Flying insect trap

An insect trap (100) having a transparent or translucent entrapment chamber (110) with a closed upper end, an entry cone (130) disposed therein, a base (140) removably attachable to the entrapment chamber, and a lower container (180) for holding a liquid attractant removably attachable to the base (140), such that evaporating attractant from the container enters the entrapment chamber. The base includes a plurality of entry apertures (150) adapted to permit target insects to enter the trap. A support such as a slotted cone (160) is disposed in the entrapment chamber, and supports a vial (170) of solid attractant. The liquid and solid attractants are able to mix in the trap, and gradually escape through the entry apertures, to generate a plume to attract the target insects toward the entrance apertures.

BACKGROUND

Flying insects, for example various social wasps, including paper wasps, hornets and yellow jackets, can be a significant nuisance, and a potential hazard, to people and animals engaged in outdoor activities. Such flying insects can be prevalent in rural settings, and even in very well developed residential areas.

Traps for flying insects are known in the art, and often have been quite successful at trapping target insects. For example, the inventor of the insect trap disclosed herein pioneered conical element hanging traps, including the wasp traps described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,941, which issued Nov. 12, 1985, to Schneidmiller. Schneidmiller discloses a transparent cylindrical insect trap that is selective to entrapping wasps. A “wasp” is a generic name applied to insects of the order Hymenoptera which includes particularly paper wasps, hornets and yellow jackets. The present inventor also discloses certain improvements to the insect trap in U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,880. Both of these patents are hereby incorporated by reference herein, in their entirety.

Previous patented trap structures include a transparent, generally cylindrical entrapment chamber and a base that attaches to substantially close the bottom of the entrapment chamber. In the prior art device the entrapment chamber includes openings at the top end of the chamber. The bottom element includes apertures that permit access by wasps into the entrapment chamber. An entry cone shaped as a truncated cone with a large opening at the base, and a small opening at the top, is disposed in the entrapment chamber. Wasps or other flying insects enter through the entry apertures, fly or climb into the cone, pass through its truncated end, and become entrapped in the cylindrical chamber. Once inside the chamber, exiting is highly improbable, such that the insect becomes trapped in the chamber. Portions of the trap may be colored and a volatile olfactory attractant may be provided in the bottom element to aid in attracting the wasps.

Although prior art insect traps have proven successful at entrapping wasps and the like, the present invention as disclosed below provides significant improvements that are intended to improve the effectiveness of the insect trap.

SUMMARY

An insect trap for trapping flying insects such as paper wasps, hornets and yellow jackets is disclosed that provides greater flexibility in the type and/or combination of attractants that can be employed.

In a current embodiment, the trap includes an entrapment chamber that is closed at the top, and may be formed as a translucent cylinder. An entry cone is retained in the entrapment chamber, and includes a large opening at the bottom end, and a small opening at the top end. Optionally, a plurality of smaller openings are provided through the wall of the entry cone, and the entry cone further includes retaining tabs that engage corresponding slots in the entrapment chamber. A base, with a plurality of insect entrance apertures is attachable to the entrapment chamber. A lower container suitable for retaining liquids such as water and/or chemical attractants, attaches to the base. When liquid is provided in the lower container, vapors from the lower container enter the base, and generate a vapor plume at one or more of the insect entrance apertures.

The trap may further include a holder for a volatile solid attractant that is disposed over the neck of the lower container. The current holder is a slotted cone having a lower end that is slidably insertable into the neck portion of the lower container, and a receptacle portion that is adapted to retain a vial containing solid attractant.

In a disclosed embodiment, the lower container is bulb-shaped and formed to resemble a hornet's nest.

In a disclosed embodiment, a solid attractant holder is slidably insertable into the neck of the lower container. The solid attractant holder may be formed with a slotted conic portion, and an upper retainer that is sized and shaped to hold a vial containing a solid attractant.

A method for trapping flying insects is disclosed comprising the steps of: providing a trap having an entrapment chamber with a closed top, an entry cone having a large entrance and a small exit aperture, a base removably attachable to the entrapment chamber and defining a plurality of entrance apertures to the entrapment chamber, and a container in fluid communication with the entrapment chamber; providing a liquid attractant in the container; and providing a volatile solid attractant in the entrapment chamber such that vapors from the liquid attractant can mix with vapors from the solid attractant and gradually release through the entrance apertures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A particular embodiment of a flying insect trap100according to the present invention, that is particularly suitable for trapping wasps such as paper wasps, yellow jackets and hornets, will now be described in detail, with reference to the FIGURES.FIG. 1shows a perspective view of the flying insect trap100,FIG. 2shows an exploded view of the trap100, andFIG. 4shows a cross sectional side view of the trap100. The trap100includes a generally cylindrical entrapment chamber110, that is preferably transparent or translucent. An integral hanger nib112having a transverse aperture114therethrough provides means for attaching the trap100to a hanger such as a hook, wire, string, strap or the like (not shown), such that the trap100can be conveniently hung from a suitable support. The trap100is preferably suspended in a location having free access by the target flying insects, and wherein the trap100is exposed to substantial sunlight, preferably direct sunlight, for at least a portion of the day.

The cylindrical entrapment chamber110is closed at its top end116, and open at the bottom end118. An annular flange120extends from the entrapment chamber110near the bottom end118, and an externally threaded portion122extends below the flange120. A pair of oppositely disposed vertical slots124(FIG. 2) are provided in the threaded portion122. A top end of the vertical slots124includes a protruding or narrowed portion125that aids in retaining an entry cone130, as discussed below.

The entrapment chamber110is preferably formed from a relatively rigid, transparent or translucent plastic having good light reflection and transmission characteristics, such that in sunlight the chamber110will provide a bright object for attracting flying insects, and will appear relatively bright when viewed from the insect entrance apertures (described below). The color of the chamber110may also be selected to preferentially attract the target insects.

The entry cone130in this embodiment is a truncated-cone insert, and is disposed inside the entrapment chamber110. The entry cone130is sized to fit snugly within the open bottom end118of the chamber110, with the top end136extending part of the way towards the top end116of the chamber110. The entry cone130includes a pair of oppositely disposed L-shaped tabs132that are sized and shaped to engage the vertical slots124in the chamber110, to releasably retain the entry cone130in the chamber110. The horizontal portion of the L-shaped tabs132is sized to frictionally engage the narrowed portions125of the slots124to retain the entry cone130therein, to facilitate emptying and re-assembly of the trap100. The entry cone130is preferably formed from a transparent or translucent material to permit the passage of light therethrough.

The base138of the entry cone130is sized to fit inside the bottom end118of the chamber110. The top end136of the entry cone130is open, defining an aperture that is sized to permit the target insect(s) to pass therethrough. An upper portion of the entry cone130is perforated with a plurality of apertures134that facilitate the target insects climbing toward the top end136of the entry cone130. The apertures134in the upper portion also improve light transmission therethrough, such that generally the upper portion of the entry cone130will be brighter than the lower portion, which will tend to attract light-sensitive insects such as wasps towards the top of the cone136.

The lower portion of the trap100includes a base140, a small slotted cone160, an attractant vial170and a lower container180. The base140is preferably opaque and includes an internally threaded portion142that is adapted to engage the threaded portion122of the chamber110. The base140includes a circular upper edge146that generally abuts the chamber flange120when the trap100is assembled. The bottom end148of the base member140includes a plurality of arcuate surfaces147that are sized and positioned to encourage the target insects to enter the trap100.

Refer now also toFIGS. 3A and 3B, which show an upper and lower perspective view of the lower portion of the trap100, respectively, including the base140, the small slotted cone160, the attractant vial170and a lower container180(shown in phantom inFIG. 3B). The base140includes a number of grip protrusions149, to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the trap100. The bottom end148of the base140includes an insect entrance aperture150in each of the arcuate surfaces147(four shown). The entrance apertures150are sized to accommodate the target insects, for example wasps, and are designed to encourage the wasps to enter the trap100, while discouraging egress from the trap100. In particular, the entrance apertures150are tapered from a relatively large diameter at the base to a smaller diameter at the top, and the entrance apertures are provided with a plurality of open slots152. The slots152are too small for the target insects to pass through, but permit the passage of air, light and attractant therethrough.

A center threaded aperture154on the base140(FIG. 3B) is adapted to threadably receive the lower container180. The lower container180includes a bulb-shaped body182and a threaded neck184(FIG. 2) such that the lower container180is attachable to the base140at the base threaded aperture154. The lower container180is water-tight and is adapted to contain a liquid, such as an insect attractant and/or water. The lower container180is preferably opaque with a relatively dull finish so that the target insects will not be distracted by the lower container180, and will instead be attracted by light towards the entrapment chamber110. A narrow fill level viewer186may optionally be provided to permit the user to readily determine the fluid level within the container180. The lower container180is preferably bulb-shaped somewhat mimicking the shape of certain wasp nests, which may also provide a visual attractant cue to draw the target insects towards the trap100. The bulb-shaped lower container180also has ergonomic advantages, permitting easy grasping for removing the container100from the base140.

The small slotted cone160includes a cylindrical lower portion162that is sized to fit in the open neck184of the container180. The cylindrical lower portion162includes a retaining flange163that is sized to prevent the small slotted cone160from falling into the lower container180. A middle cone section164defining a plurality of slots therethrough extends upwardly from the lower portion162. The top of the small slotted cone160defines a cup-shaped receptacle166that is sized to receive and retain the attractant vial170.

The attractant vial170is a closable container for an olfactory attractant for the target insects. Preferably, the attractant is a volatile attractant in a polyurethane matrix that is formed into a solid. The attractant will evaporative and escape from the vial over a period of time. It is contemplated that the volatile attractant in the vial170will mix with vapors from a chemical attractant and/or water in the lower container180. The mixed vapors exit through slots in the middle section164of the small slotted cone160.

This new trap100, therefore, enables the use of both solid and liquid attractants in a single trap, and in particular permits the user great flexibility in selecting from a range and combination of attractants. The trap100combines the benefits of both wet traps and dry traps.

The attractant vial170includes a container portion172and a removable lid174that closes the container portion172. Although the vial170is shown in an inverted position with the removable lid174disposed downwardly, it is contemplated that for some applications and combinations of attractants it may be desirable to orient the vial170with the open end of the container portion172facing upwardly.

To use the trap100a user may simply remove the lower container180, small slotted cone160and attractant vial170as a unit by unscrewing the lower container180from the base140. The small cone160may then be removed from the container to provide access to the neck184, and the user places a desired quantity of chemical attractant in liquid form and/or water into the container180. The small cone160is then placed in the neck184, and a vial170of solid attractant is uncapped and positioned to be retained by the receptacle166at the top of the small cone160. The vial170, small cone160and lower container180are then attached to the base140, and the trap100is positioned in a suitable location.

To empty the trap100of insect carcasses, the user retrieves the trap100, removes the base140by unscrewing it from the entrapment container110, and (at a suitable location) removes the entry cone130by pressing downwardly on the entry cone tabs132. The trap100may then be reassembled by reinserting the entry cone130, replacing any attractant as desired, and re-attaching the base140to the entrapment container110.

It will be appreciated that one aspect of the present trap100is that the top end116of the entrapment chamber110is closed, rather than having apertures, slots or other openings into the chamber110. The attractants released from the vial170and/or from the lower container180, therefore, can therefore substantially only exit the trap100through the insect entrance apertures150in the base140. As the attractants release through the entrance apertures150, the attractant plume will therefore attract the target insects toward the entrance apertures150.

Another aspect of the trap100is that the base140and the lower container180are shaped to cooperatively provide a convenient perch for the target insects directly below the entrance apertures150, from which the insects may then be induced to enter the entrapment chamber110. In particular, as may be best appreciated fromFIG. 4, in combination with the shape and position of the arcuate surfaces147, from the perch provided by the lower container180the target insects will sense a relatively lighter region directly thereabove, and will therefore be induced to enter the trap100.

While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the entrapment chamber100may be shaped other than as a cylinder. It is contemplated, for example, that the entrapment chamber may be tapered, or alternatively shaped for aesthetic and/or marketing reasons. The “entry cone” as used herein refers to a device having a large aperture at the bottom and a smaller aperture at the top, and is not intended to be restrictively interpreted. In particular, the entry cone130may taper in a non-liner manner, and/or may have a non-axisymmetric shape. Although the bulb-shape of the lower container is preferred, other shapes are clearly possible, without departing from the present invention. Where threaded attachments are shown, it will be appreciated that other attachment mechanisms may be used, as are well-known in the art, including friction fit, locking tabs, detents, and the like.