GB2095966A

GB2095966A - Poison bait feeding station for insects

Info

Publication number: GB2095966A
Application number: GB8210080A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: American Cyanamid Co
Current assignee: Wyeth Holdings LLC
Priority date: 1981-04-06
Filing date: 1982-04-05
Publication date: 1982-10-13
Also published as: CA1166006A; BR8201936A; DE3212860A1; NL8201447A; DK156182A; ZA822358B; SE8202167L; AU8234582A

Abstract

A poison feeding station for insects has inner and outer walls 20, 14 with off-set openings 22, 16 respectively, and inner and outer floor members 18, 19 with off-set openings 21, 30 respectively, the openings providing access to a poison compartment 24. At least part of the cover of the station is transparent and compartment 24 may have a contrasting and luminous colour under the poison to render removal of the poison readily detectable. The station may be entered from the sides or bottom and is useful for earth insects. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Insect feeding station This invention relates to a device for destroying insects. It more particularly relates to an insect feeding station whereby poison may be administered to crawling insects on or in the earth without endangering children or domestic animals.

Various types of devices have been known in the prior art for destroying insects. In some devices, the insects are trapped in the device after entering, either by mechanical construction, or by sticking to a gummy substance. In either instance, the device is soon full and useless. In devices which contained a poison, it was easy to shake out loose poison, or probe through openings to reach the poison, thus making them a danger to children or small domestic animals. In addition, prior devices are generally of a construction that the interior of the device is difficult to view so that it is not readily ascertainable whether insects are using the device or how much poison has been used.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an insect feeding station for administering poison to insects comprising a base portion and a cover, said base portion comprising an outer floor containing at least one opening and an inner floor spaced apart from said outerfloor, said inner floor having at least one opening offset from said outer floor opening, outer walls having at least one opening therein, and inner walls spaced from said outerwalls and containing at least one opening offset from said opening in said outer wall, said inner wall forming an inner compartment for said poison, said cover having at least a part transparent whereby said poison may be visible.

Thus, the insect feeding station of this invention has a base portion for carrying the posion and a cover. The base portion has an outer case and an inner compartment for containing the poison. The outer case may be of any configuration, e.g., round, square, or rectangular and the inner compartment may have a corresponding configuration. The outer case has at least one and preferably three or more openings, and the inner compartment is formed from walls spaced apart from the outer case walls, the inner walls having an opening or openings, which are offset so that a probe stuck into an outer wall opening, will not enter the openings of the inner compartment and contact the poison therein. The device further has an outer floor spaced apart from an inner floor with one or more offset openings in each.The cover of the device, which may be permanently affixed to the base, has at least a part which is transparent so that the poison is visible through the cover.

The poison is preferably of the type known as bait, i.e., it is a mixture of slow acting poison and some food material attractive to insects, such as flour, molasses, peanut butter or the like. The bait is preferably of a paste like or solid consistency. Thus, insects are attracted to the device, eat the bait and leave to die elsewhere. The bait may be a molded shape, e.g., a flat wafer affixed to the floor of the inner compartment.

It is also a feature of one embodiment of this invention to coat the floor of the compartment with a contrasting colour before putting down the bait, and more desirabiy the contrasting colour may be luminous so that it is readily visible in darkened areas. As bait, is removed by insects, the contrasting colour underneath becomes visible and provides an indication whether insects are using the station and how much bait has been used.

The invention may be better understood by reference to the drawings in which Figure I is a perspective view of the base portion and cover of one embodiment of insect feeding station of this invention; Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the feeding station, and Figure 3 is a top plan view of the feeding station.

Referring to the Figures, the insect feeding station shown comprises a base portion 10 and cover 12.

The base portion may be of any suitable material such as metal or plastic, and may be transparent plastic but need not be transparent. Base portion 10 has outer casing wall 14 with openings 16, an inner floor 18, an outer floor 19 with an opening 21, inner compartment wall 20 with openings 22. Inner compartment wall 20 forms an inner compartment 24.

Bait 26 is affixed to floor 18 in inner compartment 24.

The floor of inner compartment may be coated with a contrasting colour layer 28 before affixing the bait.

Colour layer 28 is preferably a luminescent material.

This may be a coating of luminescent paint, or a luminescent dyed paper or the like. If the bait contains as oleagenous ingredient, it is desirable to coat colour layer 28 with a protective material, e.g., a resin, before affixing the bait so that the colour layer is not soaked with oil or grease and discoloured or inactivated. Inner floor 18 also contains openings 30 which are offset from opening 21. Atubular extension 32 may also extend from opening 21, which may be thrust into the earth in use.

Cover 12 extends to the periphery of base portion 10 and forms outer casing walls 14 with openings 16 as described above, to close the base portion 10 and may also be of any suitable material. However, cover 12 should have at least a portion which is transparent so that bait 26 may be readily seen. Although the cover has been illustrated as forming the outer case walls 14, it will be readily apparent the case walls could be formed as a part of the base portion 10. Cover 12 is permanently affixed to base 10 as by adhesive or any suitable means.

In a preferred embodiment, the base portion 10 and cover 12 are both of transparent plastic.

As illustrated, the insect feeding station may be used flat on the earth with extension 32 thrust into the earth. Insects may enter the device through openings 16 and offset openings 22 to reach bait 26 in the inner compartment and leave through the same openings. Earth insects may enter through opening 34 of extension 32 then through opening 21 and offset openings 30 to poison compartment 24.

The consumption of bait 26 may be viewed through transparent cover 12, and be readily visible due to contrasting background 28 under the bait.

Although insects may easily reach the bait, it will be readily apparent in Figure 2 that a probe placed in any opening 16 in the outer casing wall 14 or opening 34 of extension 32 will not enter the inner compartment due to offset of openings 22 in wall 20, and openings 30 in floor 18. Thus the device is safe from inquisitive children.

It will beapparentthatouterfloor 19 could also be constructed without extension 32 and with a plurality of openings (not shown) which are offset from openings 30 in inner floor 18, and still be within the scope of the present invention.

It will be seen that the present invention provides an insect feeding station for administering poison to insects, particularly earth crawling insects, whereby a signal is provided allowing the ready detection of the removal of poisonous bait, even in dimly lit areas and without removing the device and which has an offset entry baffle system so that children cannot probe the bait containing compartment.

Claims

1. An insect feeding station for administering poison to insects comprising a base portion and a cover, said base portion comprising an outer floor containing at least one opening and an inner floor spaced apart from said outer floor, said inner floor having at least one opening offset from said outer floor opening, outer walls having at least one opening therein, and inner walls spaced from said outer walls and containing at least one opening offset from said opening in said outer wall, said inner wall forming an inner compartment from said poison, said cover having at least a part transparent whereby said poison may be visible.

2. The insect feeding station of Claim 1 having a plurality of openings in said outer and inner walls, and said inner floor, said openings in said inner walls being offset from said openings in said outer wall.

3. The insectfeeding station of Claim 1 wherein the opening in said outer floor has a tubular extension.

4. The insect feeding station of Claim 1 wherein said poison is a bait mixture of food and poison.

5. The insect feeding station of Claim 4wherein said bait mixture is a solid mixture affixed to the floor of said inner compartment.

6. The insect feeding station of Claim 5 comprising colour beneath said bait.

7. The insect feeding station of Claim 6 wherein said contrasting colour is luminescent.