Method and apparatus for controlling pests

• US 20040200128A1
• Filed: 04/08/2004
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Energy Investment Group Holding Co., Limited
• Original Assignee: I.D.A. Limited
• Inventors: Metcalfe, Colin T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,343,710 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 43/107
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/02 with devices or substances, e.g. food, pheronones attracting the insects
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/103 for crawling insects
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/106 for flying insects
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/14 Catching by adhesive surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2055 Holders or dispensers for solid, gelified or impregnated insecticide, e.g. volatile blocks or impregnated pads
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 2200/011 Crawling insects
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 2200/012 Flying insects
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/08 containing solids as carriers or diluents
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/16 Heavy metals; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/30 Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change

Abstract

A method of controlling pests, such as insects, by trapping and/or killing them wherein at least part of a pest to be trapped or killed is exposed to a composition comprising particles containing or consisting of at least one magnetic material.

Claims

1. A method of trapping and/or killing pests, such as insects, wherein at least a part of a pest to be trapped or killed is exposed to a particulate composition comprising particles containing or consisting of at least one magnetic material, in combination with one or more pesticides or behaviour modifying chemicals.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the particles have an average particle size diameter in the range of from 2 to 100 μ

m.

3. A method as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the magnetic material is a ferromagnetic oxide.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the particles are applied to a surface in an area in which pests are present, preferably a surface which is inclined to the horizontal.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the composition comprises at least 10% by weight of magnetic particles.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pesticide or behaviour modifying chemical is admixed with the particles of the magnetic material.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 where the pesticide or behaviour modifying chemical is coated onto the particles of the magnetic material.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the particles are composite particles which comprise a core of an inert substrate which is impregnated with and/or coated with the magnetic material.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the core comprises silicon dioxide, magnesium silicate, diatomaceous earth, cellulose or a natural or synthetic polymer.

10. A method as claimed in claims 8 or 9 wherein the inert substrate has a pesticide or behaviour modifying chemical impregnated thereon or associated therewith.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the pesticide is an insecticide, fungicide, acaricide, insect growth regulator or chemosterilant.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pesticide is a bacterium, virus

13. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the behaviour modifying chemical is a pheromone.

14. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pesticide or behaviour modifying chemical comprises at least 0.1% by weight of the cores of the particles.

28. An insect trap as claimed in claim 23 wherein the said zone is coated with particles of a pesticidal composition as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 20.

15. A pesticidal composition in particulate form which comprises composite particles each comprising a core of an inert substance having a pesticide or behaviour modifying chemical impregnated thereon or associated therewith and the core being impregnated or coated with a magnetic material.

16. A pesticide composition as claimed in claim 15 wherein the core comprises silicone dioxide, magnesium silicate, diatomaceous earth, cellulose or a natural or synthetic polymer.

18. A pesticide composition as claimed in claims 15, 16 or 17 wherein the pesticide is an insecticide, fungicide, acaricide, insect growth regulator or chemosterilant.

19. A pesticide composition as claimed in claims 15, 16 or 17 wherein the pesticide is a bacterium, virus or fungus.

20. A pesticide composition as claimed in claims 15, 16 or 17 wherein the behaviour modifying chemical is a pheromone.

22. A pesticide composition as claimed in claim 15 wherein the magnetic material is a ferromagnetic oxide.

17. A pesticidal composition in particulate form which comprises particles containing or consisting of a magnetic material in admixture with a pesticide or behavior modifying chemical or particles of a magnetic material coated with a pesticide or behaviour modifying chemical.

21. A pesticide composition as claimed in 15 wherein the pesticide or behaviour modifying chemical comprises at least 0.1% by weight of the cores of the particles.

23. An insect trap which comprises a housing, a zone of the housing or a zone within the housing comprising a magnetically polarized material and the said zone being coated with a composition comprising particles containing or consisting or a magnetic material of opposite polarity to that of the magnetically polarized material.

24. An insect trap as claimed in claim 23 wherein the zone of the magnetically polarized material is formed by a portion of at least one wall of the housing.

25. An insect trap as claimed in claims 23 or 24 wherein the zone of the magnetically polarized material comprises a removable insert placed within the housing.

26. An insect trap as claimed in claims 23 or 24 wherein the zone has a surface which is inclined to the horizontal.

27. An insect trap as claims in claim 23 wherein the magnetic material is a ferromagnetic oxide.