System for trapping flying insects with attractant lures

Abstract

The present application discloses a system for trapping flying insects, a first chemical lure such as lactic acid, a salt of lactic acid, or combinations thereof, and a second chemical lure comprising a source of ammonia. The lures may be employed in particular geometric shapes contained in specifically designed housing to ensure an effective release rate over extended periods of time.

1 .- 96 . (canceled) 
     
     
         97 . A device comprising a trap chamber for collecting insects, an inlet communicating with the trap chamber, and an airflow generator constructed to draw air into the trap chamber via the inlet so that insects proximate to the inlet are drawn in the trap chamber; and the lure according to claim  1 . 
     
     
         98 . The device according to  claim 97 , wherein the lure is engineered, configured, or positioned within the device to controllably release lactic acid and ammonia. 
     
     
         99 . The device according to  claim 98 , which further comprises a carbon dioxide gas generator capable of generating carbon dioxide gas at a temperature of from about ambient temperature to about 140° F. 
     
     
         100 . The device according to  claim 99 , wherein the carbon dioxide gas generator is arranged to create an exhaust plume comprising carbon dioxide gas and the lure is positioned such that at least a portion of the exhaust plume contacts the first chemical attractant and at least a portion of the exhaust plume contacts the second chemical attractant. 
     
     
         101 . The device according to  claim 98 , wherein the device controllably releases lactic acid and ammonia to a gas at a temperature of from about ambient temperature to about 140° F. 
     
     
         102 . The device according to  claim 97 , wherein the lure further comprises at least a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the first attractant is housed in the first chamber and the second attractant is housed in the second chamber, and further wherein the first and second chemical attractants are kept separated from one another prior to use by at least one removable seal. 
     
     
         103 . The device according to  claim 102 , wherein the first and second chambers have one or more openings and wherein the one or more openings are sealed by the removable seal. 
     
     
         104 . The device according to  claim 103 , wherein the one or more openings in the first chamber have a total area within the range of approximately 0.3 in 2  and approximately 2.0 in 2  and the one or more openings in the second chamber have total area within approximately 0.01 in 2  and 0.2 in 2 . 
     
     
         105 . The device according to  claim 103 , wherein the one or more openings in the first chamber have a total area within the range of approximately 0.2 in 2  and approximately 1.2 in 2  and the one or more openings in the second chamber have total area within approximately 0.005 in and 0.2 in 2 . 
     
     
         106 . The device according to  claim 103 , wherein the one or more openings permit a gaseous carrier to contact each of the first and second chemical attractants whereby the lactic acid from the first chamber and ammonia gas from the second chamber may be dispensed from said chambers in said gaseous carrier. 
     
     
         107 . The device according to  claim 106 , which further comprises a carbon dioxide gas generator capable of generating a carbon dioxide-containing plume and at least a portion of the plume can be the gaseous carrier. 
     
     
         108 . The device according to  claim 103 , wherein the one or more openings permit passage of separate gaseous carriers to contact the first and second chambers separately whereby the lactic acid from the first chamber and ammonia gas from the second chamber may be dispensed from said chambers in said separate gaseous carriers. 
     
     
         109 . The device according to  claim 108 , which further comprises a carbon dioxide gas generator capable of generating a carbon dioxide-containing plume and at least portions of the plume can be the separate gaseous carriers. 
     
     
         110 . A device effective for attracting flying insects comprising a lure according to claim  64  and a carbon dioxide generator capable of generating a gas stream having an elevated level of carbon dioxide at a temperature between ambient and about 140° F. 
     
     
         111 . A device effective for attracting flying insects indoors comprising the lure according to claim  53 . 
     
     
         112 . A device according to  claim 111 , further comprising a trap for trapping flying insects attracted thereto. 
     
     
         113 . The device according to  claim 112 , wherein the trap comprises a trap chamber for collecting insects, an inlet communicating with the trap chamber, and an airflow generator constructed to draw air into the trap chamber via the inlet so that insects proximate to the inlet are drawn in the trap chamber. 
     
     
         114 .- 130 . (canceled)