Method and apparatus for catching insects

A trap for catching insects comprising:

• a. a trap housing comprising a trap back portion and a trap base portion interconnected so that the trap back portion and the trap base portion are oriented at essentially right angles to each other, the trap back portion and the trap base portion being moveably interconnected by hinging means, and the trap back portion being sufficiently large to substantially close from above the upwardly open trap base inner recess when the trap back portion has been hingedly closed over the trap base portion,
• b. a light source located within the trap back portion and above the level of the trap base portion,
• c. energy supply means attached to the light source, and
• d. means for catching insects located within the trap base portion, such means for catching insects including an insert structure having an adhesive upper surface and, within the trap base portion, an upwardly open trap base inner recess, the trap base inner recess having sides, one of which includes an opening through which the insert structure may be inserted or removed.

A trap for catching insects comprising:

• a. a trap housing comprising a trap back portion and a trap base portion interconnected so that the trap back portion and the trap base portion are oriented at essentially right angles to each other, the trap back portion and the trap base portion each having inner edges at the location where the trap back portion and trap base portion most closely approach each other, and the trap back portion and the trap base portion being detachably connected by mating connection means located along the respective inner edges of the trap back portion and the trap base portion,
• b. a light source located within the trap back portion and above the level of the trap base portion,
• c. energy supply means attached to the light source, and
• d. means for catching insects located within the trap base portion, such means for catching insects including an insert structure having an adhesive upper surface and, within the trap base portion, an upwardly open trap base inner recess, the trap base inner recess having sides, one of which includes an opening through which the insert structure may be inserted or removed.

A trap for catching insects comprising:

• a. a trap housing comprising a trap back portion and a trap base portion interconnected so that the trap back portion and the trap base portion are oriented at essentially right angles to each other,
• b. a light source located within the trap back portion and above the level of the trap base portion,
• c. energy supply means attached to the light source, and
• d. means for catching insects located within the trap base portion, such means for catching insects including an insert structure having an adhesive upper surface and, within the trap base portion, an upwardly open trap base inner recess, the trap base inner recess having sides, one of which includes an opening through which the insert structure may be inserted or removed,
• wherein the surface of the inner recess of the trap base portion has at least one insert guide rib extending upwardly therefrom and the insert structure has at least one channel formed therein, the guide rib and channel being constructed and located so that when the insert structure is inserted into the trap base portion, the guide rib and channel mate.

A trap for catching insects comprising:

• a. a trap housing comprising a trap back portion and a trap base portion interconnected so that the trap back portion and the trap base portion are oriented at essentially right angles to each other,
• b. a light source located within the trap back portion and above the level of the trap base portion, the light source further comprising means for periodically altering the direction of the light emitted from the light source, the means for altering the direction of the light emitted from the light source comprising an eccentric camming mechanism which sequentially changes the orientation of the light source within the trap for catching insects,
• c. energy supply means attached to the light source, and
• d. means for catching insects located within the trap base portion, such means for catching insects including an insert structure having an adhesive upper surface and, within the trap base portion, an upwardly open trap base inner recess, the trap base inner recess having sides, one of which includes an opening through which the insert structure may be inserted or removed.

A trap for catching insects comprising:

• a trap housing including a trap cover portion connected by hinging means to a trap base portion constructed and arranged whereby the trap cover portion and trap base portion are positionable in a first, open, position, in which the trap cover portion and the trap base portion are oriented at essentially right angles to each other, and in a second, closed, position, in which the trap cover portion and the trap base portion are folded against each other,
• a light source located within the trap cover portion,
• energy supply means attached to the light source, and
• means for catching insects located within the trap base portion of the housing.

A trap for catching fleas comprising:

• a trap housing comprising a cover portion having a trap cover outer surface, and two or more walls extending outwardly from the perimeter edges of the trap cover outer surface to define a trap cover inner recess, and a trap base portion comprising a trap base outer surface, and two or more walls extending upwardly from the perimeter edges of the trap base outer surface to define a trap base inner recess, the trap cover portion and the trap base portion being movably connected by hinging means so that the trap cover portion and trap base portion are positionable in a first, open position, in which the trap cover portion and the trap base portion are oriented at essentially right angles to each other, and a second, closed position, in which the trap cover portion and the trap base portion are folded against each other,
• a source of green light located within the trap cover inner recess,
• means for supplying electrical energy to the source of green light, and
• an insert structure containing an adhesive material that is removably insertable into the trap base inner recess through an insert opening in the trap base portion.

A trap for catching fleas comprising a flea attractant containing portion and an flea trapping portion,

• the flea attractant containing portion comprising:
• a trap housing comprising a trap cover portion having a trap cover outer surface, and two or more walls extending outwardly from edges of the trap cover outer surface to define a trap cover inner recess, the trap cover portion being movably connected by hinging means so that the trap cover portion and trap base portion are positionable in a first, open position, in which the trap cover portion and the trap base portion are oriented at essentially right angles to each other, and in a second, closed position, in which the trap cover portion and the trap base portion are folded against each other,
• a source of light located within the trap cover inner recess,
• means for supplying electrical energy to the source of light;
• the flea trapping portion comprising:
• an insert structure containing an adhesive material that is removably insertable into the trap base inner recess through an insert opening in the trap base portion, the insert structure having, along three of its four perimeter sides, upwardly extending wall structures, and an insert central section extending between those wall structures, the insert central structure having a curved configuration, and the base portion of the trap having a pair of curved insert guide structures which define a curved insert slot into which the insert central section removably fits.

An insert structure for use in a trap for catching insects, the trap for catching insects having a trap cover portion containing a light source and a trap base portion having an inner recess located therein,

• the insert structure having, along three of its four perimeter sides, upwardly extending wall structures, and an insert central section extending between those wall structures, the insert central structure having a curved configuration,
• the insert structure being constructed and arranged to be insertable into the trap base inner recess of the trap base portion through an insert opening in the trap base portion,
• the insert opening of the trap base portion having a pair of curved insert guide structures which define a curved slot into which the insert trapping insert structure removably fits,
• the insert central section having on the upper surface thereof an adhesive material.

A method of controlling a population of insects comprising:

• placing an insect trap having an insect attracting and an insect trapping portion at or near floor level in a location infested with the insects to be controlled,
• activating the insect attracting portion,
• allowing the trap to remain in the location in which it was placed for a period of time sufficient to trap the desired number of insects, and
• removing and disposing of the insect trapping portion with the insects trapped therein, the insect trap comprising:
• a trap housing including a trap cover portion interconnected to a trap base portion so that the trap housing can be positioned alternatively in an open and closed position, whereby in the open position the trap back portion and the trap base portion are oriented at essentially right angles to each other,
• a light source located within the trap cover portion of the housing,
• energy supply means attached to the light source, and
• means for catching insects located within the trap base portion.

A method of controlling a population of fleas comprising:

• placing a flea trap having a flea attracting portion and a flea trapping portion at or near floor level in a location infested with the fleas to be controlled,
• activating the flea attracting portion,
• allowing the trap to remain in the location in which it was placed for a period of time sufficient to trap the desired number of fleas, and
• removing and disposing of the flea trapping portion with the fleas trapped therein, the flea trap comprising:
• the flea attractant containing portion comprising:
• a trap housing comprising a trap cover portion having a trap cover outer surface, and two or more walls extending outwardly from edges of the trap cover outer surface to define a trap cover inner recess, the trap cover portion being movably connected by hinging means so that the trap cover portion and trap base portion are positionable in a first, open position, in which the trap cover portion and the trap base portion are oriented at essentially right angles to each other, and in a second, closed position, in which the trap cover portion and the trap base portion are folded against each other,
• a source of light located within the trap cover inner recess,
• means for supplying electrical energy to the source of light;
• the flea trapping portion comprising:
• an insert structure containing an adhesive material that is removably insertable into the trap base inner recess through an insert opening in the trap base portion, the insert structure having, along three of its four perimeter sides, upwardly extending wall structures, and an adhesive insert central section extending between those wall structures, the adhesive insert central structure having a curved configuration, and the base portion of the trap having a pair of curved insert guide structures which define a curved slot into which the adhesive insert central section removably fits.