An Improved Trap for Destroying Caterpillars.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Nov., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Trap for Destroying Caterpillars.
A communication to me from abroad by CARL PAUL, Tailor, of Muensterberg, Silesia,
Prussia.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and Engineers,
of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement and
accompanying drawing, that is to say :-
This invention relates to an improved trap for destroying caterpillars and other
insects which are in the habit of creeping up and down trees. The said trap, consists
of a strip of wire gauze, about 1 inches in breadth and 30 inches long.
One side of this strip is coated with glue and upon the glue is spread a thin layer
of fibres, preferably of flax or the like, the fibres having a length of about 10 inches,
6 inches of which are arranged below, and 4 inches above, the glue.
On this layer of fibres is laid another strip of wire-gauze, about three inches in
breadth, 1 inches of which are cut from the edge to form fingers or points, which are
bent upward at right angles to the strip.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of the invention, and shews its general
arrangement upon a tree.
Round the tree to which the trap is to be applied is secured below the lowest branch,
a strip of felt, about 1 inch in breadth and inch thick, the wire gauze, prepared as
above described is laid round the said strip of felt and secured thereon by small nails
or pins, which slightly enter the bark of the tree, just sufficiently to give the trap a
firm hold to the latter. The upper fibres, about 4 inches in length, are laid over
horizontally projecting points or fingers of the wire gauze, the free ends of the said
fibres hanging loosely suspended down. The strip of felt laid between the wire gauze
and the tree prevents the fibres from entering into immediato contact with the tree,
and by means of the fingers or points cut from the wire gauze and bent at right angles
thereto, the upper and lower fibres are separated by about 1 inches.
The caterpillars, chafers, and other insects which creep up and down the tree will,
without fail, entangle themselves with the fibres and being retained therein, will be all
destroyed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A trap for destroying caterpillars and other insects, consisting of a strip of felt laid
round the tree, and a ring of wire gauze secured upon the said felt, the edge or edges
of the said ring being bent outward, with a crown or layer of vegetable fibre, such as
flax, secured to the said ring with the ends of the fibre partly hanging above and
partly below the felt, for the purpose of catching and destroying the caterpillars and
other insects which entangle themselves in the fibres, substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of October 1800
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.