Flea vacuum including a kill agent

Abstract

The subject matter disclosed herein provides a flea vacuum. The device may include a nozzle having a first opening and a second opening. The first opening may have a tapered end and may be configured to vacuum an insect (e.g., a flea, etc). The device may also include a hose coupled to the nozzle. The device may also include an adapter coupled to the hose. The adapter may have an end configured for insertion into a vacuum. The device may also include a kill agent comprising bentonite as the active ingredient for killing and/or neutralizing pests, such as for example fleas. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

1 .- 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 applying a kill agent consisting essentially of bentonite particles to exterminate pests contacting the kill agent.   
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 introducing a kill agent into a collection receptacle, the kill agent comprising bentonite particles as an active, insecticidal component, the kill agent further comprising a chemical insecticidal agent impregnated into the bentonite particles; and   entraining an insect pest into the collection receptacle such that the insect pest contacts the kill agent in the collection receptacle, thereby neutralizing the insect pest.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein neutralizing the insect pest comprises killing the insect pest. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the insect pest comprises a flea. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the kill agent comprises bentonite pellets comprising bentonite particles. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein introducing the kill agent into the collection receptacle comprises entraining the kill agent into the collection receptacle by operating a vacuum connected to the collection receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . A device comprising:
 a kill agent comprising bentonite particles as an active, insecticidal component for neutralizing an insect pest; and   a collection chamber for containing the kill agent and the insect pest.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the insect pest comprises at least one of a flea, a flea egg, and a flea larva. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the kill agent consists essentially of bentonite. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the kill agent comprises agglomerations of bentonite particles. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the kill agent comprises bentonite pellets. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein neutralizing the insect pest comprises killing the insect pest. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the kill agent neutralizes the insect pest through contact between the kill agent and insect pest. 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 containing a kill agent and an insect pest within a collection chamber, the kill agent comprising bentonite particles and being capable of neutralizing an insect pest through contact.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the containing further comprises entraining the insect pest into the collection chamber using a vacuum device. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising introducing the kill agent into the collection chamber. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein introducing the kill agent into the collection chamber comprises at least one of inserting the kill agent into an opening of the collection chamber and entraining the kill agent into the collection chamber through operation of a vacuum device attached to the collection chamber. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the kill agent consists essentially of bentonite particles. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the bentonite particles comprise agglomerations of bentonite particles, bentonite pellets, bentonite particles ranging from 100 microns to 10000 microns in diameter, or a combination thereof.