Insect trap

Abstract

The invention relates to an insect trap which is especially intended for catching and/or rendering harmless flying insects and/or harmful insects. The insect trap ( 10 ), in a first embodiment, has a planar or curved, light surface ( 12 ) and at least one dark contrast spot ( 16 ) disposed inside said surface. The insect trap ( 10 ), in a second embodiment, has a diffuser surface ( 14 ) for producing a weak air current ( 22 ) that emanates from said surface. Both embodiments can be combined as required to increase the effectiveness of the trap. The insect trap ( 10 ) is further provided with devices for keeping, catching and/or eliminating trapped insects ( 42 ) on a surface of the trap and/or in a cavity ( 20 ) arranged therein. Insect traps of the above mentioned type are used in pest control indoors and outdoors and for detecting an insect density (monitoring).

1 - 35 . (canceled)  
   
   
       36 . An insect trap comprising: 
 a generally hollow body having a foraminous wall region of a predetermined area;    means including a fan in the body for expelling air through the region in a weak stream; and    means on the body for holding insects attracted by the weak stream.    
   
   
       37 . The insect trap defined in  claim 36  wherein the fan displaces the air stream through the region at a speed between 2 cm/sec and 100 cm/sec.  
   
   
       38 . The insect trap defined in  claim 37  wherein the speed is between 3 cm/sec and 50 cm/sec.  
   
   
       39 . The insect trap defined in  claim 37  wherein the speed is between 5 cm/sec and 20 cm/sec.  
   
   
       40 . The insect trap defined in  claim 36  wherein the body is formed with a passage having an opening adjacent the region and of a cross-sectional size equal to substantially less than the predetermined area, the fan having an intake connected only to the passage and an output connected only to the foraminous region, whereby air is sucked into the passage at an intake speed much greater than a speed at which air is expelled through the foraminous region.  
   
   
       41 . The insect trap defined in  claim 40  wherein a flow speed in the intake passage is at least 1 m/sec.  
   
   
       42 . The insect trap defined in  claim 41  wherein the flow speed in the intake passage is at least 2 m/sec.  
   
   
       43 . The insect trap defined in  claim 40  wherein a flow speed in the intake passage is at least about ten times greater than a flow speed of the weak current through the foraminous region.  
   
   
       44 . The insect trap defined in  claim 36  wherein the foraminous region is a mesh.  
   
   
       45 . The insect trap defined in  claim 36  wherein the foraminous region is a generally horizontal upper surface of an upper end of the body.  
   
   
       46 . The insect trap defined in  claim 45  wherein the body is centered on an upright axis.  
   
   
       47 . The insect trap defined in  claim 46  wherein the body is formed with a passage having an opening upwardly centrally the region and of a cross-sectional size equal to substantially less than the predetermined area, the fan having an intake connected only to the passage and an output connected only to the foraminous region, whereby air is sucked into the passage at an intake speed much greater than a speed at which air is expelled through the foraminous region.  
   
   
       48 . The insect trap defined in  claim 47  wherein the body has a substantially closed floor underneath the fan and substantially closed side walls extending axially between the floor and the upper end of the body.  
   
   
       49 . The insect trap defined in  claim 48  wherein the side walls form an upright tubular cylinder centered on the axis.  
   
   
       50 . The insect trap defined in  claim 48 , further comprising 
 a screen in the passage upstream of the fan intake.    
   
   
       51 . The insect trap defined in  claim 48 , further comprising 
 means in the body for emitting an attractant to be carried by the air stream through the region out of the body.    
   
   
       52 . The insect trap defined in  claim 51  wherein the means for emitting includes a plurality of separate vessels each hold a respective component of the attractant.  
   
   
       53 . The insect trap defined in  claim 47  wherein the foraminous region is light colored and the passage has an inner surface with a dark coating.  
   
   
       54 . The insect trap defined in  claim 46  wherein the body is formed with a passage having an opening upwardly annularly around the region and of a cross-sectional size equal to substantially less than the predetermined area, the fan having an intake connected only to the passage and an output connected only to the foraminous region, whereby air is sucked into the passage at an intake speed much greater than a speed at which air is expelled through the foraminous region.  
   
   
       55 . The insect trap defined in  claim 46 , further comprising 
 a cover suspended spacedly above the body and oriented to shield the body from above.