Devices for trapping insects

Abstract

The present invention discloses trapping devices for biting (e.g. mosquitoes, sand flies, black flies, and biting midges) and nuisance flies (e.g. houseflies, filth flies, and fruit flies). The outdoor solution for biting flies includes a solar panel, a housing, a bag, and a ventilator located in the housing. The ventilator creates a capture zone having an airflow toward the bag. A CO2 generator, chemical attractants, a heat source, and a UV light attract mosquitoes to the capture zone. The chemical attractants are released continuously, the CO2 is released in pulses, and the ventilator and UV are operated in independent programmable intervals. The device is efficient in energy consumption and CO2 production. Other trapping devices are disclosed having a combination of insect-attracting mechanisms including a ventilator. Novel insect zappers including a ventilator are disclosed as well. Indoor and outdoor solutions for insects including biting and nuisance flies.

1 . An insect-trapping device for catching biting and nuisance flies, the device comprising:
 (a) at least two heat-emitting elements for attracting insects;   (b) a light-emitting element, positioned below said heat-emitting element in the trap, for disorienting sensory perceptions of said insects;   (c) a transparent grill for covering said light-emitting element;   (d) an attractant-emitting element configured to emit at least one attractant in a vicinity of the trap, said attractant-emitting element positioned below said heat-emitting element in the device;   (e) a collection compartment, positioned below said ventilator, for desiccating and storing trapped insects;   (f) a ventilator, positioned below said light-emitting element in the device, configured:
 (i) to create an airflow through the device; 
 (ii) to disperse said at least one attractant; and 
 (iii) to draw in attracted insects into said collection compartment; and 
   (g) a device housing for housing said at least two heat-emitting elements, said light-emitting element, said transparent grill, said attractant-emitting element, said collection compartment, and said ventilator;   
     wherein said at least two heat-emitting elements, said light-emitting element, said transparent grill, said attractant-emitting element, and said ventilator are operative to synergistically effect an attraction of said insects into the device. 
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said housing is configured to be a visual attractant for said insects using alternating dark and light color-patterns on a three-dimensional shape. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two heat-emitting elements includes a heating film, configured to produce a heating pattern having at least two separated parallel strips, covered by a dark sheath. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two heat-emitting elements are configured to be combined to form a concave surface that is tilted in an angle of 20-70° toward a base of the device, said surface having at least one center-portion slit through which said insects are drawn into the trap. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said attractant-emitting element is configured to store and emit different types of said at least one attractant, wherein said types are at least one type selected from the group consisting of: a liquid form, a dry solid form, a moist solid form, an embedded form, a cartridge form, a slow-release form, and wherein said attractant-emitting element is configured to have an adjustable airflow regulator adapted to select a release rate and a dispersion rate of said at least one attractant. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said light-emitting element includes an ultraviolet light source, having an emission wavelength of 280-320 nm, wherein said light source is centered in a gap between said at least two heat-emitting elements. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said transparent grill is transparent to UV light, and is configured to allow said light to be directed toward at least two heat-emitting elements. 
   
   
       8 . An insect-zapping device for catching biting and nuisance flies, the device comprising:
 (a) a light-emitting element for attracting and disorienting insects;   (b) a zapper base for supporting said light-emitting element; and   (c) an electric grid for zapping said insects, said electric grid oriented parallel to said zapper base and positioned below said light-emitting element.   
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , the device further comprising:
 (d) a ventilator for drawing in attracted insects toward said electric grid.   
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said electric grid is configured to be powered when said ventilator is being powered. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 9 , the device further comprising:
 (e) a funnel for causing said attracted insects to fall toward said electric grid.   
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 9 , the device further comprising:
 (e) a metal mesh for shielding electric and magnetic fields generated by said electric grid.   
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 9 , the device further comprising:
 (e) a collection compartment for storing zapped insects.   
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 11 , the device further comprising:
 (f) a metal mesh for shielding electric and magnetic fields generated by said electric grid, and for preventing human contact with said electric grid.   
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 9 , the device further comprising:
 (e) at least one panel for causing said attracted insects to fall toward said electric grid.   
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one panel is configured to be heated and to have a dark color. 
   
   
       17 . An insect-trapping device for catching biting flies, the device comprising:
 (a) a cover having an integrated solar panel and control unit;   (b) a collection compartment, positioned below said cover, for storing trapped insects;   (c) a light-emitting element, positioned below said collection compartment, for disorienting sensory perceptions of attracted insects by emitting light;   (d) a ventilator, having apertures on top and bottom, configured:
 (i) to create an airflow through the device; 
 (ii) to push said attracted insects from above toward said collection compartment; and 
 (iii) to pull said attracted insects from below toward said collection compartment; and 
   (e) an emitter ring, having an attractant chamber and a CO 2  generator, positioned in close contact to said ventilator, said emitter ring for releasing CO 2  and at least one attractant into a vicinity of the device;   (f) a heat-emitting element, positioned in close contact to said emitter ring, for heating said CO 2 .   
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said cover is configured to be tilted in to a desired angle for optimizing utilization of sunlight. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said cover has a bottom alignment rim for diverting about 80% of said airflow, coming from said ventilator and attractant chamber, towards an upper portion of the device. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said control unit has different pre-programmed operational modes including at least one mode selected from the group consisting of: an energy-saving mode, regular mode, short-term mode, long-term mode, a high-performance mode, a day mode, a night mode, and a day/night mode. 
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said collection compartment includes an air baffle, having an internal labyrinth/valve system, for enabling said attracted insects to enter said collection compartment while said ventilator is operational, and for preventing said trapped insects from emerging from said collection compartment while said ventilator is not operational. 
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 17 , the device further comprising:
 (g) an airflow director for directing said airflow into said collection compartment.   
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said light-emitting element is configured to produce light having an emission wavelength of 280-320 nm. 
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said light-emitting element is shielded by a reflector for redirecting light from said light-emitting element toward a lower portion of the device in order to reduce an attraction of non-target insects. 
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said light-emitting element, said heat-emitting element, said ventilator, said CO 2  generator, and said attractant chamber are each configured to synchronously operate according to independent on/off duty cycles.