Abstract:
An insect and/or arthropod trapping device that generates its own attractants of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and ammonia through the chemical reaction of adding a weakly acidic liquid such as vinegar (acetic acid) to solids such as baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), with the optional addition of urea and/or lactic acid. The liquids are mixed over a period of days onto the solids to generate CO 2  in the vicinity of an insect/arthropod trap having glue boards that trap the insects and arthropods when they alight on the glue board. The attractants can be used with devices that utilize various combinations of other insect attractants and traps such as sound, light, scent, visual, electrical, chemical, sticky surfaces, mesh nets, etc., to further attract and trap or kill insects and/or arthropods.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/467,677, filed May 2, 2003 entitled INSECT TRAP, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/414,936, entitled INSECT TRAP, filed on Sep. 30, 2002, which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties. 

   BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   Mosquitoes, flies, ticks, fleas and chiggers are of significant economical and medical concern because humans and important species of wild and domestic animals are inconvenienced, annoyed, sickened and on occasion killed as a result of their bites. This invention relates to a means and method of attracting, trapping and disposing of them. 
   2. Discussion of Related Art 
   Mosquitoes, flies, ticks, fleas and chiggers carry a wide range of blood borne diseases which readily infect humans and animals when bitten. These diseases include among other things, lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, tularemia, vectored borreliosis (Masters disease), encephalitis, West Nile virus, Dengue Fever, malaria and others. The effect of these arthropod borne diseases are well-known and frequently cause long term and significant impairment if not death to those victims. Millions have been killed from contracting mosquito-born malaria. Efforts to trap mosquitoes, flies, ticks, fleas, chiggers and other insects and arthropods have employed a number of techniques including sticky paper, sprays and chemical attractants. The latter area of investigation has been encouraging because people and animals emit chemicals that are readily detected by these arthropods. Indeed, variations in the combination amount of chemicals emitted from one person to another are a reason why some people are more readily bitten than others. 
   There area a number of variables that must be considered. For example, a female mosquito may detect a potential bite victim at a distance of 20-40 yards depending on the species and weather conditions. Female mosquitoes are very active between 50° F. and 95° F. in calm or light breeze conditions. The female mosquito is sensitive to a variety of chemicals when beginning a search for a blood meal. 
   The mosquito is particularly sensitive to carbon dioxide emission for long distance orientation. Of the 340 or more chemicals emitted by humans that researchers have determined attract mosquitoes, carbon dioxide emission is one significant human and animal emission which is a particularly useful attractant for mosquitoes. Carbon dioxide is considered the single most important cue used by mosquitoes for locating a source of blood. Researchers estimate a person giving off 275 ml/min of carbon dioxide result in a concentration of carbon dioxide in the air of between 0.01% and 1.0%, a concentration that is well within the mosquito&#39;s ability to detect. J. P. Smith, J. Walsh, and R. Huss recently presented a study of mosquito species and numbers caught in 8 commercial mosquito traps at the American Mosquito Control Association&#39;s 2003 annual convention. Seven of the traps produced carbon dioxide by burning propane while one trap did not use carbon dioxide. The non carbon dioxide trap was markedly inferior to the other seven carbon dioxide producing traps. 
   There are other factors that influence mosquitoes in their search for blood meals. For example, some species of mosquitoes seek areas of increased humidity, moisture, increased temperature, and increased levels of certain compounds usually generated by sweat glands. Additionally, for some species, sound, vision, movement, light, colors and vertical contrast appear to have a role in influencing movement of mosquitoes. The mosquitoes respond to humidity and temperature gradients associated with convection currents and thus factors such as relative humidity play a role in the mosquito&#39;s search for a blood meal. Other factors that are believed to affect a mosquito&#39;s search for blood meals include the light and time of day and a mosquito&#39;s ability to detect movement, color, shapes and patterns. Overall, research suggests that the use of carbon dioxide as a basis for attracting mosquitoes remains an important component in designing effective mosquito traps. Similar considerations apply to attracting ticks, fleas and chiggers. A number of products are commercially available that produce carbon dioxide and use attractants to attract and capture arthropods. However, many of these products use explosive flammable gas such as propane as the main component or dry ice to produce carbon dioxide. Many of these methods are impractical because they cannot be transported safely by aircraft, cannot be used except under well-ventilated areas, and are not readily available or are expensive. Exemplifications of commercially available systems abound. These include, for example, a number that retail from approximately $200 to well over $1500. In addition to costs, these units have other limitations that limit their usefulness. American Biophysics Corp. has sold at least three products in this cost range that use propane to make the carbon dioxide and to generate electrical power needed. It also makes use of a vacuum unit to suck in mosquitoes. Applica Mexico also has a plug-in electrical unit that produces a chemical attractant that requires EPA registration and are useful at all only within range of an electrical power source. Replacement glue trap boards are provided but are very expensive. Flowtron sells an electrical plug-in unit that also requires an EPA registration and uses a vacuum to suck in mosquitoes as does a unit made by Elvert Specialty Products. Coleman provides a unit that burns propane to generate carbon dioxide and further requires EPA registration. Other units sold by Biosensory Inc. have similar limitations and inefficiencies. 
   Inexpensive, non-electrical, environmentally friendly, controllable methods for generating carbon dioxide for use in insect and/or arthropod traps developed to date have not been generally available. As noted, it is well known that hematophagouos insects and other arthropods are attracted to their hosts by sensing carbon dioxide and this is the basis for numerous previous patents such as Miller, U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,176; Wigdon, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,243; Paganessi, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,943,815; Iwao, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,122; etc. Previous sources of supplying carbon dioxide gas have included releasing CO 2  from tanks, allowing dry ice to gradually sublimate, catalytic conversion of a hydrocarbon fuel in a combustion chamber (U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,243), methanol cells (U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,176), and dropping a calcium carbonate tablet into water (U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,122). Although these methods of supplying carbon dioxide are effective, the associated tanks and/or holding containers tend to be quite large and difficult to handle and/or the rate of CO 2  gas release has been difficult to control, sustain and regulate. Some are also associated with devices that require electricity. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The instant invention provides a novel portable method and device for generating carbon dioxide for insect and/or arthropod trapping devices. By adding a weakly acidic liquid such as water or vinegar (acetic acid) via a tube or tubes, drip hole(s), wick(s), etc. at a controlled rate to a solid such as baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) with lactic acid and with or without urea added, the composition generates water and CO 2  gas. This can be demonstrated quite effectively in a kitchen by adding a spoonful of vinegar to a spoonful of baking soda. When urea is added, it reacts with the water produced by the vinegar-baking soda reaction to produce additional CO 2  (very desirable). Adding ammonia is also desirable, as ammonia is a known insect attractant. The lactic acid increases the CO 2  conversion efficacy over that of acetic acid alone, by many multiples. By controlling the drip rate or rate of vinegar or other effective liquid added to a known quantity of baking soda or other effective solid(s), a controlled quantity of carbon dioxide gas can be generated for long periods of time. In one version of our invention, one liter of acetic acid (vinegar) or even water at a controlled drip into a proportional chemical quantity of a cake comprising a mix of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), urea and lactic acid will produce a sufficient and effective quantity of CO 2  to attract arthropods such as mosquitoes and ticks for up to seven days. The cost of operation will be about the same as the propane gas mosquito traps, but the manufacturing cost of the trap will only be a fraction of that of the propane trap. 
   The subject of this invention can be used indoors to attract disease vectors that may include the mosquito species  Anopholes gambine  (which transmits malaria within houses in Africa),  Culex pipiens  (or “house mosquito”) the main vector of West Nile and St. Louis Encephalitis viruses in North America, and  Aedes aegypti  (Asian house mosquito), the principal vector of dengue virus. This invention can also be used to attract disease-carrying mosquitoes outdoors. The subject invention can also attract ticks that may include Argasid ticks which are vectors of relapsing fevers within dwellings in North American and Africa and attract Ixodid tick species to collection devices outdoors such as the Lone Star tick, the vector of Ehrlichiosis and Master&#39;s disease and the Black-legged tick, the vector of Lyme disease, Babesiosis and Ehrlichiosis. The subject of this invention can also attract pest chiggers in North America and Europe and medically important chiggers in Asia that transmit scrub typhus. The subject of this invention can attract economically important pest species that may include stable flies, no-seeums, horse flies, deer flies, sand fleas, cat fleas, and dog fleas. Studies to date suggest the present invention may attract and capture 43 medically important and/or pest species of insects. 
   An object of the subject invention is to provide a non-electric non-flammable method for producing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia at a slow rate. A second object of the subject invention is to provide a non-explosive method for producing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia at a slow rate. A third object of the subject invention is to provide a safe and easily shippable method for producing carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide and ammonia at a slow rate. Another object of this invention is to provide a method of generating gaseous carbon dioxide and/or ammonia by slow release from chemical compounds. This method can be used for the attraction of arthropods such as mosquitoes, flies, fleas, chiggers and ticks. 
   An additional object of the subject invention is to provide gaseous carbon dioxide without the use of dry ice. Another object of the subject invention is to provide gaseous carbon dioxide silently. Another object of the subject invention is to provide a method of capturing and killing arthropods without “zapping” them and aerosolizing infectious particles. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive, easily manufactured, assembled, and installed portable device for slowly releasing sufficient carbon dioxide from a chemical packet to attract mosquitoes, chiggers and ticks to the device for subsequent disposal. One other object of the present invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive, environmentally safe, mosquito and tick trap that can be mass produced, easily distributed and maintained for long periods of time with little care or maintenance. A still further object of this invention is to provide a lightweight compact tick and mosquito trap that is easy to store and ship. One more object of the present invention is to provide an improved tick and mosquito trap that makes use of individual packets of chemicals that can be easily activated for slow emission of carbon dioxide over a period of days or even longer. 
   There are additional and significant advantages of the present invention. This invention provides a commercially viable inexpensive system for producing chemically, rather than electrically, arthropod attractants in the form of carbon dioxide. This system is safer, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly than other systems. By not using propane or pressurized carbon dioxide tanks, the present invention avoids emission of toxic fumes, reduces the size of the unit and provides a system that may be transported on planes and can also be used indoors. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a system with ancillary visual means for attracting arthropods. These include use of phosphorescent systems in the unit to emit both red and blue lights to maximize mosquito attraction and non-phosphorescent colors of black, red and blue. Moisture, which functions as an additional attractant to mosquitoes, is a product of the chemical reaction. Heat is also provided for further mosquito attraction by a solar energized heat brick. In this arrangement, heat is absorbed during the day and slowly released at night in sufficient amounts to attract mosquitoes as well as other arthropods. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing objectives and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood in connection with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a typical trap embodying the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional elevation of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  2 — 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a partially cross-sectional isometric view of another embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a partially cross-section view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional elevation of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 ; and 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-section of a portion of the invention illustrating the valve construction in one embodiment. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF ADDITIONAL FIGURES 
   The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. Additionally the drawings as submitted may include dimensional representations which are demonstrative of a particular sized embodiment, but which are not to be construed as limiting, inasmuch as the invention contemplates a wide range of sizes and proportions. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The invention is not limited in its applications to the details of constructions and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustration of the drawing. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and termination used herein is used for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including”, “comprising”, or “having”, “containing”, and “involving” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter in equivalence therefor as well as additions. 
   In one aspect, the invention involves in an insect and arthropod trap that functions by admixture, during the deployment of the device while it is functioning as an insect trap, of at least a first reactant with a second reactant to produce an insect-attractant species (preferably a gas). This reaction can be continuous (i.e., proceeding at a relatively constant rate during trap deployment), and can be made to occur automatically, without the need to be continuously monitored by a human. Provided below are examples of specific chemicals which can be used in connection with the invention, but those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that a wide variety of additional chemistry can be exploited in practicing the invention, and will be able to use no more than routine experimentation and knowledge of ordinary skill in the art to select, test (if necessary) and deploy chemicals different from those specifically described below, in the invention. The reader is directed to standard inorganic and organic chemistry texts for direction in this regard. 
   One technique, described below, for continuously introducing a first reactant to a second reactant, from which it had initially been isolated, in a continuous process not requiring human monitoring or control is to continuously drip a reactant fluid into a bolus of a second reactant, which can be a solid (e.g., cake), liquid, gas, etc. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a variety of liquids that can participate in such a reaction in this manner. In the example below, the liquid is water. In other examples, the liquid can be an aqueous acid, base, electrophile, or water carrying any other component or combination of components which, when the liquid is introduced to a second reactant, participates in a reaction that generates an insect-attractive species. The liquid similarly can be non-aqueous, which by itself or via any species or combination of species suspended or dissolved therein, participates in such a reaction. 
   While, as mentioned, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily be able to select reactants suitable for use in the invention, a simple screening test can be used to quickly test candidate reactants to determine their effectiveness of use in the invention. First, apparatus for continuously combining the reactants is selected based upon whether the reactants are solid, liquid, or gas. Those of ordinary skill in the art are well aware of simple apparatus for combining any of these species, including drip-flow controllers activated by, e.g., low-flow pumps and related conduits, conveyers for solids, pressure-regulation valves for gases with conduits for controlling exposure of the gas to another reactant, etc. Many of these systems can include microfluidic reaction apparatus, which has been well-studied and discussed in recent literature. Reactants can be combined using such apparatus at a variety of different rates, with the environment surrounding the reaction site monitored via standard instrumentation for the production of insect-attractive species. The rate of reactant combination can be compared to the generation of an effective threshold amount of insect-attractive species to determine whether the reaction can be carried out, in the absence of human direction and control, using reasonable amounts of reactants to generate an effective amount of insect-attractive species for a sufficient period of time. Variations in the test may involve monitoring the level of insect-attractive species at various distances from the site at which reactants are combined, monitoring the reaction under various air flow conditions (for evaluation of effective outdoor use), or the like. 
   The particular embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings consists primarily of two main components. The first is a chemical composition consisting primarily of a carbon dioxide and ammonia generating solid chemical cake adapted to emit carbon dioxide and possibly ammonia slowly over a period of days or weeks when the chemical compound is activated by a weak acid such as acetic acid or water applied over a time period. The second primary component is a trap designed to support the chemical compound in a manner that attracted arthropods are drawn towards the emitted carbon dioxide and ammonia and are then trapped and killed in the trap supporting the chemical compound. 
   Ambient levels of carbon dioxide in the environment are typically in the range of 3% to 4% or less. Insects and biting arthropods are attracted by any concentration over this, even as small as 0.1 ppm (parts per millions). Mosquitoes are adapted to detect and be attracted by as little as 0.01% above ambient CO 2  levels, whatever they may be. The system herein described is designed to emit in the range of 10 to 300 times what mosquitoes will detect above current ambient levels. Some ticks, such as  Amblyomma americanum  (lone star) that carry tularemia, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme and/or Lyme like illness (Masters&#39; disease) and other illnesses can detect carbon dioxide. With the spread of tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease and insect vectored illnesses such as the West Nile virus, the public health benefit of using relatively inexpensive and portable insect trapping devices using the very effective carbon dioxide as an attractant is self-evident. Any insects, ticks, or other arthropods trapped and killed are potentially infected vectors that might have transmitted disease to animals such as horses, pets, or humans. 
   The embodiment of the chemical compounds are in the form of (1) a liquid weak acid or water that functions as a weak acid to be dripped or wicked and (2) a dry compound that reacts with the liquid to produce carbon dioxide, ammonia or both. Carbon dioxide gas generated by this safe and environmentally friendly method can be used in adapted and existing devices or in new devices and insect and/or arthropod traps that can employ the use of additional attractants. The addition of urea results in the emission of a vapor of the attractant ammonia when using a cake or container comprising the chemicals sodium bicarbonate/acetic acid, improve the function of the chosen insect trap. Additional attractants such as amino acids, esters, ketones, alanine, cholesterol, hemoglobin peptone, phenylalanine, and petroleum products can also be used to enhance or to attract specific arthropods. One example of a commercially available octenol that may function as an attractant is made by Flowtron Inc. It may be inserted within the trap. 
   The present design may also incorporate appropriate colors for the disease carrying vectors, as well as a passive heat sink to maintain a temperature differential to additionally attract, and special olfactory or scent attractants, etc. 
   The dry compound forming the present inventions includes in one preferred embodiment a mix of: 
   
       
       64 to 100 parts by weight of sodium bicarbonate 
       0 to 25 parts by weight of lactic acid 
       and 0 to 11 parts by weight of urea 
     
  
   The liquid compound may comprise water and/or a weak acid such as acetic acid.
 
The following is an example summary of the chemical reactions achieved in use of this system: 
                        
 
Added urea will react to the water produced in the above reaction to produce additional CO 2  and ammonia, both desirable. 
                         
 
The anticipated preferred embodiment of the compounds which are used to produce carbon dioxide and/or ammonia gaseous phase are in the form of:
 
H 2 O+2C 3 H 5 O 3 +11NaHCO 3 →6H 2 O+17CO 2 +11NaH
 
CH 4 N 2 O+H 2 O→CO 2 +2NH 3 
 
Examples of the use of the embodiment of the slow release of carbon dioxide and/or ammonia are:
 
   EXAMPLE 1 
   500 ml of H 2 O is wicked at a rate of 2 ml/hr from a lower container to a chamber above containing 180 g lactic acid C 3 H 6 O 3 . 453 g sodium bicarbonate CHN a O 3 . 80 g urea, H 2 NCONH 2 . The subsequent release of carbon dioxide CO 2  are 3×-10× the minimal detection threshold for mosquitoes for 7 days. 
   EXAMPLE 2 
   500 ml of H 2 O is drip wicked by a conveyor at a rate of 2 ml/hr from an upper container to a chamber below containing 180 g C 3 H 6 O 3 , 453 g sodium bicarbonate CHNaO 3 , 80 g urea H 2 NCONH 2 . The subsequent release of CO 2  and NH 3  are 10× the minimal detection threshold for mosquitoes for 7 days. 
   EXAMPLE 3 
   500 ml of H 2 O is dripped through a valve at a rate of 2 ml/hr from an upper container to a chamber below containing 180 g C 3 H 6 O 3 , 453 g sodium bicarbonate CHNaO 3 , 80 g urea H 2 NCONH 2 . The subsequent release of CO 2  are 3×-10× the minimal detection threshold for mosquitoes for 7 days.
 
Example #3 may be modified by deleting urea from the mix. This will result in the emission of carbon dioxide but not ammonia. The example may also be modified by adding other attractants. For example, 0 to 10% peptone, o-15% phenylalamine, 0 to 15% beta alanine or 0 to 10% cholesterol may be added. Alternately, a combination of two or more of these attractants up to about 15% of the mix are also contemplated.
 
   The systems described above are effective in functioning as an attractant within two hours. In one test, within two hours, in an outdoor environment, 300 mosquitoes, 1100 noseeums and 12 horseflies were trapped. It is believed the system can operate using examples set forth above or their equivalents for, in the order of, seven days. The length of the continuous emission may be controlled by the volume of water or water/acetic acid mix that is used. 
   The method shown in the various examples, such as Example 3, may be implemented using apparatus shown in the drawings. In this arrangement, in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a dispenser  1  is provided which may be set on a surface or suspended above ground by hanging it from a wire or cord (not shown) connected to a handle or hook  2 . The dispenser includes a hood  4 , upper container or water cup  6 , lower container or fuel cup  8 , diaphragm  10 , valve  12 , skirt  14 , and stabilizer/heat sink  16 . 
   The hood  4  is formed with a continuous side wall  21  which, in one preferred embodiment, is frusto-conic in configuration with or without holes placed medially. A recessed or depressed cover  22  spans and is connected to the upper edge of the wall  21  by a circumferential flange  23 . The lower edge  24  of the wall  21  may be preferably scalloped as illustrated in FIG.  2 . The wall  21  is preferably frusto-conic in configuration, but may assume other shapes depending upon the particular purpose and size of the device. Other shapes are contemplated. An opening  25  is centrally formed in the recess cover  22 . The opening  25  may be threaded to receive a plug  38 . Plug  38  may be integrally formed with the handle or hook  2 . The hook  2  may take a wide range of shapes from a simple coat hanger hook shape to a more elaborate handle-shaped and sized to permit the unit to be carried by an individual using the hook  2  as a handle. The hood  4  is coated on at least the inner surface  20  by a non-drying or slow drying adhesive of conventional material used to hold insects and arthropods when they alight on its surface. Typically adhesive or glue paper material may be used and suitably secured to either the outside or inside of hood  4 . It may be modified, however, to include chemicals specifically designed to eradicate the target insects and/or arthropods. The adhesive coating may be applied to the inner surface of wall  21  and the inner surface of the bottom surface of cover  22  of the hood if desired. In some instances, limiting the adhesive to surface  20  is desirable if replacement hoods are to be stacked. If the adhesive or arthropod attractive surface is limited to surface  20 , a stack of hoods  4  may be nested together if properly shaped so that the walls  21  do not touch one another. A protective strippable paper or plastic covering the adhesive paper may also be employed until the unit is activated. Instead of coating the inner surfaces, glue paper or similar material may be lined against the surface and be removably secured to it by clips or the like so the glue paper may be changed when desired. 
   The upper container  6  comprises a cylindrical wall  30  (or other shape), a bottom wall  32 , and cap  34 . The cap  34  may be formed with an inlet tube  36  open at the top and extending through the cover for introducing water into the upper container  6 . The inlet tube  36  and cap  34  may be separately formed and thereafter secured to the cover  20  by suitable means such for example, as externally threading the end of tube  36  to engage a complimentary thread in the opening in the cover  22 . Other arrangements convenient for fabricating the unit are contemplated. In this arrangement plug  38  closes the upper end of tube  36 . It may threadingly engage the tube  36 . The bottom of the upper container is suitably connected to cap  34  and is closed at its bottom by the diaphragm  10  in which the valve  12  is positioned. A suitable stopcock which is externally accessible engages and controls valve  12  to permit a selected drip rate of water  40  from the upper container  6  into the lower container  8  onto the chemicals such as described in Example 3. 
   The upper container  6  may be formed in a variety of shapes. In the embodiment illustrated, the cap  34  may be threaded to the upper edge of cylindrical wall  30 . The upper container may be integrally molded with the cover  37  of the lower container  8  with the cover  37  connected to the bottom wall  32  by the annular neck  35 . 
   The lower container  8  may also be formed with a cylindrical wall  42  containing a series of holes  44  to permit outward passage of the CO 2  and NH 3  emitted by the chemical reaction of Example 3. The cylindrical wall  42  is suitable connected to the cover  37  by a variety of means including for example, a threaded inter-engagement between the inner surface of a depending flange extending from the cover  37  and the outer upper periphery of the wall  42 . 
   A quantity of dry chemicals  48  such as described in the Examples is located in the lower container  8  below the valve  12 . 
   The skirt  14  may have a shape similar to the shape of hood  4  and in some installations, may have desired to be interchangeable with it. In this arrangement, the skirt  14  is formed with a frusto-conic side wall  50 , and a cover  51 . The wall  50  is also formed with a lower scalloped edge  54  similar to the scalloped edge  24 . The purpose of the scalloped lower edge is to permit space for mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers and other arthropods to crawl underneath the skirt  14  if the scalloped edge  54  of the dispenser is placed on a surface. Suitably secured with the skirt  14  is a solid and relatively heavy heat sink  55  which may be formed of a variety of materials such as metal, brick, or plastic composite, whose purpose is to provide a heat emitting surface and also for purposes of functioning as a relatively effective stabilizer so that the unit does not readily tip. The heat sink may be secured by a cement, an adhesive or other means to the inner surface of the cover  51 . 
   In an alternate embodiment, the skirt  14  may be secured to the unit in a reverse position so that it acts as a receptacle for carbon dioxide forming a reservoir or basin for purposes of increasing efficiency. 
   The various components may be made more effectively by molding the hood  4  and the skirt  14  to be interchangeable. 
   In order to increase the arthropod attracting nature of the unit, the hood  4  is preferably black in color while the cover  22  is preferably a red phosphorescent color while the handle  2  is preferably phosphorescent blue if the phosphorescent color combinations are contemplated. These colors may be modified for purposes of attracting alternative arthropod species. The colors will range from near infrared to ultraviolet. The location of the adhesive strips on the inner surface  20  of hood  4  and the inner surface of skirt  14  is intended to provide a more sightly arrangement in which trapped mosquitoes, chiggers ticks and the like are not ordinarily visible. Additionally, the inner surfaces of the hood  4  and skirt  14  are preferably roughened to facilitate movement of insects towards the glue area or adhesive strips. As described in further detail below, and as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in one embodiment, the entire trap sits upon a round base or tray  165  that include slots and adhesive strips. 
   By providing a stop cock control of valve  12 , the rate of water flow from the upper container  6  through the valve  12  onto the chemical bed contained in lower container  8  may be controlled so as to conserve or speed up the dissipation of carbon dioxide. In place of a valve  12  the invention also contemplates other flow control means in the form of a fluid conveyor comprising a pipette or restrictive funnel with or without a wick extending through it and made of suitable material such as cotton. If desired, the inner surface of skirt  14  may be covered with a tape having a sticky outer surface for purposes of trapping ticks and the like that may crawl onto the dispenser. An appropriate filter may be positioned over the valve  12  if the water used is not clean. The chemicals positioned in the lower container  8  may be solid or dispensed in cake form for easy replacement. Typically, a cake of such material may last for in the order of 168 hours while generating sufficient CO 2  to attract insects and arthropods. 
   The present invention also contemplates forming the chemicals or a dry composition or cake for insertion in the lower container  8 . To be sure that the dry chemicals inserted in container  8  are proper in composition, it is desirable that the dry chemicals contemplated by the present invention and not other substitute chemical compositions be used for that purpose, the shape of container  8  may be specially designed to receive a complimentary specially shaped dry chemical cake. This shape may for example, comprise a star shape or some other irregular configuration of dry chemicals which fit closely into the interior of container  8 . 
   A further and preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In the arrangements of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the structure has some components corresponding in general arrangement to the components of the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Accordingly, some of the terms used in describing the embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 4  will be similarly identified. In this arrangement, a handle  102  having a U-shape with one leg having a scalloped finger edge  102 A is connected by a bight section to a pivoting leg  102 B with this pivoting leg  102 B journalled in a passage formed at the top of post  102 C. Post  102 C has an opening in which the handle is rotatably locked by interengagement of the post with leg  102 B in a manner that will permit pivoting rotation of the handle with respect to the post. The post  102 C extends through a cap  134  which is dome shaped. The lower end of post  102 C extends through a notched opening  103  in the depressed cover  122 . A similar notched opening  104  in the cap  134  permits the post to be projected through the openings  103  and  104 . The post  102 C is provided with a laterally extending flange at its lower end shaped with projecting radially opposed tabs adapted to pass through the notched openings  103 ,  104  and further adapted when the handle  102  is rotated ninety degrees to lock the handle to the cap  134  and depressed cover  122  by interengagement of projecting tabs of the laterally extending flange  111  with the lower surface of depressed cover  122 . 
   The cap  134  is preferably dome shaped and may be provided with a depending annular flange  135  that extends downwardly to and engages the upper surface of depressed cover  122  when the cap  134  and cover  122  are interlocked. The cap  134  is coextensive with hood  105 , which is frustro-conic in shape and is integrally connected to the depressed cover  122  by the stepped annular flange  122 A. The hood  105  is formed with a radially arranged series of openings  108  that circumscribe the hood  105 . In this embodiment, the hood  105  is preferably formed with a smooth annular lower edge  124 . A series of radially arranged, inwardly projecting tabs  109  are formed near the lower edge  124  of the hood  105 . These inwardly projecting tabs may be molded or appropriately vacuum formed in the hood to project a short distance inwardly to form engaging tabs for an annular glue board or annular glue board segments  110 . The annular glue board or glue board segment  110  are locked into and against the inner surface of hood  105  by interengagement of the lower edge of the glue boards with the inwardly projecting tabs  109 . These glue boards  110  may be otherwise secured to the inner surface of the hood  105 . They may be made of flexible material such as paper or foil, suitably coated with an adhesive suitable to trap insects. They provide an appropriate disposable surface for engaging ticks, mosquitoes or other insects. Glue boards  110  may be formed as annular segments or as an annular ring and should be designed for replacement purposes. The glue boards may have a non-adhesive outer surface and an adhesive inner surface capable of catching and holding ticks and other insects on engagement. An upper container  106  is preferably annularly formed with a continuing side wall  107  and an integrally formed bottom  112 . An opening  113  is centrally formed in the bottom  112 . A gasket or grommet  114 A annularly formed about a pipette  115  secures and seals the pipette in opening  113  in a manner that will permit fluid contained within the upper fluid container  106  to drip slowly through the axial opening in pipette  115  into a fuel cup or container  116 . The upper container  106  is secured to the depressed cover  122  by projecting barbs  123  with at least two projecting barbs  123  on diametrically opposite sides of the container  106  projecting upwardly through corresponding openings in the cover  122  to lock the container  106  to the cover. Additionally, a series of holes  125 , preferably four in number, are arranged radially about and extend through the cover  122 . 
   The bottom  112  of the upper container  106  is integrally formed with a frustro-conic section  130  that has a radially outwardly extending flange  131  at its lower edge. The flange  131  has a depending annular flange  132  extending downwardly from its outer edge with this depending annular flange formed with at least two lock slots  137  ( FIG. 4 ) formed diametrically opposite one another in the flange  132 . The radially extending flange  131  optionally may be provided with a plurality of passages  138  arranged radially around the flange  131 . Alternately, or in addition, a series of passages  139  may be formed in the frusto-conic section. The purpose of the passages  138  and/or  139  is to permit emission of gases formed in the container  116  as herein described. The container  116  is designed to receive the active materials referred to above including, for example, the materials described in the various examples. This material is placed on the bottom  140  of container  116  directly under the pipette  115  to receive the water or other fluid dripping from the upper container  106  through the pipette. The side wall  141  of container  116  is formed with an annular channel  142  in its outer wall a short distance below the bottom  140 . The container  116  is also formed with a plurality of locking tabs  137 A positioned, shaped and sized to engage lock slots  137  to secure container  116  to the flange  132 . 
   Skirt or shroud  114  has a sidewall  150  that is frusto-conic in shape. This side wall  150  terminates in an upper inwardly extending annular wall  151 . The inner edge of the wall  151  has a depending annular flange  152  integrally formed with it. A bottom wall  153  extends across the depending annular flange  152  intermediate its upper and lower ends and forms a support for the bottom  140  of fuel cup or container  116 . A series of inwardly extending lips  155  project inwardly from the upper wall  151  into the annular channel  142 . There are preferably at least four of such inwardly projecting lips radially arranged about the wall  151  with the lips  155  shaped and sized to snap fit into the annular channel  142 . A heat sink cup  160  is positioned below the fuel cup or container  116  and skirt  114  with the cup  160  shaped and sized to snugly fit within the lower portion of the depending flange  152 . The height of this cup  160  may be sufficiently high to occupy the space between the bottom wall  153  and the tick tray hereafter described. This heat sink cup  160  is shaped and sized to receive an appropriate heat sink which may consist of any heat retaining material such as a block of metal. The heat sink is designed to receive and retain heat during the day when temperatures are elevated and slowly emit heat when temperatures fall during the evening and night. This heat sink, therefore, acts as a heat source that attracts various ticks and arthropods in the course of the evening. 
   The skirt  114  is formed with an annular lower edge  161  that fits on and is secured by a series of stops  164  that project upwardly from the periphery of the tick tray  165 . Preferably, at least four or more stops  164  should be radially arranged around the periphery of the tick tray  165  to support the skirt  114  and the other elements of this assembly slightly above the tick tray  165 , with a space between lower edge  161  and the tray  165  to allow ticks to enter. The skirt  114  is further provided with a series of inwardly projecting tabs  166  similar in function and design to tabs  109 . These tabs  166  project inwardly a sufficient distance and are radially arranged about the inner surface of the skirt  114  to engage the lower edge of an annular glue board similar to glue board  110  or to otherwise support glue board segments (not shown) radially arranged and secured to the inner surface of skirt  114 . These glue boards are designed similarly to the previously discussed glue boards  110  and are intended to be replaceable. 
   The tick tray  165  is formed with a supporting top  170 . An upwardly projecting annular bead  171  extends radially about the top  170  and projects upwardly to define an inner circular area within which a replaceable glue board may be placed. The glue board is die-cut with radial slots that correspond with similar slots  173  in the top  170 . These radially arranged slots which may be four or more in number extend outwardly to just short of the bead  171 . The slots  173  function to allow ticks and insects that may be crawling on the underneath of the unit to get into the interior of the unit and climb onto the top  170  and be caught by the glue board resting on it. The outer periphery of the tick tray  165  has a descending annular flange  175  that supports the tick tray above ground level. Since the tick tray will often be placed outdoors on ground, the annular flange  175  will in many instances not be flush with the ground surfaces, thereby permitting areas under which ticks and other insects may crawl. It is these ticks and insects that will ordinarily crawl through the slots  173  and be caught by the glue board on the tick tray. 
   The outer surface on the upper container  106  may be provided with a luminescent surface of a selected color. This luminescent surface will appear to ticks and insects looking at the luminescent side wall  107  as a moving light as the tick or insect, itself, moves. This appearance of a moving light will thus appear as an attractant to the tick or insect. When seen by an insect from a distance, the luminous light appearing through holes  108  may appear to be the eyes of a mammal. 
   Accordingly, there are several tick and insect attractant functions of the invention described in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . First, fluid such as water or other materials herein described contained in the upper container  106  dripped through the pipette  115  onto the reactant material in the fuel cup  116 . This slow emission of carbon dioxide and ammonium is emitted over a prolonged time period through the openings  138  and/or  139  to function as an insect or tick attractant. Additionally, the radiation of heat from the heat sink within the heat sink cup  160  also generates an attractant source to ticks and insects. Additionally, the appearance of moving light from the chemiluminescent-coated outer container  106  through the openings  108  is a third form of insect/tick attraction. 
   Referring now to the further embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 5  to  9  and following, there is shown a trap intended for the same purposes as the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . In this embodiment  200 , the primary components include a handle  210  connected as herein after described to a dome  220  which supports a hood  230 . Also supported by the dome is an upper container or water cup  250  that is integrally connected as more fully described with a frusto-conic section  270 , the lower end of which is engaged with a fuel cup or container  280 . The fuel cup or container  280 , at its lower end, engages the skirt  300  which, in turn, engages a heat sink cup  330  beneath the skirt  300 . 
   A tick tray  350  supports the skirt  300  and the other elements of the structure. Additionally, one or more glue boards or adhesive strips may be supported strategically on top of or under the hood  230  and the skirt  300 . The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6  shows these glue boards supported on the outer surfaces, although glue boards may also be appropriately installed both on the outer and inner surfaces of the hood and skirt. 
   This tick tray  350  ( FIG. 7 ) is formed with a supporting top  351  and upwardly projecting annular bead  352  that extends radially about the top  351  to define an inner circular area within which a replaceable glue board (not shown) may be placed as desired. A glue board is die cut with radial slots that correspond with similar slots  353  in the top  351 . These radially arranged slots which may be four or more in number and in this case six, extend outwardly to just short of the bead  352 . The slots  353  function to allow ticks and insects that may be crawling on the underneath of the unit to get into the interior of the unit and climb over the top  351  to be caught by the glue board resting on it. The outer periphery of the tick tray  350  has a downwardly flared annular flange  354 , that supports the tick tray above ground level. Since the tick tray may often be placed outdoors on grounds that are not perfectly smooth, the flange  354  will not be flush with the ground, thus providing small raised areas or openings that will permit ticks and other insects to crawl beneath the tray  350 . These ticks and insects may crawl through the slots  353 . 
   In addition, the skirt or bottom shroud  300  is formed with a lower annular edge  361  that fits on and is secured by a series of stops  364  that project upwardly from the tick tray  350  to support the skirt slightly above the tick tray  350 , with the space between the lower edge  361  and the tray providing space that allows ticks to enter. The skirt  300  has a sidewall  301  that is frusto-conic in shape. This sidewall  301  terminates at its upper end in an inwardly extending annular wall  302 . The inner edge of the wall  302  has a depending annular flange  303  integrally formed with it. A bottom wall  304  extends across the depending annular flange  303  intermediate its upper and lower ends and forms a support for the bottom of the fuel cup  280  as described hereafter. A series of inwardly extending lips  306  project inwardly from the inner edge of the annular wall  302  to engage the fuel cup  280  as hereafter described. There are preferably at least four, and as illustrated in this embodiment six, such inwardly projecting lips  306  radially arranged about the wall  303 . The lips  306  are shaped and sized to snap fit over the annular flange  281  described hereafter. 
   The heat sink cup  330  is shaped and sized to receive an appropriate heat sink  334  which may consist of any heat-retaining material such as a block of metal or a quantity of a heat retaining gel. Other heat sources are also contemplated, such as a battery-operated heat pad. The heat sink is designed to receive and retain heat during the day when temperatures are elevated and slowly emit heat when temperatures fall during the evening and night. The heat sink  334  therefore acts as a heat source that attracts various ticks and arthropods through the course of the evening. In one preferred embodiment, an appropriate gel commercially available in heat and cold compresses may function as the heat sink material. The advantages of such commercially available gel is it is inexpensive and functions quite satisfactorily. A plurality, preferably three equally spaced dogs  331 , project outwardly from the upper edge of the cup  330  to interlock with inwardly extending lips or flanges at the lower edge of flange  303  as illustrated at  310 . The dogs  331  thus interlock with the inwardly extending flanges  310  to hold the cup  330  firmly against the inner surface of the shroud  300 . Before securing the heat sink cup  330  to the skirt  300 , a quantity of gel or other heat sink material as previously described should be inserted into the cup. 
   A fuel cup  280  is preferably cylindrical in shape with an open top and closed bottom. At the bottom, an annular flange  281  circumscribes the outer wall of the cup  280 . The flange  281  extends upwardly from the bottom edge  284  of the cup. It is shaped and sized to engage in a snap fit the inwardly engaging lips  306 . Thus the cup  280  may be popped into engagement with the skirt or shroud  300 . The upper edge of the cup  280  is provided with a pair of outwardly extending tabs  283  diametrically opposed to one another and extending outwardly from the outer upper edge of the cup. The fuel cup  280  is sized to receive a quantity of chemicals  285  of the type described earlier. Preferably, these chemicals will be reactive to water or other fluids that cause the chemicals to emit carbon dioxide over a prolonged time period. 
   The frusto-conic section  270  ( FIGS. 6-8 ) of the upper container or water cup  250  is secured to the upper edge of the fuel cup  280 . In this arrangement, the lower edge of the frusto-conic section  270  terminates in an outwardly extending annular flange  271 , in turn terminating in a downwardly extending skirt  272 . The downwardly extending skirt  272  is provided with at least a pair of opposed lock slots  273  shaped and sized to inter-engage the fuel cup  280  by engagement of the outwardly extending flanges or tabs  283  of the cup  280  in the key hole slots  273 . The slots  273  extend radially about the skirt for a length longer than the length of the tabs  283  with downwardly extending openings  274  continuous with the slots  273  having a width at least equal to the width of the tabs  283 . A lattice work of openings  275  extend through the upper end of the frusto-conic section  270  just below the container  250 . This lattice of openings  275  may be provided on opposite sides or diagonally opposite portions of the conic section  270 . These openings  275  provide passage for the outward flow of air that has reacted with the chemical. 
   The upper container or water cup  250  is symmetrically positioned above the frusto-conic section and may be integrally formed with it. For better rigidity a pair of gussets  276  may extend between the outer surface of the frusto-conic section and the bottom  251  of the cup  250 . The cup further includes an upwardly extending cylindrical wall  252  continuous with the bottom  251 . At the upper open end  253  of the cup  250  a pair of barbs  254  are integrally formed diametrically opposite one another. These barbs  254  extend outwardly, and engage openings  238  in the top wall of hood  230 . An axially aligned opening or passage  256  is formed in the bottom  251 . An annular wall  257  extends downwardly from the bottom  251  and defines the opening  256 . The opening  256  is designed to receive in a secure and snug fit a valve  400  in a manner hereafter described. The inside of the cup  250  may be further reinforced by a plurality of corner gussets  258 . 
   The valve  400  that fits into opening  256  is designed to limit the flow of water from the cup  250  downwardly through passage opening  256  into the fuel cup  280  to react with fuel contained in that cup. In its preferred form, the valve permits the slow drip of fluid through it. Preferably the valve  400  should permit the flow of fluid from a cup  250  full of water for many days and preferably at a constant rate for a period in the order of one week. The valve  400  should further be designed to permit the drip of this fluid at an approximate rate of 2 ml/hour. Other rates for different desired durations may be considered and the flow rate varied by obvious modification of the parameters of the valve  400 . 
   The valve  400  includes an annular body  401  having a passage  402  there through. The annular body  401  is formed at its lower end with an outwardly extending annular flange  403 . The passage  402  may, as illustrated, be tapered from one end to the other. In a typical application, the diameter of the bottom may be in the order of ¼″ whereas the diameter at the upper tapered end may be in the order of 0.187 inches. The valve may be formed of a conventional valve material such as rubber. One end of the valve may be covered with a filter sheet  405  designed to permit the migration or passage of water at a very slow rate through the filter paper into the fuel cup. The particular material used may comprise a semi-permeable membrane having a thickness and permeability factor selected for the particular purposes herein described. Other methods of diffusing water at a constant flow in the orders of magnitude considered may comprise a pipette, a wick, a sponge, felt filters, or other appropriate mechanism. If a wick is used it is secured in the passage  402 . It should have sufficient permeability to permit the flow of water or other fluid from the cup  250  downwardly into the fuel cup  280  and onto the material contained in it.  FIG. 9  illustrates such an arrangement. A valve  410  having a cylindrical body  412  with an axial opening  414  has a wick  416  secured in it. When in use the fluid  40  is wicked downwardly and drops of the liquid fall onto the material below. When installed, the valve  400  is fitted closely into the opening  256  with the annular flange  403  pressed upwardly against the bottom edge of the annular wall  257 . 
   The hood or top shroud  230  has a frusto-conic wall  231 . In a preferred embodiment, the wall  231  is provided with a series of holes or slots  232 . These holes and slots are optional. If used, six holes will typically provide sufficient opening to permit insects to pass through. The top shroud is open at the bottom  233  and has a top wall  234  that is downwardly offset from the top edge  235  of the shroud  230 . An annular wall  236  connects the wall  234  with a top of the shroud  230 . A hole  237  is axially formed in the top wall  234 . The hole  237  is a key-hole type hole as illustrated in the top plan view of the top shroud. The glue board or adhesive strip  370  is secured circumferentially about the shroud  230  at its lower edge. The glue boards or strips  370  are formed of any suitable flexible and sturdy material such as paper or cardboard. These boards are coated with an insect adhesive similar to the adhesives used on conventional fly paper. A wide range of adhesive materials capable of trapping an insect on its surface may be used. The strip  370  is conventionally formed as a flexible element having a frusto-conic shape. The ends of the strip  370  may be secured by two pairs of knobbed pins  440  which are riveted or as otherwise suitably secured to the outer surface of the top shroud. The strip  370  should maybe overlap at these pins at each end and be secured to it by popping the paper onto the pins at a location in which suitable cross slits have been formed in the paper to permit the pins to be forced through the strip  370 . 
   A similar mechanism may be used to secure the strips  375  to the lower skirt  300  by two pair of pins  440 A projecting from the skirt  300 . 
   The dome  220  is formed with a central opening  221  having a key-hole shape, sized to receive the handle or hook  210 . The bottom surface of the dome  220  is formed with an annular depending flange  222  that is shaped and sized to fit into and engage the recessed section defined by the annular wall  236  and top wall  234  of the top shroud  230 . The dome is provided with a pair of downwardly extending dogs or tabs  223  that extend downwardly diametrically opposite one another into openings  238  in the top wall  234  of the shroud  230  to align the keyholes  221 ,  237  and lock in barbs  254  to prevent accidental release of  250  from  230 . 
   The dome  220  is secured in a locked position with the top shroud  230  by the handle  210 . This handle  210  ( FIG. 23 ) is formed with a shaft  211  integrally formed with the hand grip  212 . The base of the shaft  211  is preferably formed with an outwardly extending flange  213  having a keyhole configuration. The shaft  211  may have any suitable cross-sectional shape as may the hand grip  211 , but for economy of material it is preferable the shaft  211  have an x-beam shape while the cross-section of the hand grip  211  may have an I-beam cross-section. 
   To interengage the handle  210 , the dome  220 , the top shroud  230 , and the upper container  250  and its integrally formed frusto-conic section  270 , the shaft  211  is inserted through the hole or opening  221  in the dome and the hole or opening  237  in the shroud  230 . Once inserted to a point in which the flange  213  is below the wall  234 , the handle is turned to lock the components together. 
   In the assembly described, the selected chemical composition previously described is inserted in the fuel cup  280 , and water is inserted in the upper container  250 . The units are assembled so that water in the upper container  250  will drip at a slow rate over a period of many days, in a manner as herein described from the upper container  250  through the valve  400  and onto the composition resting in the bottom of the fuel cup. There is a reaction between the water and the material in the fuel cup that emits carbon dioxide and other gaseous materials as previously described. The carbon dioxide moves through the lattice of openings  275 , thus permitting carbon dioxide to escape and present an atmosphere attractive to ticks and mosquitoes. 
   The embodiments described also contemplates using a water cup insert in the water cup to negate variable pressure of a water column that decreases in height as the water moves from the cup. 
   The present invention also contemplates providing a birdcage-like cover to fit over the trap described in this present invention in order to preclude large objects such as pets, children, etc. from inadvertently brushing against the adhesive surfaces. 
   The top shroud  230  is illustrated in a preferred embodiment with a series of holes. It is contemplated, however, that the shroud may be made without holes or fewer or more holes than illustrated. The openings do provide an appearance of motion to an insect. 
   The present invention also contemplates forming the various components of plastic and in particular of plastic in different colors. In the preferred embodiment, the plastic components are preferably red or blue, and in a particular embodiment the fuel cup is blue and the upper shroud or skirt  230  black, with the remaining components red. In some instances, other colors are preferable attractants for insects or arthropods. For example, fleas are believed to be attracted to a yellow-green color. Provisions may also be made for colored paper or plastic to be wrapped around various components for use in attracting different types of insects or bugs. 
   Although the preferred embodiment of the invention outlines a series of chemicals that are believed to be when activated generate carbon dioxide which is attracted to insects. Other chemicals may also be used. For example, an octenol or other chemical block, pheromones, may attract specific insects. 
   Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this invention, it is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur by those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.