INSECT TRAP AND METHOD OF ATTRACTING INSECTS

• US 20090094883A1
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mega Catch Mosquito Control LLC
• Original Assignee: Black Mantis Limited
• Inventors: Child, Kenneth John
• Granted Patent: US 7,937,887 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 43/112
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/023 Attracting insects by the simulation of a living being, i.e. emission of carbon dioxide, heat, sound waves or vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/08 Attracting and catching insects by using combined illumination or colours and suction effects
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/145 Attracting and catching insects using combined illumination or colours and adhesive surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/223 by using electrocution
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 2200/012 Flying insects

Abstract

An insect trap (100) is disclosed which has insect retention means (300) for preventing escape of insects which enter an effective zone of said insect retention means (300) and insect attractant means (200) for attracting insects from a selected group of insects to within said effective zone of said insect retention means (300). The attractant means include at least one variable infra-red radiation emission means (2, 4) adapted to emit variable infra-red radiation. The arrangement is such that insects from the selected group which are outside the trap (100) can detect the variable infra-red radiation and are attracted to an area within the effective zone of the insect retention means (300). A method of attracting insects from a selected group of insects to a predetermined location is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An insect trap including insect retention means for preventing escape of insects which enter an effective zone of said insect retention means and insect attractant means for attracting insects from a selected group of insects to within said effective zone of said insect retention means, wherein said insect attractant means include at least one variable infra-red radiation emission means adapted to emit variable infra-red radiation, the arrangement being such that insects from said selected group which are outside the trap can detect said variable infra-red radiation and are attracted to an area within said effective zone of said insect retention means.

2. The insect trap of claim 1 wherein at least one of said infra-red radiation emission means includes a heating means.

3. The insect trap of claim 2 wherein said heating means varies in temperature.

4. The insect trap of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said at least one variable infra-red emission means includes a plurality of sources of infra-red radiation and said trap includes control means adapted to operate said plurality of sources of infra-red radiation sequentially, randomly and/or pseudo-randomly.

5. The insect trap of claim 1 wherein said insect attractant means further includes at least one light source.

6. The insect trap of claim 5 wherein said at least one light source includes at least one source of substantially ultraviolet light.

7. The insect trap of claim 1 including at least one motion means adapted to attract said insects when in motion.

8. The insect trap of claim 7 wherein said at least one motion means includes a fan.

9. The insect trap of claim 8 wherein said fan is operable as part of said retention means.

10. The insect trap of claim 9 wherein said retention means includes a porous bag and said fan directs an airflow through said porous bag.

11. The insect trap of claim 9 wherein said retention means includes an electrified grid.

12. The insect trap of claim 7, wherein said at least one variable infra-red radiation emission means and said motion means are substantially adjacent, and light from said at least one light source reflects off at least one of said at least one variable infra-red radiation emission means and said motion means.

13. The insect trap of claim 1 wherein said infra-red emission means is located inside a body of the trap and said infra-red emission is directed outside the trap by a plurality of fiber optic filaments.

14. The insect trap of claim 1 wherein at least a section of a body of said trap may be transparent or translucent to improve the visibility of said attractant means.

15. The insect trap of claim 1 wherein the selected group of insects is a targeted species.

16. The insect trap of claim 1 wherein said selected group of insects includes at least one member of the mosquito family.

17. A method of attracting insects from a selected group of insects to a predetermined location including:

i) locating at least one variable infra-red emission means at or adjacent said location; and

ii) operating said at least one infra-red emission means in a manner which causes variable emission of infra-red radiation.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said step i) includes locating at least one heating element at or adjacent said location and said step ii) includes varying a temperature of said heating element.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said step i) includes providing a plurality of sources of infra-red radiation and said step ii) includes using a control means to operate said plurality of sources of infra-red radiation sequentially, randomly and/or pseudo-randomly.

20. The method of claim 17, including the step of providing a motion means at or adjacent said location, wherein said motion means is adapted to attract said insects when in motion.

21. The method of claim 20 including the step of locating said motion means substantially adjacent said at least one infra-red emission means, and directing a varying light source towards said motion means and said at least one infra-red emission means.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein the predetermined location is within an effective zone of an insect retention means.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein the selected group of insects is a targeted species.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein said selected group of insects includes at least one member of the mosquito family.

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. A mosquito trap including insect retention means for preventing escape of members of one or more selected species of mosquito which enter an effective zone of said insect retention means and insect attractant means for attracting members of said one or more selected species of mosquito to within said effective zone of said insect retention means, wherein said insect attractant means includes;

at least one variable infra-red radiation emission means adapted to emit variable infrared radiation;

at least one source of visible and/or ultraviolet light;

at least one reflective surface within or adjacent said effective zone positioned to reflect light from said light source; and

at least one fan positioned to reflect light from said source of visible and/or ultraviolet light;

the arrangement being such that members of said one or more species of mosquito which are outside the trap can detect said variable infra-red radiation and said light reflected from said reflective surface and said fan, and are attracted to an area within said effective zone of said insect retention means.