Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Vermin destroying – Poison holders
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-31
2002-09-03
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Vermin destroying
Poison holders
C043S132100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06442890
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the control of pests, such as ants and bees and, more particularly, it relates to the use of micromachines at least partially covered by an attractant and having radio activated switch means which establish responsive battery activation of means which directly or indirectly initiate action to control the pests.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In addition to other pests, such as wasps and bees, there are approximately 10,000 species of ants worldwide. Depending on the species, they nest in the ground, in trees or in man-made structures. Ants feed upon everything humans do in addition to a variety of other items.
Ants can be beneficial in that they attack and kill pests of humans and agricultural crops, play a role in soil aeration, nutrient cycling and topsoil formation, pollinate certain plants, and are a source of human food in certain societies.
However, some ants are harmful to humans. Ants have been found to carry human disease organisms which they spread when they invade hospitals and walk on patients, patients' food and medical preparations. Ants also attack and destroy agriculturally important crops and animals, and reduce populations of native birds and reptiles. Certain ants also tunnel through trees and wooden structural members in homes causing serious structural damage.
All ants are social insects in that they live in colonies containing specialized groups of ants. These groups are the workers, the larvae, the queen, and the males. The queen controls the activities in the nest by emitting chemical signals to the members of the colony.
The workers are sterile females and are the most numerous members of the colony. They perform most of the work of the colony such as constructing the nest, gathering food, feeding other members of the nest, defending the nest, and cleaning the nest. The larvae are grub-like, immature ants that are constantly fed, groomed and protected by the worker ants until they develop into adult ants.
Due to their extremely narrow esophagus, the adult ants (the workers, queens, and males) are generally able to consume only liquid foods. The workers regurgitate some of the liquid food in their stomach to other members of the colony, including the queen. Sharing nourishment in this manner is called trophallaxis.
The larvae (in their later stages of development) are the only members of the colony that can consume solid food. The larvae are fed pieces of solid food which they digest. The larvae then exude certain secretions through their skin which are eagerly licked up by the workers. When the larvae have grown, they go through a period of change called metamorphosis, during which they change from their grub-like form to an adult ant.
After an ant colony has matured, some of the larvae metamorphose into winged, fertile females and males, in addition to workers (sterile females). At the appropriate time, these fertile females and males mate (either in the nest or outside the nest) and the fertilized female, now called a queen, seeks a suitable location to establish a new colony. The male dies shortly after mating. The queen will lay about a dozen eggs which she tends to and feeds until they have developed into adult ants. During this period, the queen does not leave the nest or gather food, but she lives on the nourishment from the stored fat and dissolving wing muscles in her body. She also feeds the first brood of developing larvae by regurgitating some liquid food to them. When the first adult ants hatch, they leave the nest to gather food for themselves and the queen. From this point on, the queen's only function is to increase the population of the nest by laying eggs. The nest grows in size and matures and the cycle is repeated when fertile females and males are produced.
The ability of ants to thrive under a variety of conditions and man's expansion into areas naturally inhabited by ants has brought ant and man into confrontation. Man has employed various means to control ants including pesticidal sprays, dusts, baits, pouring boiling water into an ant mound, and removing food sources. Most recently, use of pheromones to detrimentally alter the behavior of the ants, use of disease organisms to kill the members of the ant colony, and use of natural insect enemies of ants are being researched and used to control ants. The Florida Department of Agriculture released several thousand Brazilian phorid flies in an attempt to control the fire ant in Florida. However, even with the above control attempts over the years, ants continue to thrive and cause damage. A primary reason for this is that the ant colony, and in particular, the queen and developing larvae, being below ground, in a tree limb, or inside the wall of a home, are hidden from view and protected. In most cases, unless the queen and developing larvae are destroyed, the ant colony can regenerate to its pretreatment population levels in a short period of time. Therefore, the key to greater control of ants is being able to deliver an ant-controlling substance deep into the nest where the queen and developing larvae reside or being able to locate the queen and developing larvae so they can be treated and eliminated by conventional means, such as spraying with an insecticide.
The fire ant is believed to have been introduced into the port of Mobile, Ala. in the 1930's, most likely in soil used as ballast on South America cargo ships. The fire ants spread from Mobile to other areas across the southern United States. Spread of the fire ants is due not only to natural mating flights, but also to the movement of infested plants, sod, and soil. In 1958, the Federal Fire Ant Quarantine was enacted to try to prevent the spread of fire ants from quarantined areas, but the ant continues to spread at the rate of 5-12 miles per year. Eventually fire ants, unless controlled, are expected to infest almost one-fourth of the United States, including the western seaboard where temperature and moisture are adequate to support establishment of the fire ants. Northward spread of fire ants has been limited by cold weather, but colonies can survive in northern areas by building their nests under roadways, against concrete slabs and in external walls of heated buildings.
The mound or nest of the fire ants has no external openings; underground tunnels radiating from the mound allow ants to come and go in search of food. The number of ants determines the size and growth of each colony. Beginning colonies are generally a few inches across, compared to older colonies which may be in excess of two feet or more in height and diameter. The mound is a series of interlocking tunnels and chambers which may reach more than five feet below the surface. Where the ants are located within the nest is dependent on weather conditions, water level and other factors.
Fire ants are best known for their aggressive behavior. If their nest is disturbed, they defend it by swarming out and over the mound, even running up grass blades and sticks.
Workers of many different sizes make up the fire ants colony. The largest workers are called majors; the medium-sized workers are called medias; and the smallest workers are minors. However, the age of the worker ant, not her size, determines what tasks she will eventually perform.
A mature fire ant colony may contain 100,000 to 500,000 workers and several hundred winged males and females that remain in the nest until weather conditions are favorable for mating flights. After mating in the air, the new queen falls to the ground to begin a new colony, and the male falls to the ground and dies.
Eggs of the fire ant hatch in 7-10 days into grub-like larvae. Larvae are totally dependent on workers for their care. During the following 6-12 days, the larvae will molt four times. After the fourth molt, larvae become pupae and go through metamorphosis. Adults emerge in 9-16 days and begin their tasks in the colony. The oldest ants in the colony are the “foragers.” They are re
Creeger Samuel M.
Fakiro Uri
Cillo Daniel P.
Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott , LLC
Golba Tara M.
Jordan Charles T.
Silverman Arnold B.
LandOfFree
Method of controlling pests and associated apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method of controlling pests and associated apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of controlling pests and associated apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2820977