U.S. patent number RE46,421 [Application Number 14/625,478] was granted by the patent office on 2017-06-06 for carpenter bee traps.
The grantee listed for this patent is Bradley Jerome Blazer, Brian Robert Blazer. Invention is credited to Bradley Jerome Blazer, Brian Robert Blazer.
United States Patent |
RE46,421 |
Blazer , et al. |
June 6, 2017 |
Carpenter bee traps
Abstract
A carpenter bee trap having at least one entrance hole, at least
one plenum section connecting the at least one entrance hole to at
least one receptacle adapter coupling, and least one removable
receptacle attached to at least one receptacle adapter coupling,
the at least one removable receptacle made of a material that
admits ambient light to a greater extent than the material forming
the plenum such that insects entering the trap follow a path of
increasing intensity of ambient light that leads them to the
receptacle. In one embodiment, existing carpenter bee nests are
treated with a disclosed insecticide gel. The insecticide gel
consists of a thixotropic, injectable, non-hardening, non-volatile
gel blended with a pyrethroid insecticide, in effect converting the
bee nest into a trap.
Inventors: |
Blazer; Brian Robert (Heflin,
AL), Blazer; Bradley Jerome (Granite Falls, NC) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Blazer; Brian Robert
Blazer; Bradley Jerome |
Heflin
Granite Falls |
AL
NC |
US
US |
|
|
Family
ID: |
42990830 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/625,478 |
Filed: |
February 18, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
12430148 |
Apr 27, 2009 |
8375624 |
Feb 19, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01M
1/106 (20130101); A01M 1/106 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01M
1/20 (20060101); A01M 1/10 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;43/107,134,133 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Pest Notes Publication 7417, University of California Agricultural
and Natural Resources, Revised Feb. 2004,
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7147.html. cited by
applicant .
1.Pest Notes Publication 7417 University of California Agriculture
and Natural Resources Revised Feb. 2004 Technical Editor: M. L.
Flint Coordination, Design, and Production: M. Brush Illustration:
David Kidd
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PDF/PESTNOTES/pncarpenterbees.pdf. cited
by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Flanagan; Beverly M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Vazquez, Esq.; Rene A.
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A carpenter bee trap comprising: a trap entrance unit forming a
plenum being made of wood or a wood substitute; said trap entrance
unit having at least one hole drilled there-through and sized to
mimic a natural carpenter bee nest tunnel so as to provide a
primary attractant; said hole extending from the outside of the
trap unit to a plenum interior; said hole being configured to
extend substantially horizontally or at an upward angle; a means to
shelter an entrance to said hole is provided to reduce the
admittance of ambient light; said trap unit further comprising a
receptacle adapter being substantially located at the bottom of
said trap unit and being configured to receive a clear or
translucent receptacle; a receptacle received by said adapter
situated to allow ambient light to enter through said bottom into
said plenum interior, thereby providing a secondary attractant;
said receptacle further being provided to receive trapped bees.
2. The carpenter bee trap of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is
temporarily attached to the trap.
3. The carpenter bee trap of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is
disposable.
4. The carpenter bee trap of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is
configured to be screwed into said bottom of said plenum.
5. The carpenter bee trap of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is
configured to provide a friction fit with said bottom of said
plenum.
6. The carpenter bee trap of claim 1, wherein said plenum interior
slopes downwardly toward a center region at an angle between 5
degrees and 90 degrees.
7. The carpenter bee trap of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the
at least one hole is between 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch.
8. The carpenter bee trap of claim 1, wherein a back panel of the
plenum is vertical and has a flat exterior to allow flush
mounting.
9. The carpenter bee trap of claim 1, wherein means to shelter
comprises a roof that is angled downwardly.
10. The carpenter bee trap of claim 1, wherein a means to mount the
trap is located substantially at the top of the trap entrance
unit.
11. The carpenter bee trap of claim 1, wherein a means to mount the
trap is located substantially at the back of the trap entrance
unit.
12. The carpenter bee trap of claim 1, wherein the trap entrance
unit is configured to receive a plurality of receptacles.
.Iadd.13. A carpenter bee trap, comprising: a trap entrance unit
formed of wood or a wood substitute, wherein at least one side of
the trap entrance unit has at least one entrance hole that extends
from outside the trap entrance unit to an interior of the trap
entrance unit, wherein the at least one entrance hole extends
substantially horizontally or at an upward angle with a size and
shape configured to provide a primary attractant for carpenter
bees, and wherein the trap entrance unit further comprises an exit
opening for providing an exit path from the interior of the trap
entrance unit; and a receptacle adapter located at the exit opening
of the trap entrance unit, wherein the receptacle adapter is
adapted to receive at least one receptacle and is adapted so as to
allow at least some ambient light to enter the interior of the trap
entrance unit via the exit opening, thereby providing a secondary
attractant for carpenter bees. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.14. The carpenter bee trap of claim 13, further comprising a
receptacle removably attached to the receptacle adapter.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.15. The carpenter bee trap of claim 14, wherein the
receptacle is clear or translucent. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.16. The carpenter bee trap of claim 13, wherein the trap
entrance unit comprises at least one top panel that overhangs a
side wall of the trap entrance unit. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.17. The carpenter bee trap of claim 13, wherein the at least
one entrance hole extends at an upward angle. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.18. The carpenter bee trap of claim 13, wherein the
receptacle adapter comprises: a reducer section; and an adapter
coupling attached to the reducer section, wherein the reducer
section and/or the adapter coupling are at least partially clear or
partially translucent so as to allow ambient light to enter the
interior of the trap entrance unit through the reducer section
and/or the adapter coupling. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.19. The carpenter bee trap of claim 13, wherein the exit
opening is shaped so as to function as the receptacle adapter.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.20. The carpenter bee trap of claim 13, wherein the
receptacle adapter comprises a female threaded coupling that is
configured to receive a receptacle with a corresponding male
threaded coupling. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.21. The carpenter bee trap of claim 13, wherein the exit
opening is located below the at least one entrance opening.
.Iaddend.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the general field of flying insect
traps and the specific field of carpenter bee traps.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Carpenter Bee Identification
Most carpenter bees, Xylocopa spp., are large and robust insects
resembling bumble bees. They are usually about 1 inch long and
colored a metallic blue-black with green or purplish reflections.
They differ from bumble bees in that their abdomen is shiny with
fringes of hairs on some segments. Males of some species are
lighter colored, ranging into golden or buff hues. Female carpenter
bees bore into sound wood or sometimes into decaying wood to make
nests. Nests usually consist of tunnels 1/2 inch in diameter and 6
to 10 inches deep that are partitioned into several chambers, each
containing an egg and a supply of food (pollen). The tunnel
entrance has been noted to slope upward, commonly a near vertical
opening in the side or bottom surface of a wooden member. Carpenter
bees may use old tunnels for their nests, which they sometimes
enlarge; several bees may use a common entry hole connecting to
different tunnels. Over a period of time, tunnels may extend as far
as 10 feet into wood timbers. Tunnels are vacated after the brood's
larval and pupal stages complete their development. Development
from egg to adult may take about 3 months. Carpenter bees
overwinter as adults, often in old tunnels, and there is only one
generation a year.
Carpenter bees cause damage to wooden structures by boring into
timbers and siding to prepare nests. The nests weaken structural
wood and leave unsightly holes and stains on building surfaces.
Woodpeckers feeding on carpenter bee larvae multiply the damage by
tearing open the nests. Sound, undecayed wood without paint or bark
is usually selected for nests. Farm structures that feature exposed
unpainted rafters are particularly susceptible to infestation.
Since the bees do not eat the wood, lumber that is naturally insect
resistant or treated to resist insects is susceptible to
infestation. In testing and field observations, carpenter bees were
most attracted to Juniperus virginiana wood of the Cupressaceae
family, presumably since the aromatic insect-resistant nature of
the wood repels parasites of the bees. Standing dead Juniperus
virginiana trees are conspicuous as sites of carpenter bee colonies
in the southeastern United States. Carpenter bees also frequently
attack dead wood on trees or lumber from southern yellow pine,
white pine, California redwood, cedar, Douglas fir, cypress,
mimosa, mulberry, ash, and pecan trees. They avoid most harder
woods. The presence of carpenter bees around buildings and wooden
structures can be annoying or even frightening; however, males
cannot sting and females rarely attack.
SUMMARY OF THE PRIOR ART
Many types of insect traps are currently available but only a few
specifically target carpenter bees. One example is Wood-Boring
Insect Trap, application Ser. No. 11/846,766. It consists of a
board with entrance holes and a glue trap in the interior. The
disclosed trap features entry hole geometry that closely mimics
natural carpenter bee nest holes, however, the interior glue traps
have a very limited capacity and the trap must be dismantled to
check whether the trap is full or even whether it is catching bees.
Further, trapped dead bees must be individually picked from the
glue by hand and replacement glue traps are proprietary to the
design and must be ordered from the trap provider at high expense
and low convenience.
Carpenter bee trap disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,611 is an
opaque box with an entrance hole and a means of opening the box to
remove trapped bees. It provides little means of preventing bees
from exiting the trap, no method for the operator to monitor the
contents of the trap, and no positive containment of trapped bees
during the removal process.
Electronic Carpenter Bee Trap disclosed in US patent 20070006519 is
a block style trap that features an electrode to kill any bee that
enters the trap from a hole in the bottom, at which time the dead
bee falls from the entrance hole. The high voltage electrodes and
their power source add complexity and expense to the trap. Since
dead bees are not retained, it is difficult to monitor the
effectiveness of the trap.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,402 discloses an insect trap that uses a
plastic beverage bottle as a collection vessel. Also disclosed is
the use of ambient light to confuse the insects. Unfortunately the
disclosed trap geometry does not appear to take significant
advantage of the ambient light attraction principal and the
principal is not well defined.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an objective of the present invention to provide one or more
devices and related methods of manufacture and deployment to aid in
the protection of structures from carpenter bee infestation. The
devices presented herein represent a best effort at providing
guidance by way of example to those skilled in the art to reproduce
the invention. They are not intended to limit in any way the
reproduction of the invention in combinations and or permutations
not specifically described. The carpenter bee trap of the present
invention is an assembly that includes a trap entrance unit and at
least one attached, disposable receptacle. The trap entrance unit
features at least one bee entrance hole that slopes upward towards
the interior. The upward sloping entrance mimics the preferred
entrance style of a natural bee nest while reducing the amount of
ambient light entering the entrance hole. The roof of the trap
entrance unit overhangs the sides and provides added shelter for at
least one entrance hole. The interior of the trap entrance unit
forms a plenum which promotes the conveyance of the bees through at
least one receptacle adapter and into at least one removable
receptacle. The at least one receptacle adapter allows convenient
attachment, removal, and replacement of receptacles. The area
surrounding the at least one receptacle adapter is sloped such that
gravity aids in the conveyance of bees into the at least one
receptacle. Further the material of the at least one receptacle and
optionally the area surrounding the at least one receptacle adapter
has a degree of transparency such that ambient light is admitted in
excess of other sources of light within the trap entrance unit
plenum. Bees that enter the trap entrance unit plenum will
immediately identify the brightly lit at least one receptacle
adapter as an exit route at which point they enter the at least one
receptacle. Many flying insects including carpenter bees rely
heavily on ambient light for navigation and orientation. As a
result, bees trapped in the at least one receptacle only try to
escape through the transparent walls of the receptacle and do not
attempt to return to the dimly lit trap entrance unit plenum. The
system has proven highly effective in trapping bees. Bees in the at
least one receptacle are unable to escape and eventually die. While
a bee is alive in the trap it will make distress noises that
attract many more bees to the trap for a cascading effect. Once the
receptacle is full of dead bees it can be easily removed, capped,
and discarded. The trapped bees tend to pack in tightly and a 16
fluid ounce size receptacle will hold hundreds of bees. Plastic
beverage bottles employed as receptacles also provide a positive
barrier that can be handled without fear of contact with the
trapped bees.
The insecticide gel according to certain embodiments of the present
invention consists of an insecticide, preferably a pyrethroid, more
preferably permethrin, in a concentration of 0.2 to 2%, blended in
a non-volatile, non-hardening, non-skinning thixotropic gel,
preferably petroleum jelly. A small amount, preferably 0.1 to 1.0
ml, is injected into existing carpenter bee nests using a pressure
applicator, preferably a syringe with volumetric graduations, with
an extended nozzle to reach from about 1 inch to about 2 inches
into the nest hole. When a bee makes contact with the gel a portion
of the gel clings to the bee and the immediate response is for the
bee to attempt to clean itself which results in rubbing the gel
over it's body, enhancing the effect of the insecticide. Fumes of
the gel within the nest are sufficient to induce any bees or larvae
within the nest to exit, at which time they contact the insecticide
and are destroyed. The residual life of the non-drying insecticide
gel applied in bee nests has been demonstrated to exceed 12 months
with continuing bee kills noted throughout the period. Once carried
outside the nest, the pyrethroid insecticide decomposes rapidly due
to sunlight exposure. Long lasting powerful insecticides such as
fipronil are highly undesirable in this application because of the
likelihood of them spreading to and destroying colonies of
beneficial pollinating insects.
The trap entrance unit is preferably hollow and box-like, with 4
side panels, a roof panel that overhangs at least one side to
shelter at least one entrance hole, and a sloped bottom surface,
that form a plenum which promotes the passage of bees from the at
least one entrance hole to the at least one receptacle adapter
coupling and into an attached receptacle. Alternatively the trap
entrance unit may be made from a solid piece of wood or similar
material with a tunnel type plenum similar to natural bee nests.
The trap entrance may feature a top anchor point for hanging the
trap. Alternatively, a clip may be attached to the trap entrance
unit which allows it to be easily attached to an exposed structural
element such as a rafter made of dimensional lumber, or the trap
entrance unit may be screwed or nailed to a structural element. The
trap entrance unit may be installed in a position that blocks an
existing bee nest entrance in the lumber. A bee searching for a
blocked nest entrance is likely to enter the trap.
A device to generate a sound that mimics a live bee in the trap may
be added to certain aspects of the invention to serve as an
attractant. The device may be an electronic recording similar to
that used in talking greeting cards or a motor driven device
similar to the vibrating alerts used in pagers and cellular phones.
The sound making device can be powered by batteries which may be
recharged by a solar panel on the top of the trap. Similar solar
powered batteries are commonly used to power exterior path
lighting. Since carpenter bees are most active during the daylight
hours, the sound making device may alternatively be powered
directly from a solar panel without a storage battery. An
attractive scent or pheromone may be added to certain aspects of
the invention to enhance the local attractiveness. Strong scent
attractants are not a preferred embodiment due to the potential for
attracting more insects to the structure to be protected.
In certain embodiments of the disclosed invention, trapped bees are
contained in at least one removable receptacle and when the
receptacle becomes full it may easily be removed, capped,
discarded, and replaced with a new receptacle. Used beverage
bottles may serve as replacements or new replacement receptacles
may be purchased.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1a depicts a first embodiment of a carpenter bee trap
according to the present invention from a frontal view. FIG. 1b
depicts the first embodiment of a carpenter bee trap according to
the present invention from a perspective view.
FIG. 2A depicts a second embodiment of a carpenter bee trap
according to the present invention from a frontal view. FIG. 2B
depicts the second embodiment of a carpenter bee trap according to
the present invention in a section view. FIG. 2C depicts the second
embodiment of a carpenter bee trap according to the present
invention from a perspective view.
FIG. 3A depicts a third embodiment of a carpenter bee trap
according to the present invention from a frontal view. FIG. 3B
depicts the third embodiment of a carpenter bee trap according to
the present invention from a perspective view. FIG. 3C depicts the
third embodiment of a carpenter bee trap according to the present
invention from an end view. FIG. 3D depicts the third embodiment of
a carpenter bee trap according to the present invention in a
section view.
FIG. 4A depicts a fourth embodiment of a carpenter bee trap
according to the present invention from a frontal view. FIG. 4B
depicts the fourth embodiment of a carpenter bee trap according to
the present invention from a perspective view.
FIG. 5A depicts a fifth embodiment of a carpenter bee trap
according to the present invention from a frontal view. FIG. 5B
depicts the fifth embodiment of a carpenter bee trap according to
the present invention from an end view. FIG. 5C depicts the fifth
embodiment of a carpenter bee trap according to the present
invention from a perspective view.
FIG. 6 depicts an insecticide gel application device injecting gel
into a carpenter bee nest cross-section according to certain
aspects of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The carpenter bee trap and insecticide gel disclosed herein are the
result of a detailed study of carpenter bee behavior and extensive
experimentation using prototype traps around infested structures.
Single traps of the disclosed designs have caught bees by the
hundreds per day.
FIG. 1A depicts a carpenter bee trap of the present invention that
is designed to be attractive as well as effective, resembling a
bird house. Trap entrance unit 1 features entrance holes 11 leading
to plenum 13. A clear sloping bottom section 15 directs bees to
receptacle adapter coupling 14, and into clear plastic receptacle
18. The top panel 161 of the entrance unit overhangs side panels
162 to shelter entrance holes 11. Side panels 162 angle outward
from vertical by angle a. Entrance holes 11 are angled upward from
horizontal by angle b. The material surrounding entrance holes 11
is preferably wood, more preferably wood of a tree in the division
Pinophyta, most preferably wood of a tree in the family
Cupressaceae. At the bottom of trap entrance unit 1 is reducer
section .[.4.]. .Iadd.15 .Iaddend.made of clear plastic with
adapter coupling .[.5.]. .Iadd.14 .Iaddend.at the bottom which
accepts a clear plastic removable receptacle .[.6.].
.Iadd.18.Iaddend.. In the prototype traps reducer section 4 was
made from the top of a standard 12-24 ounce PET (polyethylene
terephthalate) beverage bottle. Receptacle adapter coupling 5 is a
screw type bottle cap with a hole bored through it. In prototype
form, adapter coupling 5 is connected to reducer section 4 with a
heat shrink tube to form a permanently attached female threaded
coupling for the receptacle. In production the reducer 4 and
receptacle adapter 5 may be specially molded as one part with
molded features such as tabs or inserts for attachment to the
bottom of the upper trap unit 1. The disposable receptacle 6 is
also a standard PET beverage bottle. Anchor point 17 is provided
for hanging the trap. End users of the invention may employ used
beverage bottles as collection bottles or purchase new bottles.
Prototype trap unit panels were fastened together with pneumatic
staplers and brad nailers. Optionally there are a variety of
suitable joining methods such as adhesives and interlocking joints
that may be employed by those skilled in the art.
When bees enter trap entrance unit 1, they immediately see the
ambient light entering from the clear plastic reducer 4 as well as
from receptacle 6 through the opening in adapter coupling 5.
Attracted by the light, the bees immediately fly to the bottom of
the trap where they are quickly funneled into the receptacle 6.
Aside from attracting bees, the sheltered entrance hole also
prevents ambient light from directly entering the entrance hole and
bees within the trap will not identify the entrance hole as an
exit. In experiments bees that fully entered the chamber were never
observed to escape through the entrance holes despite the absence
of a physical labyrinth. Although the clear reducer section 4
enhances the effectiveness of the trap, it is possible for the trap
to have an opaque reducer section and rely on the light entering
through adapter coupling 5 to guide bees into clear receptacle 6. A
further advantage of the clear plastic construction of the reducer
and collection bottle is that it allows the user to easily monitor
the activity within the trap to gauge the effectiveness of
deployment as well as to monitor the level of dead insects within
the receptacle. As the receptacle fills, newly trapped bees tend to
burrow into the pile of bodies with the result of tightly packing
the contents of the receptacle giving it a collection capacity of
many hundreds of bees.
FIGS. 2a, 2b, and 2c depict a carpenter bee trap according to
certain aspects of the present invention that is designed to be
easily attached to a wall or other vertical surface. Trap entrance
unit 2 features back panel 262 that is vertical and overhangs sides
264 to provide areas where it can be affixed, for example using
nails, to a vertical surface such as a wall or rafter. Front panel
263 and side panels 264 feature entrance holes 21 but back panel
262 does not. Front panel 263 is vertical while side panels 264 are
angled outward from vertical by angle a. Entrance holes 21 are
angled upward from horizontal by angle b. Top 261 overhangs front
panel 263 and side panels 264 but is flush with the outside surface
of back panel 262. Clear bottom section 25 has top edges that are
folded outward and secured to front side 263 and back side 262 by
nails and tack strips 251. Clear bottom section 25, adapter
coupling 24, and receptacle 28 are similar to respective parts 15,
14, and 18 of trap entrance unit 1 in FIG. 1. Wire hanger 27 is
bendable to provide the option of hanging the trap securely from a
variety of supporting elements.
FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d depict a carpenter bee trap according to
certain aspects of the present invention. Trap entrance unit 3 is
constructed from a solid block of wood. Entrance hole 31 is in the
bottom of the block and connects to horizontal bore 33 and large
vertical bore 34 to form a plenum resembling a natural carpenter
bee nest. Vertical bore 34 is sized to allow the insertion of
receptacle 38 which is retained by friction. Optionally vertical
bore 34 may be threaded or fitted with a threaded insert to
positively retain receptacle 38. Horizontal bore 33 is double blind
and may be formed by plugging the end where the boring tool enters
the block. Receptacle 38 is constructed of a clear material that
reflects and refracts ambient light up into vertical bore 34 such
that bees entering entrance hole 31 are immediately attracted by
the light ant crawl through the plenum and into receptacle 38.
Rafter clip 37 is a mounting device designed to allow instant
attachment of trap entrance unit 3 to a standard dimensional lumber
rafter, for example nominal 2 inch.times.6 inch or 2 inch.times.8
inch lumber. Rafter clip 37 may be constructed of an elastic
material such as metal or plastic. Rafter clip 37 is attached to
the back of trap entrance unit 3 by a single screw or bolt such
that the angle of clip 37 is adjustable to allow installation on an
angled rafter with the trap entrance unit remaining level. Trap
performance may be enhanced by installing the trap to block the
entrance of an existing nest. Bees returning to the nest will not
find their holes and will enter the trap instead. Additional
entrance holes may be added for example to give the option of side
or bottom access as long as each entrance hole has a dedicated
tunnel leading to adapter area 15 to ensure entering bees are
properly directed to the receptacle.
FIGS. 4a and 4b depict a carpenter bee trap according to certain
aspects of the present invention with trap entrance unit 4 made
from a solid block of wood. Entrance holes 41 are formed by angled
bores 42 which extend all the way to deep vertical bore 43 to form
the plenum. The end surfaces of trap entrance unit 4 are cut at
angle a between 10 and 60 degrees from vertical and bores 42 are
made at angle b between 5 and 90 degrees from horizontal to provide
sheltered entrance holes 41. The absence of any blind holes in trap
entrance unit 4 allows for easy manufacturing of the part. A
receptacle adapter 44 at the bottom of vertical bore 43 is a
friction fit similar to bore 34 in trap entrance unit 3 and allows
convenient insertion and removal of clear receptacle 48.
FIGS. 5a, 5b, and 5c depict a carpenter bee trap according to
certain aspects of the present invention with multiple receptacles.
Trap entrance unit 5 is made from a solid block of wood. Horizontal
bore 512 extends through the unit to form two entrance holes and a
common plenum connecting additional entrance holes 511 and vertical
bores for receptacle adapters 54. As depicted in FIG. 5b, entrance
holes 511 are bored at angle b between 10 and 60 degrees from
horizontal to provide sheltered entrance holes.
FIG. 6 depicts an insecticide gel applicator according to certain
aspects of the present invention applying insecticide gel 61 into
an existing bee nest bore 62 shown in a cross-sectional view.
Applicator 6 consists of syringe 63, preferably with a capacity of
about 60 cc, with a 150 mm length of nominal 1/4 inch diameter pvc
flexible tubing 64 attached to the outlet. Gel 61 is composed of an
insecticide, preferably a pyrethroid, more preferably permethrin,
in a concentration of 0.2 to 2%, blended with a non-volatile,
non-hardening, non-skinning thixotropic gel, preferably petroleum
jelly. The recommended application rate is from 0.25 cc to 1 cc per
bore, annually. When bees contact the gel, it sticks to their body
and they will further spread it over their body as they attempt to
clean it off, enhancing effectiveness. The insecticide gel is a
mild repellent and should never be applied to a trap. The
attractiveness of an actual bee nest will typically override the
repellent nature of the insecticide gel and treated nests will
continue to kill bees for up to one year after a single
treatment.
Experimental observation also indicated that carpenter bee traps
containing live bees were significantly more productive than empty
traps or traps containing only dead bees. Live bees in the trap
actively make distressed buzzing noises which appear to be the
primary attractant. A sound making device which mimics the sounds
of a trapped bee can be added to any of the disclosed trap designs
to enhance its effectiveness. An electronic player similar to those
used in talking greeting cards or a motor buzzer such as a
vibrating cell phone alert device represent two possible options
for adding the sound attractant feature. Electrical power for the
device may come from a storage battery or solar panel mounted on
the device or a combination of the two. Since carpenter bees are
most active during the daylight direct solar power can provide the
desired effect at the appropriate times.
Proper deployment of the carpenter bee traps disclosed herein is
vital to the success of controlling carpenter bees. First, the
areas where bees congregate should be identified. Second, existing
nest holes should be treated with insecticide gel. Third, carpenter
bee traps should be installed near the location of the treated
nests and in other areas of carpenter bee congregation. Finally,
the traps should be monitored to gauge the effectiveness of
placement. Some areas are guarded so aggressively by existing bees
that no bees are allowed to enter the trap. If the nests of the
existing bees are treated, they will either enter the nests and be
killed by insecticide or enter the trap in the evening and
subsequently other bees will be able to gain access to the trap.
When a trap receptacle is observed to be full, it may be removed,
capped, discarded, and replaced with another new or recycled
bottle. Alternatively, once all bees are dead it may be emptied and
re-used on a trap.
* * * * *
References