Field trap for flies

Details Field trap for flies Field trap for flies

1994-07-20

1996-07-30

Lavinder, Jack W.

Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying

Traps

Insect

43107, A01M 102

Patent

active

055400116

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a field trap for selective capture of one or more species of fly primarily, but not necessarily exclusively, for analysis of fluctuations in the population of the species.


REVIEW OF MOST RELEVANT ART KNOWN TO THE APPLICANT

Field fly traps are widely used in agricultural research and pest monitoring to assess when and how best to apply insecticide sprays or adopt other measures to protect a field of crop.
The simplest traps for this purpose comprise one or more strips of brightly coloured adhesive and, optionally, insecticide-coated paper, or a simple water-containing bowl which is often brightly coloured as an attractant to flies and which may have additional surfactant to assist in drowning flies which land in the water. These traps are however non-discriminatory, the choice of attractant colour having little effect in selection of fly species, and give rise to considerable problems in subsequently discriminating between the insect corpses to identify the species in question.
A more refined prior art technique involves use of a "lobster pot" trap which comprises an open-topped pot substantially sealed, in use, by a lid but having a funnel-shaped entrance in the base thereof for entry of insects (see FIG. 1). This trap is mounted to a stake which raises it above ground level in use.
The base of the pot (B) is usually opaque while the main body and upper portions (A) of the pot are transparent. The light within the pot and any suitable chemical attractant which is placed therewithin acts to entice the flies up through the funnel entrance into the pot where it is intended that they will subsequently become disoriented and fail to find their way out again.
Whereas the lobster pot design of trap is comparatively more effective in selecting the desired species of fly than the two afore-mentioned traps, it is not reliable. This design of pot relies heavily upon the selectively attractive effect of the chemical attractant and is liable to give misleading results due to seasonal and daily variations in the heating of the pot thereby giving rise to fluctuating rates of emission of the chemical attractant which vaporises far more readily under the glare of the mid-summer sun. A further problem that arises is desiccation and embrittlement of the fly specimens.
It is a general objective of the present invention to provide a species selective fly trap which overcomes the problems of conventional traps.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A species-selective field trap for flies which comprises a receptacle having a removable lid, said receptacle forming a substantially closed chamber, when the lid is in place, within which a source of chemical attractant vapour attractive to the selected species of fly and unattractive to most other species or fly is positioned in use, and having one or more small apertures in a/the side of the lid, in use, thereof adapted to closely accommodate passage of the selected species of fly therethrough, said apertures being the primary means by which the chemical attractant vapour is emitted from the receptacle characterised in that the receptacle has a substantially opaque upper, in use, end extending for a major proportion of the height of the receptacle and which is coloured as a visual attractant to the selected species of fly.
Preferably the base, in use, of the receptacle is translucent. A shroud may be provided extending downwardly, in use, from the base.
Preferably the receptacle is partially filled with an entrapment liquid such as, for example, water and preferably also with surfactant. This liquid suitably rises within the receptacle to a level just below the aperture(s), thereby ensuring that the flies which enter are substantially immediately trapped, and further ensuring greater consistency in vapour pressure gradient from within the receptacle to the exterior.
Where the selected species of fly to be trapped is Delia radicum, the visual attractant colour is suitably fluorescent yellow, the chemical attractant is suitably isoth

REFERENCES:
patent: 1787421 (1930-12-01), Ruddell
patent: 4328636 (1982-05-01), Johnson
patent: 4551941 (1985-11-01), Schneidmiller
patent: 4642936 (1987-02-01), Jobin
patent: 4794724 (1989-01-01), Peters
patent: 4986024 (1991-01-01), Peek
patent: 5231791 (1993-08-01), Falkson

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Field trap for flies does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Field trap for flies, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Field trap for flies will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1651039