Modular insect trap
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a trap for collecting arthropods, for example ticks. The device comprises an attractant placed over an adhesive surface with the adhesive facing down or at an angle to prevent debris from inadvertently collecting. The arthropods, attracted to the device by the attractant then adhere to the adhesive surface on their dorsal side. The invention also relates to a method of using the device to collect insects by placing one or more of the devices in a desired collection area and collecting insects over a period of time without the need for constant monitoring of the devices.
1. A device for collecting arthropods comprising:
a. a container, which has at least one wall and at least one hole located in and penetrating said at least one wall;
b. an arthropod attractant, which is contained within said container such that said arthropod attractant is released from said at least one hole located in and penetrating said at least one wall;
c. an adhesive tape or strip, which comprises at least one adhesive surface, wherein said at least one adhesive surface is suspended off the ground, and wherein the adhesive tape or strip is placed on the device such that attracted crawling arthropods are directed towards the adhesive tape or strip whereby the attracted crawling arthropods are induced to approach the at least one adhesive surface on the device until they become adhered to the at least one adhesive surface on their dorsal side, wherein said device comprises a beveled base, wherein said beveled base comprises a beveled face and a substantially horizontal lower face, wherein said beveled face is oriented at an acute angle relative to the substantially horizontal lower face of the beveled base; and wherein the adhesive tape or strip is attached to a top of the beveled base parallel to the substantially horizontal lower face of the beveled base such that the adhesive tape or strip is over-lapping but not touching the beveled face, and wherein the at least one adhesive surface of the adhesive tape or strip faces towards the beveled face such that when said arthropods crawl up the beveled face of the beveled base they become entrapped on the dorsal sides by the at least one adhesive surface.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the beveled face is 0° to 90° relative to the substantially horizontal lower face of the beveled base.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein the beveled face is approximately 45° relative to the substantially horizontal lower face of the beveled base.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein said adhesive tape or strip further comprises a backing over the at least one adhesive surface that can be removed prior to use of the device.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein said arthropods are selected from the group consisting of ants, beetles, stink bugs, and ticks.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein said arthropod are ticks.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein said arthropod attractant is a source of CO 2 .
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein said beveled base can be folded.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one hole is located ½ to 2 inches from a bottom of the container such that the arthropod attractant is released from said at least one hole.
10. The device of claim 1 wherein said container is secured to said beveled base.
11. The device of claim 10 , wherein said container is secured to said beveled base by a post that connects the container to the beveled base.
12. The device of claim 1 wherein the adhesive tape or strip is over-lapping but not touching the beveled face such that 50% to 100% of the beveled face is canopied by the adhesive tape or strip.
13. A method of trapping arthropods comprising:
a. placing one or more of the devices recited in any one of claims 1 , 2 , 4 - 5 , 7 - 11 , 6 , 12 or 3 in a desired collection area;
b. removing trapped arthropods from said one or more of the devices at least once after said one or more of the devices are placed in the desired collection area.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said arthropods are selected from the group consisting of ants, beetles, stink bugs, and ticks.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein said at least one hole restricts the arthropods from entering said at least one hole by means of diameter or mesh fine enough to exclude the arthropods yet large enough for attractive amounts of the attractant to be released.