WO2020234421A1

WO2020234421A1 - Pest lure body and pest lure-and-kill device

Info

Publication number: WO2020234421A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/064209
Authority: WO
Inventors: Owen Jones; Gary Lister; Michelle FOUNTAIN
Original assignee: Ymgynghorwyr Lisk & Jones Cyf; Rainbow Professional Ltd; National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB)
Priority date: 2019-05-23
Filing date: 2020-05-21
Publication date: 2020-11-26
Also published as: GB201907295D0; GB2584419A

Abstract

Described herein is a pest lure body having an elongate core with a plurality of vanes projecting radially from part or all of the length of the elongate core, wherein each vane is shaped to form an elongate trough aligned along the core. Also described is a pest lure-and-kill device comprising the pest lure body and the manufacture and use thereof.

Description

Pest Lure Body and Pest Lure-and-Kill Device

[0001] Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a pest lure body. In particular it relates, although not exclusively, to a pest lure body for forming a pest lure-and-kill device that is particularly effective against weevils.

[0003] Background

[0004] Pests cause extensive damage to crops worldwide every year. One pest responsible for widespread damage to crops is the weevil. The boll weevil in particular is a serious crop pest throughout the Americas and is thought to have cost U.S. cotton producers about $13 billion in total, and in recent times about $300 million per year.

[0005] The boll weevil is thought to have originated in Mexico and spread to North America in the early 1900s. South America was infested in the late 1900s where the boll weevil was first detected in Brazil in 1983 and then in Paraguay and Argentina in the 1990s.

[0006] One method of pest control is to spray crops directly with pesticide. This has a number of disadvantages. The nebulised delivery leads to a great amount of waste as some of the pesticide is carried off-target by the wind and may end up in surface and ground water. Furthermore, pesticides can be harmful to wildlife and humans. It is preferable to attract pests to concentrated kill zones distributed throughout the crops.

[0007] A first known pest trap is of the type shown in US 3,949,515 B which has a mesh cone with a pest entry hole at the top that leads into a

container. A weevil attractant is placed in the container. The pests, in this case weevils, are attracted by the attractant and climb up the inside of the mesh cone, through the entry hole and gather in the container which acts as a cage. The cone typically sits on a base over which the weevils climb to reach the cone. One disadvantage of this trap is that the attractant is degraded when the container gets hot or is exposed to direct ultra-violet radiation in direct sunlight. Another disadvantage of this trap is that the container becomes saturated with weevils and requires emptying.

[0008] To avoid saturation of a container, there is a preference to use lure- and-kill devices where the death of the pest is not necessarily dependent on physically containing the pest.

[0009] One known pest lure-and-kill device is a tube, such as the "Tubo Mata Picudo" by Plato Industries, the outside of which is soaked in pesticide. The tube is loosely placed over an upstanding stick that is embedded in the ground. Cotton weevils incidentally contact and traverse the outside of the tube. However, because the tube touches the ground, weevils cannot access the inside of the tube and so the entire surface area of the tube is not fully utilised. Furthermore, weevils have not shown any attraction to the standard tube shape itself.

[0010] Another known lure-and-kill device is a hanging envelope-shaped device, such as the "Magnet MED" by Suterra, which is suspended from fruit trees and contains a mixture of Mediterranean fruit fly attractants. Adults of both sexes, predominantly females, are attracted to the device and die after contact with external surfaces of the device which are impregnated with pesticide .

[0011] Another known pest lure-and-kill device is a hanging disc, such as the "M3 Bait Station" by River Bioscience, having a yellow plastic top that covers a sponge impregnated with the fruit fly attractant and pesticide. It requires an upright support to be suspended from, such as a tree, and the fruit fly accesses the impregnated sponge from below.

[0012] US 2012/0055075 A1 describes insect controlling devices and methods. These devices typically resemble a fruit once expanded from a folded storage position. In the expandable position the device has chambers that reach towards the core of the device in a transverse direction. These devices therefore does not comprise an elongate trough, particularly not in the direction of the elongate core, in either the folded or expanded position. [0013] US4476647 A describes a Japanese beetle trap formed from a used two litre plastic bottle. It comprises inwardly curved baffles providing an inner flange with holes to permit a scent to escape to lure the beetles. These baffles therefore do not project radially from an elongate core. They are also not shaped to form an elongate trough. The trap is designed so that the beetle does not come into contact with the baffles. This trap is formed of separate pieces that are connected together.

[0014] US 1968954 A describes an insect trap for trapping the Japanese beetle in particular. A winged baffle is provided in the top part of the funnel to form separate passages through which the beetles may drop. The wings are shaped to prevent flying insects that strike them from obtaining a foothold so that they fall into the trap. The present invention has the opposite approach because the vanes are shaped to encourage a positive thigmotactic response. These traps are formed of separate pieces that are connected together .

[0015] EP 2084962 A1 describes insect traps for trapping harmful insects that are designed to lure the harmful insects inside the trap where they are then contacted with a chemical agent. The trap is devoid of an elongate core and does not have vanes with elongate troughs. The trap is instead hollow to contain the harmful insects and the inside of the trap is only accessible via various apertures provided on the cover member.

[0016] US 6550181 Bl, BE 901661 and EP 0249958 A2 each describe an insect trap having fins arranged in a standard cross shape. The surface of each fin is flat without any dimensionality that could correspond to an elongate trough. These traps are formed of separate pieces that are connected together .

[0017] GB 2328135 A describes container, a lid having insect inlets which have a sharp edge and having a set of curved blades surrounding the inlets, and a top cover held on by a screw. The blades are provided in a cover so as to form a rotating closed passageway that does not have an opening along its length, as is the case with an elongate trough. The post on which the blades are connected is arranged between a rod and threaded bar to rotate around the core. This trap is formed of separate pieces that are connected together and does not have a uniform cross-section along its entire length.

[0018] US 2004/0134999 Al describes an expandable volatising apparatuses that have a honeycomb structure that is not rigid. The honeycomb structure may have open channels at the outer edge when in the expanded position. However, these channels are not vanes having elongate troughs that project radially. This difference means that the open channels in the honeycomb structure face directly outwards with respect to the central hinge member. These traps are formed of separate pieces that are connected together.

[0019] The present invention has been devised in light of the above

considerations .

[0020] Summary of the Invention

[0021] In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a pest lure body having an elongate core with a plurality of vanes projecting radially from part or all of the length of the elongate core, wherein each vane is shaped to form an elongate trough aligned along the core.

[0022] Each vane projects radially at a radial length (r) from part or all of the length of the elongate core and is shaped to form a trough aligned along the elongate direction. There may be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 vanes.

Preferably there are 2, 3 or 4 vanes. More preferably there are 3 or 4 vanes. Most preferably there are 3 vanes because, for example, when the pest lure body is formed by extrusion, this is the most reliable form and has proven simpler to manufacture. The radial length (r) may be greater than 0 cm and up to 5 cm, for example 1 to 4 cm, or 2 to 3 cm. The radial length (r) of each vane may be the same or different. The part of the vane making up the radial length (r) may be substantially straight. The elongate core may be 5 to 35 cm in length, such as 10 to 30 cm or 15 to 25 cm in length. The space between the distal tip of each vane and the elongate core forms an opening (o) through which a pest may enter the pest lure body. [0023] By having elongate troughs, when in use, the pest lure body is able to provide shelter to one or more of a pest, a pest attractant and a pesticide. Advantageously, a pest seeking shelter from the sun and wind prefers to reside on the pest lure body. Some pest species demonstrate a positive thig otactic response to the trough. Thigmotaxis is an organism's response to the stimulus of contact or touch. Pests demonstrating a positive thigmotactic response show a preference for surface contact with their body and so they have a preference for small spaces which snugly surround their body. The elongate troughs of the present devices are particularly attractive to pests that demonstrate positive thigmotaxis.

[0024] Furthermore, the troughs reduce the exposure of a pest attractant and/or pesticide to UV light, by providing shelter from direct sunlight, thereby reducing degradation and increasing effective lifetime. For example, a typical pest attractant sheltered by the present invention can maintain its pest attractive nature for about 70 days compared to about 50 days in a container trap and 30 days on the external surface of a tube lure-and-kill device. In particular, the pest lure body does this while maintaining ease of access for the pest, unlike some traps that require the pest to traverse a specific narrow and/or winding path to reach shelter.

[0025] In some cases, the plurality of vanes has at least two different radial lengths (r) . By having a number of radial lengths (r) , the opening (o) size may be advantageously varied to accommodate size variation within a pest population or size variation between pest species that are common to a particular crop. This is particularly relevant for pests that demonstrate positive thigmotaxis.

[0026] In some instances, each vane has a different radial length (r) .

[0027] In some cases, the troughs of the plurality of vanes have at least two different trough widths (w) . By having a number of different trough widths (w) , the trough size is advantageously varied to accommodate size variation within a pest population or size variation between pest species that are common to a particular crop. As noted above, this is particularly relevant for pests that demonstrate positive thigmotaxis.

[0028] In some instances, each vane forms a trough of the same width (w) . By having the same trough width (w) for each trough, the trough size is advantageously targeted to a specifically sized pest or sub-population. As noted above, this is particularly relevant for pests that demonstrate positive thigmotaxis.

[0029] In some cases, each vane projects in a different radial direction.

[0030] In some cases, each vane is only connected directly to the elongate core. That is to say, each vane is not connected to, for example, any of the other vanes.

[0031] In some instances, one or more of the troughs are independently selected from the configurations of a curved trough (A) , a T-shaped trough (B) , a double angled trough (C) or a single angled trough (D) . Each trough has a width (w) and a depth (d) .

[0032] In some cases, each trough is the same configuration. Preferably, each trough is a curved trough.

[0033] In some instances, each vane has only one trough and all the vanes project in the same rotational direction about the elongate core.

[0034] In some cases, the vanes are arranged at evenly-spaced radial angles, i.e. equidistantly, around the elongate core.

[0035] In some instances, one of the troughs is configured to engage a corresponding support member. The support member may be, for example, a bamboo stick or a cane around which the supporting vane may be removably clipped or slidably mounted. Alternatively, the support member may be a hook and/or string to suspend the pest lure body from, for example, a tree or crop plant .

[0036] In some cases, the elongate pest trap body has a uniform cross-section along its length. [0037] In some instances, the pest lure body is of a unitary construction. Alternatively, the pest lure body is integrally formed. The pest lure bodies of the present invention may be manufactured by, for example molding (such as injection molding or thermoforming), 3D printing or extrusion processes.

These manufacturing processes can advantageously result in an elongate pest trap body having a uniform cross-section along its length and/or integral formation .

[0038] In some cases, the pest lure body is rigid such that there are no moving parts. When the pest lure body is rigid it is inelastic such that it cannot readily be expanded and/or contracted. Moving parts and elasticity are not necessary and forming a rigid body improves reliability and structural stability .

[0039] In some cases, the pest lure body is formed from one or more of polylactic acid, polybutylene succinate and polyvinyl alcohol materials such as polyvinyl alcohol, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyvinyl chloride, ethylene-vinyl acetate, polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene.

Preferably, polylactic acid is used due to its advantageous soil

biodegradability. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyvinyl chloride, ethylene-vinyl acetate, polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene or a mixture thereof may be preferably used when biodegradability is not deemed necessary with the advantage of reusability and recyclability by the end user .

[0040] In some instances, the pest lure body is formed from one or more biodegradable materials.

[0041] In some cases, the pest lure body is coloured to attract a pest of interest .

[0042] In some instances, the pest lure body is yellow or green.

[0043] In some cases, the elongate core is cylindrical.

[0044] In some instances, the elongate core is hollow. Advantageously, the hollow core may be configured to engage a suitable support member, for example, a bamboo stick or a cane on to which the hollow core may be mounted by an interference fit or up to an abutment. Alternatively, the support member may comprise a hook and/or string to suspend the pest lure body from, for example, a tree or crop plant.

[0045] In some cases, the pest lure body is substantially smooth. The crude product afforded from manufacturing processes such as extrusion typically has a naturally rough surface. A smooth surface may be realised by treatment of the rough surface with a solvent. An advantage is that, as demonstrated herein, a smoother surface results in an improved positive thigmotactic response compared to a rougher surface. This increases the residence time of the pest on the lure body and the surface smoothness may be optimised for a particular pest species.

[0046] In some instances, one of the plurality of vanes is configured to engage with a pest attractant container. An advantage is that the container provides shelter for the pest attractant, in addition to the trough, to prolong its lifetime while still allowing the gradual release of the pest attractant .

[0047] In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a pest lure- and-kill device comprising a pest lure body as described herein coated in a pesticide. The pesticide may be applied any convenient method such as by spraying, dipping, brushing.

[0048] In some instances, the pest lure-and-kill device is either coated in a pest attractant or has a pest attractant in a container that is configured to engage, e.g. by interference fit, one of the troughs.

[0049] In some cases, the pest attractant is an insect pheromone. Preferably, the insect pheromone is a pheromone of one or more of a rice weevil, a maize weevil, a wheat weevil, a pecan weevil and a palm weevil. Preferably the pheromone is of the Anthonomus genus, even more preferably the pheromone is from one or more of a boll weevil, strawberry blossom weevil and pepper weevil. It is also preferable that the pheromone or attractant lures attract female weevils as well as male weevils.

[0050] In some instances, the pesticide is a pesticide gel. A pesticide gel adheres to pests that engage with the gel on the surface of the pest lure body. Therefore, an advantage is that, even if the pest leaves the pest lure body, the effect of the pesticide will continue and the pest corpse will neither block access to nor deter other live pests from alighting the pest lure body.

[0051] The pesticide is chosen according to the recommended products for controlling the pest in the specific country and in accordance with local pesticide regulations. Pesticide can be chosen from one or more of the various chemical groups of pesticides. The applied product maybe a mixture of two or more pesticides. In some cases, the pesticide is an organophosphate pesticide, a pyrethroid, a neonicotinoid, an insect growth regulator or an ingestible insecticide.

[0052] In some instances, the pesticide is selected from one or more of parathion (0, O-diethyl 0- ( 4-nitrophenyl ) phosphorothioate) , malathion (2- (dimethoxyphosphinothioylthio) butanedioic acid diethyl ester) , methyl parathion (0, O-dimethyl-O-p-nitrophenylphosphorothioate) , chlorpyrifos ( 0,0- diethyl 0-3, 5, 6-trichloropyridin-2-yl phosphorothioate), diazinon (0,0- diethyl 0- [4-methyl-6- (propan-2-yl) pyrimidin-2-yl] phosphorothioate) , dichlorvos (2 , 2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate), phosmet

(2- (dimethoxyphosphinothioylthiomethyl ) isoindoline-1 , 3-dione) , fenitrothion ( O, O-dimethyl O- ( 3-methyl-4 -nitrophenyl ) phosphorothioate), tetrachlorvinphos ( (Z) -2-chloro-l- (2, 4, 5-trichlorophenyl ) vinyl dimethyl phosphate) ,

azamethiphos ( S- [ (6-chloro-2-oxo [ 1, 3] oxazolo [4, 5-b] pyridin-3 (2H) -yl ) methyl ]

O, O-dimethyl phosphorothioate), azinphos-methyl ( O, O-dimethyl S-[(4-oxo- 1 , 2 , 3-benzotriazin-3 ( 4H) -yl ) ethyl ] dithiophosphate ) and Terbufos (O, O-diethyl S- { [ (2-methyl-2-propanyl ) sulfanyl] methyl } phosphorodithioate) . Preferably, the pesticide is malathion. [0053] In some instances, the pesticide is selected from other families of pesticides such as synthetic pyrethroids (e.g. deltamethrin, lambda

cyhalothrin or cypermethrin) . The pesticide may also be an ingestible pesticide such as a spinosad.

[0054] In some instances, the pesticide is selected from biological

pesticides such as the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis or the

entomopathogenic fungus such as Beauvaria bassiana or Metarhizium anisopliae .

[0055] In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of forming a pest lure-and-kill device according to the second aspect comprising the step of coating the surface of a pest lure body of the first aspect with a pesticide, and optionally a pest attractant.

[0056] In some instances, the method comprises only partially coating the surface of the pest lure body. In some instances, the method comprises coating only the plurality of vanes. Preferably, the method comprises coating only inside the trough of each of the plurality of vanes. Advantageously, this increases pesticide and/or pest attractant economy and decreases run off from the pest lure-and-kill device.

[0057] In other instances, the method comprises coating the entire surface of the pest lure body.

[0058] The attractant may be a pheromone, a kairomone or a component of the insect's host plant or food. A boll weevil pheromone that is particularly preferred is called Grandlure and is optionally accompanied by a host plant derived attractant. The major constituent of Grandlure is grandisol.

[0059] In some cases, the pest attractant is a plurality of pest attractants .

[0060] In a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided use of a pest lure body according to the first aspect or a pest lure-and-kill device according to the second aspect in the control of a pest. [0061] In some instances, the use is to control agricultural pests, such as outdoors on agricultural land. In other instances, the use is to control horticultural pests both outdoors and inside glass houses, poly tunnels or other structures. Furthermore, this technology can be applied to control insect pests in animal housing and for pest control inside buildings and externally .

[0062] In some cases, the pest is an insect, such as one or more of a rice weevil, a maize weevil, a wheat weevil, a pecan weevil and a palm weevil. Preferably the weevil is of the Anthonomus genus, even more preferably one or more of a boll weevil, strawberry blossom weevil and pepper weevil.

[0063] The invention includes the combination of the aspects and preferred features described herein, except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or expressly avoided.

[0064] Summary of the Figures

[0065] Embodiments and experiments illustrating the principles of the invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures in which :

[0066] Figure 1 is a plan view of an example pest lure body to show different forms of vanes with labels for the various dimensions and configurations of each form. The vane configurations shown are a curved-trough (A) , a T-shape (B) , an angled trough (C) and an L-shape (D) .

[0067] Figure 2 is a table containing plan views of preferred embodiments having three or four vanes, each with vanes all having one of a curved-trough (A), a T-shape (B) , an angled trough (C) and an L-shape (D) . In the pest lure bodies shown the dimensions of each vane are the same.

[0068] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0069] Aspects and embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures. Further aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All documents mentioned in this text are incorporated herein by reference.

[0070] Each vane on Figure 1 is representative of a type of vane

configuration that is possible in accordance with the invention. It is envisaged that a pest lure body may have a plurality of one or more of each type of vane configuration shown.

[0071] One vane configuration is a curved trough vane (A) . The trough formed by the curve in the curved trough vane has a width (w) and a depth (d) .

[0072] Another vane configuration is a T-shaped vane (B) that diverges at the end of the radial length (r) to give two divergent vanes, each at an angle (hi and B2) and each with a width (wl and w2) . Where the divergent vanes are flat, i.e. not curved, and therefore have zero depth, each angle at the point of divergence forms a trough. The distance between the end of each divergent vane and the elongate core forms an opening (ol and o2) .

[0073] Yet another vane configuration is a double angled trough (C) . The double angled trough is formed by at least two angles (q) and (g) and has a width (w) and a depth (d) . It may also be referred to as a pi-shaped trough. Alternative embodiments may be envisaged wherein the multi angled trough has more than 2 angles, such as 3 angles or 4 angles etc. In the present case, the two angles (q) and (y) are 90° and the double angled trough is U-shaped.

[0074] In related double angled trough configurations, the sum of the two angles (q) and (y) is greater than 180° and the double angled trough is substantially open. Advantageously, this grants pests better access to the trough. In other related double angled trough configurations, the sum of the two angles (q) and (y) is less than 180° and the double angled trough is substantially closed. Advantageously, this helps to retain pests once they have entered the trough by providing improved shelter and thigmotactic response .

[0075] Yet another vane configuration is a single angled trough (D) . In this case, the L-shape of the single angled trough is formed by a 90° angle (b) at the end of the radial length (r) . It may also be referred to as a gamma shaped trough. In related single angled trough configurations, the trough is formed by an angle (b) between 45° and 135°, such as an angle between 60° to

100° or 70° to 110° .

* * *

[0076] The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for obtaining the disclosed results, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

[0077] While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0078] For the avoidance of any doubt, any theoretical explanations provided herein are provided for the purposes of improving the understanding of a reader. The inventors do not wish to be bound by any of these theoretical explanations .

[0079] Any section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described.

[0080] Throughout this specification, including the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" and "include", and variations such as "comprises", "comprising", and "including" will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. [0081] It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" one particular value, and/or to "about" another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by the use of the antecedent "about," it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.

The term "about" in relation to a numerical value is optional and means for example +/- 10%.

[0082] Examples

[0083] Example 1 - Pepper weevil preferences when presented with one of four lure shapes

[0084] Ten weevils were introduced to a small bug dorm (L25 ^c W25 ^c H25 cm), each containing one yellow pest lure body selected from the shapes of a standard cross shape (4 straight vanes) , a geometric cross (4 gamma-shaped vanes), a curly cross (4 curly vanes) and flat shape (1 straight vane without an elongate core) . The number of weevils on each device was counted every hour for 13 hours.

[0085] The mean number of weevils recorded on the standard cross, geometric cross, curly cross and flat shapes was calculated and is presented in

Table 1.

[0086] More than half of the pepper weevil population showed a preference for residing on the geometric cross or the curly cross than elsewhere in the dorm container. Half of the weevils presented with the standard cross shape preferred to reside on the standard cross than elsewhere in the dorm container. Unlike the cross and the flat shapes, the geometric cross and the curly cross each have vanes that radially extend in both axes of the cross- sectional plane.

[0087] Example 2 - Pepper weevil preferences when presented with one of two yellow lure cross shapes

[0088] Ten weevils starved for 15 hours were introduced to a small bug dorm (L25 x W25 x H25 cm) containing a yellow pest lure body in the shape of a geometric cross (4 vanes) or a curly cross (4 vanes) . The weevils were monitored for 8 hours. The number of weevils that arrived on the pest lure body and the length they remained on the pest lure body was recorded using a microscope camera held above the device.

[0089] It was shown that the pepper weevil has a preference for residing longer on a curly cross shape compared to a geometric cross of the same colour. The weevils contacted the curly cross shape fewer times than the geometric cross shape because they spent nearly 7 times as long on the curly cross and so did not depart and arrive as often. The preference for residing on the smoother curved surface of the curly cross shape, rather than the sharp corners of the geometric cross shape, is thought to arise from a more positive thigmotactic response.

[0090] Example 3 - Pepper weevil preferences when presented with a tight curly cross shape and a tube shape

[0091] Ten weevils starved for 15 hours were introduced to a small bug dorm (1,25 x W25 x H25 cm) containing a pest lure body in the shape of a tight curly cross (3 vanes) or a tube (3 vanes) . The weevils were monitored for 15 hours. The number of weevils that arrived on the pest lure body and the length they remained on the pest lure body was recorded using a microscope camera held above the device.

[0092] The pepper weevil shows a preference for residing on a curly cross shape (429 s) than a tube shape (232 s) of the same colour. Weevils contacted the curly cross shape fewer times than the tube shape because they remained on the curly cross for longer and so did not depart and arrive as often. The preference for residing on the curly cross shape is thought to arise because it is easier for the weevils to access the shelter provided by the curls than to climb up and over the wall of the open-ended cylindrical tube.

Furthermore, the curls in the vane of the curly cross shape are more concave than the inner surface of the tube and so this is thought to provide a more positive thigmotactic response.

[0093] Example 4 - Pepper weevil preferences when presented with a rough and smooth surface [0094] Ten weevils starved for 15 hours were introduced to a small bug dorm

(L25 x W25 x H25 cm) , each dorm containing one rough or smooth yellow pest lure body in the shape of a curly cross (4 vanes) . The weevils were monitored for 17 hours. The number of weevils that arrived on the pest lure body and the length they remained on the pest lure body was recorded using a

microscope camera held above the device. The experiment was performed 3 times for each device and the mean number of visits calculated for each hour

[0095] The pepper weevil visited the smooth device a total of 160 times over all three experiments and visited the rough device a total number of 464 times over all three experiments.

[0096] The mean length of time the pepper weevil remained on the smooth surface in each experiment was 1263 seconds (21 m 3 s) and the mean length of time the pepper weevil remained on the rough surface in each experiment was 474 seconds (7 m 54 s) . Hence, the pepper weevils visited the rough device more often than the smooth device because they had a higher residence time on the smooth device. The preference for residing longer on the smooth surface is thought to arise from a more positive thigmotactic response.

[0097] Example 5 - Boll weevil preferences when presented with green and yellow curved trough pest lure bodies

[0098] Ten weevils were placed in a featureless test house equidistantly between a green curved-trough pest lure body and a yellow curved-trough pest lure body that were otherwise identical. The pest lure bodies were inspected for weevils after 1 hour and 24 hours. The experiment was repeated four times .

[0099] After 1 hour, the total number of boll weevils found in all the experiments on the green curved trough pest lure body was 10, over twice the 4 boll weevils that were found on the yellow curved trough pest lure body.

[0100] After 24 hours, the total number of boll weevils found in all the experiments on the green curved trough pest lure body was 8, four times the 2 boll weevils that were found on the yellow curved trough pest lure body.

[0101] The boll weevil shows a twofold initial preference for green pest lure bodies over yellow pest lure bodies and shows an even greater fourfold preference for remaining on green pest lure bodies over yellow pest lure bodies .

Claims

1. A pest lure body having an elongate core with a plurality of vanes projecting radially from part or all of the length of the elongate core, wherein each vane is shaped to form an elongate trough aligned along the core.

2. A pest lure body according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of vanes have at least two different radial lengths (r) .

3. A pest lure body according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each vane has a different radial length (r) .

4. A pest lure body according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the troughs of the plurality of vanes have at least two different trough widths (w) .

5. A pest lure body according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein each vane forms a trough of the same width (w) .

6. A pest lure body according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each vane projects in a different radial direction.

7. A pest lure body according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one or more of the troughs are independently selected from the configurations of a curved trough (A) , a T-shaped trough (B) , a double angled trough (C) or a single angled trough (D) .

8. A pest lure body according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each trough is the same configuration.

9. A pest lure body according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each vane has only one trough and all the vanes are arranged in the same rotational direction about the elongate core.

10. A pest lure body according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the vanes are arranged at evenly-spaced radial angles around the elongate core.

11. A pest lure body according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one of the troughs is configured to engage a corresponding support member .

12. A pest lure body according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the elongate pest trap body has a uniform cross-section along its length .

13. A pest lure body according to any one of the preceding claims that is of a unitary construction.

14. A pest lure body according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pest lure body is formed from one or more of polylactic acid, polybutylene succinate and polyvinyl alcohol materials such as polyvinyl alcohol, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyvinyl chloride, ethylene-vinyl acetate, polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene.

15. A pest lure body according to any one of the preceding claims that is formed from one or more biodegradable materials.

16. A pest lure body according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one of the plurality of vanes is configured to engage with a pest attractant container.

17. A pest lure-and-kill device comprising a pest lure body of any one of claims 1 to 16 coated in a pesticide.

18. A pest lure-and-kill device according to claim 17 either coated in a pest attractant or having a pest attractant in a container that is configured to engage one of the troughs.

19. A pest lure-and-kill device according to claims 17 or claim 18 wherein the pest attractant is an insect pheromone, preferably a pepper weevil or boll weevil pheromone.

20. A pest lure-and-kill device according to any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein the pesticide is a pesticide gel.

21. A pest lure-and-kill device according to any one of claims 17 to 20 wherein the pesticide is an organophosphate pesticide, a pyrethroid or an ingestible insecticide.

22. A pest lure-and-kill device according to any one of claims 17 to 21 wherein the pesticide is one or more of parathion, malathion, methyl parathion, chlorpyrifos , diazinon, dichlorvos, phosmet, fenitrothion, tetrachlorvinphos , azamethiphos , azinphos-methyl and Terbufos.

23. A method of forming a pest lure-and-kill device according to any one of claims 17 to 22 comprising the step of coating the surface of a pest lure body of any one of claims 1 to 16 with a pesticide and optionally a pest attractant.

24. Use of a pest lure body according to any one of claims 1 to 16 or a pest lure-and-kill device according to any one of claim 17 or claim 22 in the control of a pest.

25. A pest lure body according to any one of claims 1 to 16, a pest lure- and-kill device according to any one of claims 17 to claim 22, a method according to claim 23 or a use according to claim 24 wherein the pest is an insect, preferably a boll weevil and/or a pepper weevil.