Pop-up termite indicator

Details Pop-up termite indicator Pop-up termite indicator

2000-02-24

2001-07-31

Rowan, Kurt (Department: 3643)

Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying

Vermin destroying

Poison holders

C043S124000, C043S132100, C073S587000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06266918

ABSTRACT:

This invention pertains to a device for detecting and signaling the presence of wood-destroying insects, especially termites. In particular, it is directed to a mechanical device that displays a visual signal outside the housing of a monitor or bait station when a trigger is released by the feeding activity of wood-destroying insects.
The Formosan subterranean termite,
Coptotermes formosanus
Shiraki, is a major world-wide pest, known to attack living trees and structural wood.
C. formosanus
is a native to southeast Asia and can be found in Hawaii, Guam, Brazil, Midway Island, Sri Lanka, and Africa.
C. formosanus
was first discovered in the United States in 1965. The largest single locus of
C. formosanus
in the U.S. is located in south Louisiana, with heavy infestations in Lake Charles and New Orleans.
The detection and eradication of Formosan termites and other termites is a major problem. For many years, homeowners and pest-control operators applied toxic poisons at ground level in and around foundation structures where termites could be expected. However, this method had the potential to cause short and long term health problems and to damage the surrounding environment.
One of the newer, safer methods to control termites is to confine the toxins to bait stations that are placed around a structure (either above or below ground), forming interception points near suspected areas of infestation. Termites are lured to the bait station with foods or attractants, for example, a cellulose source. The termites attack the bait and carry the termiticides back to the colony. Although this method can be effective in killing both foraging and non-foraging termites, it is expensive, both because of the number of bait stations required and because of the need to periodically inspect and replace each station.
Currently, the most effective and inexpensive method to control termites is initially to use monitors without toxins to detect the presence of termites. Only after a termite infestation has been detected are the more expensive, toxic bait stations placed in the proximity of the infestation. This method targets the infested area and uses fewer bait stations.
The current technology for detecting termites inside a monitor or bait station either involves expensive signaling mechanisms, usually electrical, or involves visually looking into the monitor or bait station, either through a transparent housing or by opening a lid and pulling out the bait. Visual inspection may disrupt the device by pulling it from the ground or by opening the lid. When termites are so disturbed, they often leave the area and may even leave a pheromone warning for other termites to avoid the area. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,018. If the housing is transparent and the monitor or bait station is placed above ground, then light will enter the device. Because termites avoid the light, this device would not be as attractive to termites as a monitor with a dark or opaque housing.
There is a need for a way to detect the presence of termites that is simple and inexpensive and that does not require either disturbing the termites or a transparent housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,774 describes a multi-chambered device that detects the presence of subterranean termites. The device uses at least two chambers, with one chamber impermeable to termites. Ambient environmental changes (e.g., moisture, methane gas, or pH) between the impermeable chamber and the chambers open to termites are monitored by an external detector. The data collected from each chamber are recorded on site or are transferred to an off-site computer. By comparing the two sets of data, the presence and the degree of infestation by termites can be determined.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,967 describes a device for the detection of termites, which comprises a damp wood sample, a detection terminal, an electrical circuit, and a magnetic or vibration sensor. The device is partially buried so that the wood sample is below the surface, but the upper portion containing the detection termal and magnetic circuit is above ground. As the wood sample is destroyed by termites, the floating detection terminal sinks into the wood sample and opens a circuit, which sends an electric signal to a monitoring center. Additionally, the lowering of the detection terminal can be visually monitored by looking through a window on the side of the upper portion of the housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,658 describes a device that attaches to structural surfaces to attract and detect the presence of wood-destroying insects. The non-toxic monitoring device has a transparent housing, which is periodically inspected for the presence of insects. Once insects are seen through the housing, the non-toxic bait material may be inoculated with a poisonous substance or replaced with a toxic bait material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,018 describes a device for detecting and controlling subterranean termites, having a transparent housing with an opening in the bottom and an interior chamber which contains a moisture-absorbing attractant, for example, rolled cardboard. The device is partially buried such that the upper portion receives heat from the sun. During the day, the attractant material is heated and absorbs moisture from the soil. At night, the attractant releases moisture into the soil as the attractant cools, creating a temperature anomaly, which attracts termites. The device is periodically inspected by looking through the transparent upper portion. When termites are seen, a poisonous bait can be inserted into the interior chamber.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,901,496 and 5,329,726 describe devices for detecting termite activity, having an outer housing which is permanently buried, an inner housing containing a bait material, and a cover. After burying the outer housing, the inner housing with the bait is placed inside, aligning the openings so that termites may enter the inner housing. To inspect for termites, the inner housing is removed from the outer housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,877,422 describes a device comprising an alarm device, a relay device, and a detection apparatus. The detection apparatus electrically senses the presence of termites when the termites pass through openings connecting two internal chambers. This electrical signal is sent to a relay device, which in turn sends a signal to a monitoring center.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,356 describes a device for detecting and controlling termites that attaches non-toxic bait material to the interior walls of the housing. The device is buried such that the top is at ground level. The device is inspected at regular intervals for the presence of termites by removing the cover and observing the bait material. Upon detection of termites, a toxic bait material can be introduced without removing the non-toxic bait material.
We have discovered a simple, inexpensive signal device to detect and indicate the presence of wood-destroying insects, particularly subterranean termites. The signal device comprises a triggering mechanism and a signaling mechanism. The simple device can be adapted to fit almost all commercially available monitors or bait stations. The triggering mechanism is designed to be released upon destruction by feeding of termites or other wood-eating insects. Upon release, the triggering mechanism is designed to either pull or push a visual signal out of the housing, producing a signal that can be seen from a distance. Using this signal device, the presence of termites can be detected without disturbing the monitor or bait station. Moreover, because the signal is seen outside the housing, the housing need not be transparent.


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