Compostable nesting material for insects - insert

Abstract

Main claim: The nesting material (Fig. 1) 1, consisting of a binder preferably based on lignin or polylactic acid or plant starch with the addition of cell regulators, hardeners, and blowing agents, and with the addition of natural materials such as loam, sand, clay, and plant fibers, is characterized by having a brittle, rigid foam-like consistency, by being able to have milled channels and a milled channel system, and by being environmentally friendly, ecological, recyclable, and compostable, and by being inserted into a transparent container (Fig. 1) 2 (e.g., made of glass, plastic, etc.) that is open on at least one side and is oriented vertically or horizontally and has the shape of a cuboid (or another geometric shape, e.g., a cylinder, etc.). The container (Fig. 1) 2 has one or more access points.

Description

Scope of the invention:

[0001] The invention relates to a device for keeping small animals, in particular small insects or arachnids, preferably social insects such as ants. A particular embodiment of the invention is therefore a nesting material that the animals can burrow into, i.e., an insert for keeping ants, which is ecologically safe, environmentally friendly, recyclable, and compostable. Summary of the invention:

[0002] The invention relates to a non-transparent nesting material ( Fig. 1) 1, which can be processed or removed by the small animals as defined, in particular ants themselves, and which is then placed in a container ( Fig. 1) 2, which is open on one side and made of a transparent material (glass, plastic, etc.). This container may be expandable by one or more holes or sockets ( Fig. 1) 3. This nesting material is ecologically safe, environmentally friendly, recyclable and compostable. Detailed description:

[0003] Insertable, non-transparent nesting material made of a PU foam-like material, preferably lignin-based, with the addition of cell regulators, hardeners and blowing agents, or polylactic acid with the addition of a natural substance, preferably clay or plant starch with the addition of a natural substance, preferably sand ( Fig. 1) 1 which is characterized in that it can be cut into any shape and placed in the container ( Fig. 1) 2 can be inserted, slid in, or placed loosely or via a guide rail. This container can have any geometric shape (cuboid, cylinder, etc.) and is characterized by being made of a transparent material (glass, plastic, etc.) and being open on one side (top or side) and being oriented vertically or horizontally. The nest module has one or more bores ( Fig. 1) 3 as well as one or more connection options on one or more sides, which allow the use as a separate nest module or in combination with one or more tanks (formicaria / terrariums / vivariums) or can be inserted into a larger tank of this type. State of the art

[0004] Previously, nesting materials for nest modules were made of sand, sand and clay, sand and clay and humus (various plant fibers), gypsum, wood, cork, or aerated concrete. These materials can collapse under vibration or are difficult or impossible to dig in. Therefore, a PU foam-like variant made of synthetic resin (or phenolic resin-based) was developed for ant nests, which is known under the brand name "Digfix" and is described in the publicly accessible utility model DE202016007438U1.

[0005] Which had the advantage of being very light and easy to cut to size individually.

[0006] This makes it suitable for any shape of geometric tank (formicaria / terrariums / vivaria etc.), especially for the farm area, also called nesting area ( Fig. 1) 2 for ants. It can be milled / pressed into it for this purpose, e.g. tunnels, chambers, or used unprocessed.

[0007] Advantages of the pluggable nesting material ( Fig. 1) 1 is also the combinability with the substrates and granules or solid plates which have been used according to the previous state of the art.

[0008] This material, which is suitable for animals to burrow in and is made from synthetic binders made of synthetic resin (or phenolic resin), has the major disadvantage that it is not recyclable and therefore environmentally harmful and not compostable.

[0009] This problem is solved by the features listed in claims 1 to 4.

[0010] The particular advantage of this invention is that it offers an ecologically sound, environmentally friendly, recyclable, and compostable alternative to phenolic resin-based nest inserts. It largely incorporates the advantages of these phenolic resin-based nest inserts: Therefore, the use of nesting material does not need to be differentiated between the species-specific requirements of the small animals to be kept, as defined, especially ants.

[0011] The insertable nesting material allows for the simulation of moist, semi-dry, and dry habitat types, making it ideally suited for keeping small animals as defined, especially ants, both for wood-dwelling or cavity-dwelling species and for ground-dwelling or burrowing species, etc., as it is characterized by the following properties: it is non-toxic, breathable, it absorbs and stores water and gradually releases it into the environment, and it does not mold. Definitions: Small animals:

[0012] Small animals within the meaning of this application are all animals suitable for keeping, preferably indoors, and preferably animals smaller than approximately 10 cm, ideally smaller than 1 cm. Arachnids and insects are particularly suitable. Among insects, social insects are especially suitable. Among social insects, ants are particularly suitable.

[0013] An embodiment of the invention is described by reference to the Fig. 1 explained. Reference symbol list (1) Nest insert / nest material (2) Container / Nest module (3) Drillings / Accesses QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 202016007438U1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Main claim: The nesting material ( Fig. 1) 1 consisting of a binder preferably based on lignin or polylactic acid or plant starch with the addition of cell regulators, hardeners and blowing agents with the addition of natural substances such as loam, sand, clay and plant fibers characterized by that it has a brittle, hard foam-like consistency, that it may have milled channels and a milled channel system, and is environmentally friendly, ecological, recyclable and compostable, and that it is placed in a transparent container open on at least one side ( Fig. 1) 2 (e.g., made of glass, plastic, etc.) is inserted, which is oriented vertically or horizontally and has the shape of a cuboid (or another geometric shape, e.g., a cylinder, etc.). The container ( Fig. 1) 2 has one or more access points. [2] The nesting material ( Fig.1) 1 consisting of a binder, preferably lignin-based, with the addition of cell regulators, hardeners and blowing agents. characterized by that it has a brittle, hard foam-like consistency, that it may have milled channels and a milled channel system, and is environmentally friendly, ecological, recyclable and compostable, and that it is placed in a transparent container open on at least one side ( Fig. 1) 2 (e.g., made of glass, plastic, etc.) is inserted, which is oriented vertically or horizontally and has the shape of a cuboid (or another geometric shape, e.g., a cylinder, etc.). The container ( Fig. 1) 2 has one or more access points. [3] The nesting material ( Fig. 1) 1 consisting of a binder, preferably based on polylactic acid, with the addition of cell regulators, hardeners and blowing agents, with the addition of clay characterized byis that it has a brittle, hard foam-like consistency, that it may have milled channels and a milled channel system, and is environmentally friendly, ecological, recyclable and compostable, and that it is placed in a transparent container open on at least one side ( Fig. 1) 2 (e.g., made of glass, plastic, etc.) is inserted, which is oriented vertically or horizontally and has the shape of a cuboid (or another geometric shape, e.g., a cylinder, etc.). The container ( Fig. 1) 2 has one or more access points. [4] The nesting material ( Fig. 1) 1 consisting of a binder preferably based on plant starch with the addition of cell regulators, hardeners and blowing agents with the addition of natural materials such as loam, sand, clay and plant fibers characterized bythat it has a brittle, hard foam-like consistency, that it may have milled channels and a milled channel system, and is environmentally friendly, ecological, recyclable and compostable, and that it is placed in a transparent container open on at least one side ( Fig. 1) 2 (e.g., made of glass, plastic, etc.) is inserted, which is oriented vertically or horizontally and has the shape of a cuboid (or another geometric shape, e.g., a cylinder, etc.). The container ( Fig. 1) 2 has one or more access points. [5] The transparent container described in the main claim ( Fig. 1) 2, in which the nesting material ( Fig. 1) 1 is located, furthermore characterized by that it has one or more boreholes ( Fig. 1) 3 and has one or more connection options on one or more sides.

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