Patent ID: 9549542
Date: 2017-01-24
CPC Classifications: A01M,Y02A

Claim:
1. A bed bug detection device, which is not based on active capture but rather by passively observing telltale signs which indicate their presence, comprising: a refuge which elicits a taxis response from bed bugs, the refuge including at least a first wall and a second wall arranged one on top of the other and each terminating at a surrounding peripheral edge that defines a perimeter of the refuge, wherein the refuge has an interior disposed between the first wall and the second wall, the interior defining a shaded microenvironment including at least one of a plurality of tunnels and a plurality of crevices, wherein the refuge further includes at least one opening in communication with the interior disposed at a peripheral side between the first wall and the second wall; and a skirt having a non-trapping indicator surface disposed outside the refuge and being visible to an observer, wherein the non-trapping indicator surface is slightly absorbent so that indicators comprising faeces and cast skins mark or stick to the non-trapping indicator surface; a substantially flat sheet of material, wherein said refuge is positioned on the flat sheet in close proximity to said non-trapping indicator surface, the flat sheet having a peripheral portion extending outwardly from the refuge that defines the skirt having the non-trapping indicator surface; and an assembly comprises at least two outer layers of material substantially covering the refuge, the at least two outer layers including a first outer layer and a second outer layer each having a surrounding peripheral edge that defines a further perimeter of the assembly, wherein the perimeter of the assembly is greater than the perimeter of the refuge, wherein the refuge and the flat sheet are sandwiched between the first outer layer and the second outer layer; wherein the skirt having the non-trapping indicator surface extends outwardly beyond the perimeter of the refuge and the further perimeter of the assembly such that the bed bugs are detected by observing indicators comprising faeces and cast skins which are left on the non-trapping indicator surface by the bed bugs as they travel across the skirt on their way to or from the refuge.