permeable surface (51, 53).

Description

Trap for capturing flying insects

The present invention relates to a trap for capturing flying insects comprising a hollow body whose peripheral structure comprises at least three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces, the narrowest opening of each funnel-shaped surface being the closest opening to the geometric centre of the body.

BACKGROUND ART

Some of the known traps for capturing flying insects are quite voluminous, which puts up the cost of their transportation, storage and arrangement (occupied space) on the stands of shops. Some of said traps are voluminous to make room for some kind of liquid for the insects to be drowned in. Other types of traps are voluminous because comprise several bodies or chambers, some of these chambers having doubtful utility.

Some other traps are not efficient capturing flying insects because the openings through which the insects come into the trap are arranged or shaped in a way that the insects can easily escape from the trap through them.

In other cases, wherein some kind of bait emitting attractive volatile substances is placed inside the trap, said attractive volatile substances do not flow efficiently from inside towards outside the trap due to the existence of barriers in the structure of the trap that reduces the attractive capacities of the bait.

Some other traps are not efficient capturing flying insects because the openings through which the insects are supposed to come into the trap are arranged in positions out of the way the insects follow when they are attracted by the volatile substances emitted by the bait placed inside the trap. There also exist traps that are based on electric means, comprising, for example, lamps or other devices producing light, solar panels for capturing energy from sun, circuits producing electric discharges for killing the insects, and so on. These electric traps have the drawback of being more expensive and requiring power supply (e.g. batteries or connection means to the conventional electric network) in comparison with the traps mainly based on structural features. Furthermore, the electric traps have the disadvantage of their use being limited to places with access to the common electric network or being uncomfortable for the user because batteries require the user's attention for replacing them when batteries are flat.

Strictly according to structural aspects, it has to be considered that any little, even apparently insignificant, detail can be crucial to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of traps. For example, it is commonly accepted that funnel-shaped openings are much more appropriate for capturing insects than other types of openings, since the funnel-shaped entrances facilitate the insects coming into the trap and make difficult the insects to come out of the trap.

In this sense, the French patent document FR 959869 discloses a trap for capturing and destructing wasps and hornets, said trap consisting in a small wooden or metallic box of square or rectangular section. The trap also comprises a cover constituted by a fine metal grating or by glass arranged on the top of the box, in both extremities a round opening with a funnel constituted by fine wire mesh is arranged. At the bottom of the box a drawer covered by a wire mesh is arranged. Honey or melted sugar can be placed in the drawer for attracting the wasps and hornets into the trap.

It has to be emphasized that this French trap comprises a cover made up by a fine metal grating or by glass, which constitutes, according to the description of the invention, two equally preferred alternatives. However, they may have very different effects that are not disclosed in the patent document. For example, the alternative metal grating allows the smell from honey or melted sugar passing through the grating, whereas a glass cover does not produce this effect. Said very different consequences are not considered in the French document.

On the other hand, this French trap comprises only two funnel-shaped entrances (in both extremities) that, according to the figure of the document, are quite small. These two features reduce the possibilities of insects coming into the trap. Moreover, since the trap mainly consists in a wooden or metallic box and only two small funnel-shaped entrances, the attractive volatile substances emitted by the honey or melted sugar do not efficiently flow from inside towards outside the trap, so the effectiveness of said bait (honey or melted sugar) is reduced. Further, the bait being limited to sugary substances causes a reduced effectiveness for attracting some species of wasps that are specially attracted by other types of substances. In conclusion, this French trap has reduced effectiveness and efficiency.

Another example of traps considering mainly structural aspects is the US patent application US 1386408 A, which discloses a trap especially well adapted to capture insects, such as roaches, water bugs, ants, crickets, and the like, and small animals such as mice or the like, said trap comprising a base or receiving receptacle; a superimposed, separable, intermediate receptacle having a central uprising conical part with an entrance opening in the apex of the cone, and a storing receptacle above the intermediate receptacle.

The receptacle is provided with a base plate upon which is erected a circular housing. The housing is provided with a series of inturned cone portions having openings at the apex of each. The parts are preferably made of wire fabric of rather fine mesh, such as that used for window screens, or the like, and the housing portion may also be made of similar fabric or it may, in lieu thereof, be made of sheet metal.

From the figures of this US document it is derived that in preferred embodiments of the invention the surfaces of the receptacles comprise many orifices, for example, as mentioned in the description of the invention, they can be made of wire fabric of rather fine mesh, such as that used for window screens. Then, if some bait producing volatile substances for attracting insects is placed inside the trap (which is usually done), due to the air-permeability of the whole trap, the insects can be attracted towards surfaces of the trap without entrance for them to get into the trap. Therefore, said trap has reduced effectiveness and efficiency because some insects will not find any trap entrance.

On the other hand, it has to be taken into consideration that said figures show an embodiment comprising four funnel-shaped entrances but there is no comment about the effects of said configuration in the US document. Moreover, this US trap is very voluminous because comprises several bodies or chambers, which puts up the cost of manufacturing, transportation, storage and arrangement (occupied space) on the stands of shops. Some of said chambers seem to have doubtful utility for improving effectiveness and efficiency, so any skilled person should probably have to perform significant structural modifications for conceiving a new trap improving said US trap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Then, from that described above, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a new trap for capturing flying insects mainly based on structural features and being more effective, more efficient and cheaper to produce than the currently known traps of said type in the state of the art. As commented before, structure based traps are cheaper to manufacture than more sophisticated traps (for example, comprising electric elements). The new trap belongs to the type of traps comprising a hollow body whose peripheral structure comprises at least three air- permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces, the narrowest opening of each funnel- shaped surface being the closest opening to the geometric centre of the body.

The above mentioned objective is achieved with a trap for capturing flying insects of the mentioned type according to claim 1 , the trap being characterized in that the peripheral structure of the trap further comprises at least one air-impermeable and light-permeable surface.

Air-impermeable surface means that the surface is made of a material that does 5 not allow the air passing through the surface, which means that volatile substances for attracting insects from some bait placed inside the trap cannot pass through the air-impermeable surface. On the contrary, air-permeable surface means that air (and, then, volatile attracting substances) can pass through the surface. Light-permeable surface refers to the light can pass through the surface.0

As already known, funnel-shaped surfaces, the narrowest opening of each funnel- shaped surface being the closest opening to the geometric centre of the body, facilitate the insects coming into the body and makes them difficult to come out the body, whereas the air-permeable surfaces causes the insects to be attracted5 towards said surfaces because they allow passing volatile substances from an attracting bait usually placed inside the trap. Therefore, the insects are effectively attracted towards some of the at least three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces comprised in the trap. Once an insect has alighted on a funnel-shaped surface, it moves towards the narrowest opening of the funnel-shaped surface o because it is attracted by the volatile substances released by the bait.

The air-impermeable and light-permeable surfaces allow passing the light through them but not the air, so that the insects outside the trap are not attracted towards said surfaces because they block the attracting volatiles from inside. Once insects5 are inside the trap (i.e. captured), they are attracted towards the light-permeable surfaces; that is, they are attracted by the light from outside because insects associate said light with the exit of the trap; therefore, once inside, the insects are kept away from the narrowest openings of the funnel-shaped entrances. In preferred embodiments of the invention the air-permeable surfaces are also light-0 permeable, since said surfaces normally comprise a lot of small orifices through which the air passes (e.g. mesh fabric), so said orifices also allow the light passing through them. Then, due to the trap comprises a lot of lighted zones (air- permeable or not) without any exit, so the insects being attracted to the source of light and away from the narrowest openings of the funnel-shaped entrances, the possibilities of the insects being able to find openings through which to escape are minimum because insects are confused and attracted towards said lighted zones without exits.

Hence, the combination of the at least three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces and the air-impermeable and light-permeable surfaces improves the effectiveness and efficiency of the known structural-based traps in the state of the art. Moreover, due to the very simple proposed structure, manufacturing costs and size of the trap are reduced.

Preferably, the three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces make up the contour of the peripheral structure that, in use, is the lateral contour of the peripheral structure. According to this structural feature, the trap may comprise, for example, four funnel-shaped entrances laterally and symmetrically arranged around the geometric centre of the body, so that it is ensured the wind flows through the trap without significant changes in its direction and intensity. That is, the three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces making up the contour of the peripheral structure causes that in front of any air-permeable and funnel-shaped surface (first funnel) there is another air-permeable and funnel-shaped surface (second funnel) for any direction of the wind, so the wind comes into the trap through the first funnel and comes out the trap through the second funnel without significant interferences. Therefore, the attractive volatile substances emitted by the bait efficiently flows from inside towards outside the trap according to the direction of the wind with optimum spread, so the probabilities of attracting insects is increased; then, for any direction of the wind there is always a proper funnel- shaped surface for receiving attracted insects. This characteristic based on considering how the wind flows through the trap also increases the effectiveness and efficiency of the trap of the invention.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the air-impermeable and light- permeable surface is, in use, the upper surface of the peripheral structure. In some embodiments of the invention, the air-impermeable and light-permeable surface is, in use, the bottom surface of the peripheral structure. In other words, the upper surface or the bottom surface or both may be air-impermeable and light- permeable, each of these configurations having the advantage of the insects only being attracted from outside towards the air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces, and the advantage of the insects, once they are inside the trap, being attracted towards the air-impermeable and light-permeable surfaces, so that the insects are kept away from the narrowest openings of the funnel-shaped entrances. Therefore, effectiveness and efficiency are also improved. Preferably, said upper and bottom surfaces are made of biodegradable materials for the trap being environmentally friendly.

In some embodiments, the three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces substantially have identical size, which makes easier and cheaper to manufacture the trap and gives it a symmetric structure that may be more attractive for the users.

In preferred embodiments, the at least three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces are four air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces, which maximizes the advantage of ensuring for any direction of the wind there is always a funnel- shaped entrance towards which the insects can be drawn in by the attractant's plume, without significantly implying additional manufacturing costs. For example, six air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces also satisfy said advantage related to the insects being drawn in by the attractant's plume, but said six air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces imply a more complex structure that requires higher manufacturing costs. More than four air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces will increase the possibilities of the insects finding an entrance for coming into the trap, but said feature also implies increasing the number of possible exits and reduction of volume for holding captured insects.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the air-impermeable and light- permeable surface is transparent or, alternatively, the air-impermeable and light- permeable surface may be translucent. Transparent surface means permitting the uninterrupted passage of light and making possible to see objects through said surface. Translucent means allowing light to pass through partially or diffusely (i.e. semitransparent). Both properties, transparent and translucent, are suitable for the pursued objective since the effect of the insects being attracted by the light from outside is equally achieved.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces are made with a mesh configuration material, for example mesh fabric, since this kind of material is very cheap and accomplish the expected function of being air permeable. Besides, said mesh configuration material is also light-permeable because it comprises a lot of small orifices through which the air and the light passes. Then, due to the trap comprises several lighted surfaces, the insects are confused and attracted by said lighted surfaces when trying to escape from the trap, so that the possibilities of the insects being able to find openings through which to escape are minimum.

In order to maximize the air permeability of the mesh configuration material, it should have a high ratio of holes to material but keeping the holes smaller than the heads of the target insect. The material has to be strong enough to prevent any of the target insects to escape trough it.

In some embodiments of the invention, the at least three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces are made of rigid materials, which minimize the manufacturing costs, since said type of materials are cheaper than materials having special properties and, moreover, said rigid configuration does not need additional elements for implementing advanced functionalities.

Alternatively, the at least three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces are made of flexible material, which allows configuring a folding trap, so that the size of the trap can be highly reduced when not used. This feature has the advantage of reducing costs of transport, storage and arrangement on stands of traps. Preferably, the at least three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces are made of biodegradable materials for the trap being environmentally friendly.

In some embodiments, the trap may comprise springs or similar elements for the trap being auto unfolding. Said springs are necessary for automatically unfolding the trap. Alternatively, the at least three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces may be made of flexible and elastic material, in which case the trap can be auto unfolding without requiring additional elements (e.g. springs), since elasticity of the air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces has the effect of automatically unfolding the trap.

Preferably, the springs or similar elements for the trap being auto folding are made of biodegradable materials for the trap being environmentally friendly. In some embodiments, the at least three funnel-shaped surfaces substantially have a pyramidal configuration, since this is the simplest structure that can be easily obtained according to the general structure of the trap. Said simplest structure implies lower manufacturing costs. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the edges of the pyramidal configuration that converge to the vertex of the pyramidal configuration are substantially rounded shaped. With a strictly pyramidal form, the narrowest opening of each funnel-shaped surface has a square form, which could facilitate some insects to come out the trap, since the distance between opposite vertex of the square could not be short enough. The edges being substantially rounded shaped conform a rounded narrowest opening whose diameter is shorter than said distance between opposite vertex of the previous mentioned square form. Hence, the probabilities of some insects escaping from the trap are even more reduced. Therefore, the effectiveness and efficiency of the trap is also improved with this characteristic.

In preferred embodiments, the trap further comprises an attractive element inside for attracting the target flying insects. Preferably, the attractive element is substantially arranged equally spaced from each narrowest opening of the at least three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the size of each narrowest opening of the at least three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces is within a range from 115% to 130% of the width of a medium size target flying insect. In some embodiments of the invention, the surface of the peripheral structure that, in use, is the upper surface, comprises a removable lid.

Preferably, said removable lid is made of biodegradable materials for the trap being environmentally friendly.

Preferably, said upper surface overhangs the at least three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces limits. In some embodiments, the surface of the peripheral structure that is, in use, the bottom surface overhangs the at least three air- permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces limits. Preferably, both said upper surface and said bottom surface overhang the at least three air-permeable and funnel- shaped surfaces limits. These overhanging surfaces allow the user to easily and safely manipulate the trap bare handed even if the captured insects can sting or bite. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the removable lid comprises a handle for handling the removable lid with the objective of emptying the trap when it is full of died insects, that is to say, the trap being reusable. Alternatively, the trap may be of only one use, in which case said removable lid and associated handle are not necessary.

Preferably, said handle is made of biodegradable materials for the trap being environmentally friendly. In some embodiments, the trap further comprises means for removably hanging the trap from a support structure. Said means may comprise a plurality of wires or bars anchored on the upper surface or on the air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces. Hanging the trap has the advantage of making possible to use the trap even in places without suitable surfaces for leaning the trap and in places where there exist ants or pets that can damage the trap or eat the attractant placed inside if the trap is within their reach. The presence of, for example, ants in the trap may deter some other insects coming closer to the trap. Preferably, said means for removably hanging the trap from a support structure are made of biodegradable materials for the trap being environmentally friendly.

In preferred embodiments, the attractive element comprises a bait able to produce volatile substances stimulating the sexual, food or thirst appetite or the egg-laying or nesting instincts of the target insects. The bait may comprise elements able to generate volatile substances of vegetable and animal proteins origin, which are effective attractants for some particular types of flying insects, for example: wasps. However, said bait may comprise any kind of sugar or combinations of chemicals or pheromones which are effective attractants for most of flying insects.

In some embodiments, the attractive element is placed substantially equidistant to the narrowest openings of the funnel shaped surfaces. Preferably, the attractive element is placed at the same horizontal level of the narrowest openings of the funnel shaped surfaces.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the trap comprises an additional chamber made of air-impermeable and light-permeable material and joined to the upper air-impermeable and light-permeable surface. In embodiments of the invention, the trap comprises an additional chamber made of air-impermeable and light-permeable material and joined to the bottom air- impermeable and light-permeable surface. Preferably, said additional chamber and the hollow body (or main chamber) of the trap are communicated by an additional funnel shaped surface made of elastic material, with tight measurements according to the width of a medium size target flying insect and the narrowest opening of said additional funnel shaped surface being substantially closer to the geometrical centre of the additional chamber. The size of the narrowest opening of the additional funnel shaped surface may be within a range from 100% to 115% of the width of a medium size target flying insect. The mentioned additional chamber, communicated with the hollow body (or main chamber) of the trap through the additional funnel shaped surface, constitutes a good collector of died flying insects. Due to the light-permeability of the whole structure of the additional chamber, the insects are attracted towards the upper or bottom surface to which the additional chamber is joined, wherein the additional funnel shaped surface induces the insects coming into the additional chamber and, once the insects are captured in the additional chamber, the additional funnel shaped surface makes difficult the insects to come out the additional chamber.

That is to say, the orientation of the additional funnel-shaped surface (its narrowest opening being substantially closer to the geometrical centre of the additional chamber) facilitates the insects coming into the additional chamber, whereas the tight measurements and elasticity of the additional funnel-shaped surface makes difficult the insects coming out the additional chamber. Captured insects (in the body or main chamber of the trap) normally gets stressed for finding an opening to come out the trap and they are willing to make a last effort to find some exit, that is to say, the tight measurements of the additional funnel-shaped surface are normally overcome by the insect for coming out the hollow body of the trap, but said additional funnel-shaped surface leads insects to the additional chamber where the insect is definitively captured. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Particular embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following, only by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an air-permeable and funnel- shaped surface according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a plan view of a trap comprising four air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a trap comprising four air- permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a removable lid for a trap according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 shows an elevation view of a trap being folded according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 6 shows a plan view of a trap comprising three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces according to an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following descriptions, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be understood, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known elements have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention. It is also important to note that the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an air-permeable and funnel-shaped surface 10 according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein said surface 10 comprises a narrowest opening 12 and a widest opening 14, has a pyramidal configuration with four edges 13 converging to the theoretical vertex of the pyramid and four walls 11 made of mesh fabric. Though not drawn, the edges 13 may be substantially rounded shaped making up a rounded narrowest opening 12.

The four walls 11 of the pyramid constitute proper landing surfaces for the insects that, once landed on a wall 11 , they are attracted towards the narrowest opening 12 by the volatile substances released by some kind of bait, normally placed inside the trap. The mesh fabric allows the wind (air moving) passing through the air- permeable and funnel-shaped surface without significantly altering its direction and intensity, so that the volatile substances released by the bait optimally flow through the air-permeable and funnel-shaped surface.

The size of the narrowest opening 12 of each air-permeable and funnel-shaped surface 10 should be within a range from 115% to 130% of the width of a medium size target flying insect, since experiments carried out by the inventors have revealed that said range causes a good balance between possibilities of insects coming into the trap and possibilities of insects escaping from the trap, that is to say, most of target insects can easily come into the trap and, when captured, have reasonable difficulties for coming out through the narrowest opening 12 within said measurements range.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of a trap comprising four air-permeable and funnel- shaped surfaces according to an embodiment of the invention. Said trap comprises four air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces 10 making up the contour of the peripheral structure of the trap that, in use, is the lateral contour of the peripheral structure, the narrowest opening 12 of each funnel-shaped surface 10 being the closest opening to the geometric centre of the body of the trap, and the four air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces 10 substantially having identical size.

The trap also may comprise an attractive element 21 (e.g. a bait) inside for attracting the target flying insects. Said bait 21 is substantially arranged equally spaced from each narrowest opening 12 of the at least three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces 10, and the bait 21 may produce volatile substances of vegetable and animal proteins origin, which are effective attractants for some particular types of flying insects, for example: wasps. However, said bait 21 may comprise any kind of sugar or combinations of chemicals or pheromones which are effective attractants for most of flying insects. In general, the bait 21 may comprise any product stimulating sexual or food appetite of the insects or their egg-laying or nesting instinct. According to the configuration shown in figure 2, in front of any air-permeable and funnel-shaped surface (first funnel) there is another air-permeable and funnel- shaped surface (second funnel) for any direction of the wind, so the wind comes into the trap through the first funnel and comes out the trap through the second funnel without significant interferences, or inverse situation, that is to say, the wind comes into the trap through the second funnel and comes out the trap through the first funnel. Therefore, attractive volatile substances emitted by the bait 21 efficiently flows from inside towards outside the trap with optimum spread.

As already commented, the material of any funnel-shaped surface 10 must let the air pass trough (enter and leave), but keep the target insects in or out. The material has to be air-permeable as much as possible, which means that the material has to let the air pass through with minimum resistance. In order to fulfil this requirement, the material must have the highest possible percentage of holes being smaller than the target insects and the material must be strong enough for avoiding the insects stretching the holes enough to escape. As long as the above requirements are met, the funnels can be manufactured by moulding them out of any suitable material, manufactured out of perforated sheet, expanded mesh, a knitted, woven, welded or any combination of mesh configuration. The funnels 10 must be made of a material rough enough to allow the target insects to have good grip and walk with confidence on top of it. Most grid type materials cited before (perforated sheet, expanded mesh, knitted, woven, welded or any combination of mesh) are suitable for that. In case of the material comprising a high percentage of holes, the material on the outer part of the funnels, should not be slippery to the target insects.

Mesh can be made of different metals, fibers, plastics and synthetic materials like Polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, nylon and Teflon, knitted, woven or welded to form a variety of shapes, opening sizes and material thickness.

Perforated Mesh is formed from a single piece of material which involves punching holes to form a regular pattern of round, square, rectangular perforations or desired shapes of choice.

Expanded Mesh is formed from a single piece of material which involves slitting and stretching the material to create holes instead of punching or cutting them out. By expanding material from its solid sheet form additional strength is added. Expanded material Mesh can be made from a wide range of materials.

Woven Meshes are available in different weave patterns in regular square or rectangular shapes with different widths and thread or wire thickness. Plain Weave Mesh is the most commonly used and the simplest form, with each Warp wire passing alternately over and under the Weft wires running transversely through the cloth at 90 degree angles. Twilled Weave Wire Mesh is produced by passing each Weft wire alternately over and under two Warp wires, giving the appearance of parallel diagonal wires. Crimped Woven Wire Mesh is plain weave wire mesh woven of crimped galvanized or stainless steel alloys that offers very stable structure and good strength.

Welded Mesh is generally of a larger open size and wire thickness, with intersecting wires welded together at each junction to provide more strength and rigidity to maintain uniform squares or rectangular shapes.

The material of the funnels should also be light permeable as much as possible in order to make difficult to the insects finding exits of the trap. In general, grid type material with a high proportion of holes to material will let light pass through it, but the solid parts of said grid type material should be preferably transparent or translucent in order to increase light permeability and, therefore, confusion of the captured insects. Though not completely visible in figure 2, the trap also comprises an upper surface and a bottom surface, both being transparent or translucent. Then, the combination of said upper and bottom surfaces with the four air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces made of mesh fabric causes the trap comprising a lot of lighted zones without any exit, so that the possibilities of the captured insects being able to find openings through which to escape are minimum, since insects are confused and attracted towards said lighted zones without exits. Said upper surface and a bottom surfaces overhang 22 the at least three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces limits. With this characteristic the trap can be easily and safely taken by hand by the user. Some of the captured insects can sting or bite, in which case the user's hands are safe when taking the trap using said overhanging 22 surfaces.

Minimum distance between any narrowest opening 12 and any upper or bottom surface should be the corresponding to the size of a medium size target flying insect. Minimum distance between any narrowest opening 12 and the attractant should be the corresponding to 75% of the size of a medium size target flying insect. Minimum distance between any narrowest opening 12 and any other narrowest opening 12 should be the corresponding to the size of a medium size target flying insect. All these minimum measurements specifications are the result of numerous experiments carried out by the inventors which have revealed an optimal behaviour of the trap.

Even though not drawn in figure 2, the trap may comprise suitable means for removably hanging the trap from a support structure in order to make possible to use the trap even in places without suitable surfaces for leaning the trap and in places where there exist ants or pets that can damage the trap or eat the attractant placed inside if the trap is within their reach. Said means may comprise a plurality of threads, lines, wires or bars anchored to the upper surface or to the air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a trap comprising four air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces according to an embodiment of the invention, said trap comprising the same elements that shown in figure 2: four air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces 10 making up the contour of the peripheral structure of the trap that, in use, is the lateral contour of the peripheral structure, the narrowest opening 12 of each funnel-shaped surface 10 being the closest opening to the geometric centre of the body of the trap, the four air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces 10 substantially having identical size, and an attractive element 21 (e.g. a bait) inside for attracting the target flying insects. Though not visible, the trap also comprises an upper surface and a bottom surface, both surfaces being transparent or translucent.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a removable lid 40 for a trap according to an embodiment of the invention, said removable lid 40 comprising a transparent or translucent surface 41 and a handle 42 for handling the removable lid 40. Figure 5 shows a view of a trap being folded according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein a transparent or translucent upper surface 51 , four or three folded funnel-shaped surfaces 52 made of mesh fabric, and a transparent or translucent bottom surface 53 are shown. In this embodiment, the three or four air- permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces 10 are made of flexible material.

Figure 6 shows a plan view of a trap comprising three air-permeable and funnel- shaped surfaces 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. This view of the trap is equivalent to the view of figure 2 but in this case only comprising three air- permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces 10. The differences in terms of advantages between the trap shown in figure 2 and the trap shown in figure 2 are very small. The only significant structural difference is the available volume for holding captured insects. As can be derived from both figures, the trap of figure 6 has an smaller volume for holding captured insects than the trap of figure 2, but in contrast, the trap of figure 6 reduces the manufacturing costs in relation to the trap of figure 2, since the trap of figure 6 has a simpler structure and requires less material in comparison with the trap of figure 2.

Claims

PCT/IB20 7 0 / o o i ς 7 ΛWO 2012/001442 PCT/IB2010/001574 20 CLAIMS

1. Trap (20) for capturing flying insects comprising a hollow body whose peripheral structure comprises at least three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces (10), the narrowest opening (12) of each funnel-shaped surface (10) being the closest opening (12) to the geometric centre of the body; characterized in that the peripheral structure further comprises at least one air-impermeable and light- permeable surface (51 ; 53).

2. Trap according to claim 1 , wherein the three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces (10) make up the contour of the peripheral structure that, in use, is the lateral contour of the peripheral structure.

3. Trap according to any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the air-impermeable and light- permeable surface (51 ; 53) is, in use, the upper surface (51) of the peripheral structure.

4. Trap according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the air-impermeable and light- permeable surface (51 ; 53) is, in use, the bottom surface (53) of the peripheral structure.

5. Trap according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces (10) substantially have identical size.

6. Trap according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces (10) are four air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces (10).

7. Trap according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the air-impermeable and light- permeable surface (51; 53) is transparent. PCT IB20 ί 0 / fl fl i 5 ₇ 4

WO 2012/001442 PCT/IB2010/001574

21

8. Trap according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the air-impermeable and light- permeable surface (51 ; 53) is translucent.

9. Trap according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least three air-permeable 5 and funnel-shaped surfaces (10) are made with a mesh configuration material.

10. Trap according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the at least three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces (10) are made of flexible material.

10 11. Trap according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the at least three funnel- shaped surfaces (10) substantially have a pyramidal configuration.

12. Trap according to claim 11 , wherein the edges (13) of the pyramidal configuration that converge to the vertex of the pyramidal configuration are

15 substantially rounded shaped.

13. Trap according to any of claims 1 to 12, further comprising an attractive element (21) inside for attracting the target flying insects.

20 14. Trap according to claim 13, wherein the attractive element (21) is substantially arranged equally spaced from each narrowest opening (12) of the at least three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces (10).

15. Trap according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the size of each narrowest 25 opening (12) of the at least three air-permeable and funnel-shaped surfaces (10) is within a range from 115% to 130% of the width of a medium size target flying insect.

16. Trap according to any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the surface of the peripheral 30 structure (51 ; 53) that, in use, is the upper surface (51), comprises a removable lid

(40). PCT/IB2C I D / n n u / ί

WO 2012/001442 PCT/IB2010/001574

22

17. Trap according to claim 16, wherein the removable lid (40) comprises a handle (42) for handling the removable lid (40).

18. Trap according to any of claims 1 to 17, further comprising means for removably hanging the trap from a support structure.

19. Trap according to any of claims 13 to 18, wherein the attractive element (21) comprises a bait producing volatile substances stimulating the sexual, food or thirst appetite or the egg-laying or nesting instincts of the target insects.