Method and apparatus for environmental barrier to reduce false alerts

A method for making a pest detection device with an environmental barrier, comprising:

• providing a housing with a surface having a plurality of drainage openings and defining an internal chamber;
• installing a capacitive sensor within the internal chamber, the sensor configured to detect a presence of one or more pests in proximity to the plurality of drainage openings;
• and
• affixing an environmental barrier to the surface of the housing, the barrier configured to selectively cover portions of the plurality of drainage openings.

A pest detection system, comprising:

• a housing having a surface with a plurality of drainage openings and defining an internal chamber;
• a capacitive sensor disposed within the internal chamber and configured to detect a presence of one or more pests in proximity to the plurality of drainage openings;
• an environmental barrier affixed to the surface of the housing, the barrier configured to selectively cover peripherally located portions of the plurality of drainage openings to prevent water spray from entering the internal chamber while allowing water to drain therethrough;
• and
• a controller configured to process signals detected by the capacitive sensor and to communicate pest detection data to an external device.