bee trap

Abstract

To provide a bee trap capable of reducing escape of bees once trapped and improving trapping efficiency. [Solution] The bee trap 10 is filled with a bee attractant 43 and attracts and captures bees through an open attraction port 26. The bee trap 10 comprises a first capture container 20 into which the attractant 43 is placed and which is formed with a first storage chamber 20a for storing bees and an attraction port 26, a second capture container 30 provided above the first capture container 20 and which is formed with a second storage chamber 30a for storing bees, and a partition wall 23 which separates the first capture container 20 from the second capture container 30 and which is formed with a communication port 25 which communicates between the first storage chamber 20a and the second storage chamber 30a.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a bee trap that efficiently captures flying insects, particularly harmful bees such as hornets. [Background technology]

[0002] In orchards such as chestnut or apple orchards, workers perform various tasks, and one of the factors that can interfere with the work is the incursion of harmful insects such as hornets, paper wasps, horseflies, and scarab beetles. Therefore, measures have been taken to capture and exterminate harmful insects. Conventionally, an insect trap disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been known as an insect trap for capturing harmful insects.

[0003] The insect trap of Patent Document 1 has an attractant section with an internal space, with multiple openings, and a container-shaped trapping section is provided below the attractant section via a partition. The partition is shaped like a mortar with a downward recess, and a drop opening that opens into the inside of the trapping section is formed at the bottom end of the partition. A sail is provided above the attractant section, with its front-to-back axis perpendicular to the opening plane of the opening. A volatile attractant that attracts insects is placed at the bottom of the trapping section.

[0004] By hanging the upper end of the sail with a string, the front and rear axis of the sail faces the direction of the airflow when the wind blows, and the opening of the opening faces against the airflow, so that the volatile attractant is carried by the airflow and vaporized. Attracted insects, such as bees, enter the attractant part through the opening, go down the funnel-shaped partition, and are guided to the capture part through the drop opening.

[0005] However, bees that are led into the trapping section and fall into the attractant do not die immediately, but instead try to escape from the liquid attractant or return to the outside by climbing up along the inner wall or flying upward. Of the bees that fly upward, a certain percentage reach the drop hole and continue upward, returning to the attractant section.

[0006] Bees that escape into the attractant from below, where there is liquid, try to move further up to escape. However, because the attractant has a ceiling and no space above it, the bees escape through the multiple openings, reducing the efficiency of capture. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-322448 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] To provide a bee trap that can reduce the escape of bees once captured and improve the trapping efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] [1] A bee trap that contains an attractant for bees and attracts and captures the bees through an open attraction port. The device is characterized by comprising a first capture container in which the attractant is placed and which has a first storage chamber for storing the bees and the attraction port formed therein; a second capture container which is provided above the first capture container and which has a second storage chamber for storing the bees formed therein; and a partition section which separates the first capture container from the second capture container and which has a communication port formed therein which connects the first storage chamber to the second storage chamber.

[0010] According to this configuration, the bee trap has two storage chambers: a first storage chamber formed in the first trapping container for storing bees, and a second storage chamber formed in the second trapping container for storing bees. This two-stage trapping structure captures bees that cannot be captured in the first storage chamber of the first trapping container in the second storage chamber of the second trapping container, thereby improving bee capture efficiency. Furthermore, the attractant is formed in the first trapping container, which contains an attractant, and the second trapping container is provided above the first trapping container. Therefore, bees that enter through the attractant port fly upward in an attempt to escape from the first trapping container, reaching the communication port formed in the partition and entering the second trapping container. This prevents bees from escaping to the outside, further improving the bee capture rate.

[0011] [2] Preferably, the partition wall is inclined upward from the top of the first trapping container toward the center of the first trapping container in a plan view, The communication port is formed in the center of the partition wall.

[0012] With this configuration, the bees in the first capture container fly upward in an attempt to escape, but because the partition slopes upward from the top of the first capture container toward the center of the first capture container in a plan view, they are guided along the partition to the communication port and are contained in the second containment chamber of the second capture container. This further improves the capture rate of bees.

[0013] [3] Preferably, the partition wall includes a cylindrical portion extending linearly upward from the partition wall, The communication port is formed at the upper end of the cylindrical portion.

[0014] According to this configuration, the partition has a communication opening formed at the upper end of the tubular part that extends linearly upward, so even if a bee that has entered the second storage chamber reaches the communication opening, the tubular part prevents it from immediately going to the first storage chamber, making it easier for the bee to stay in the second storage chamber. This makes it possible to further improve the capture rate of bees.

[0015] [4] Preferably, the size L1 of the communication port is less than 1 / 3 of the inner size L2 of the first capture container, and the distance L3 from the inner wall of the second capture container to the communication port is greater than the size L1 of the communication port.

[0016] According to this configuration, the size of the communication opening L1 is less than one-third of the size L2 of the inside of the first capture container, so the size of the communication opening is relatively small, and it is possible to prevent bees that have entered the second storage chamber from easily returning to the first storage chamber. Furthermore, since the distance L3 from the inner wall of the second capture container to the communication opening is greater than the size L1 of the communication opening, it is difficult for the legs of bees moving along the wall of the second storage chamber to reach the communication opening, making it easier for bees to stay in the second storage chamber. This further improves the capture rate of bees.

[0017] [5] Preferably, the lower end of the attraction port is located between 2 cm and 5 cm from the boundary between the first capture container and the second capture container.

[0018] With this configuration, the lower end of the attraction opening is located between 2 cm and 5 cm from the boundary between the first and second capture containers, ensuring a minimum size for the hole through which the bees can enter, and by bringing the attraction opening close to the communication opening, bees that fly inward from the attraction opening can be immediately guided to the communication opening. This allows bees to be guided into the second storage chamber, further improving the capture rate.

[0019] [6] Preferably, an outlet opening to the outside is formed at the upper end of the second capture container, and a removable cap is provided on this outlet.

[0020] With this configuration, by removing the cap, captured bees can be easily removed from the outlet at the top of the second trapping container, and the bee trap can be reused by refilling the attractant. Furthermore, the inventors have found that refilling a bee trap with remaining attractant results in more bees being captured than filling a new bee trap with new attractant. This is presumably because refilling a previously used attractant with new attractant leaves behind the proven attractant. Therefore, repeated use of the bee trap can further improve the bee capture rate.

[0021] [7] Preferably, the first and second catch containers are formed from transparent plastic bottles.

[0022] According to this configuration, by forming the bee trap from a plastic bottle, the production cost of the bee trap can be reduced. Furthermore, the inventor conducted experiments on the trapping effect using transparent plastic bottles, plastic bottles painted green with green tape or paint, and plastic bottles painted black with black tape or paint, and found that the bee trap made from a transparent plastic bottle had the highest bee capture rate. Therefore, by forming the bee trap from a transparent plastic bottle, the bee capture rate can be further improved. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] To provide a bee trap capable of reducing escape of bees once trapped and improving trapping efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a bee trap according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bee trap of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the bee trap of FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3. [Figure 4]10 is a diagram showing the operation of a bee trap according to a comparative example and a bee trap according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 5] 10 is a graph showing an example of the results of a bee-catching experiment. [Figure 6] This is a diagram illustrating an experiment on the capture effectiveness of transparent, green, and black bee traps. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Example]

[0026] First, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the bee trap 10 has a two-stage structure with a first trapping container 20 at the bottom and a second trapping container 30 provided above the first trapping container 20. Inside the first trapping container 20, a first storage chamber 20a is formed to store bees 50 (see Figure 4). Inside the second trapping container 30, a second storage chamber 30a is formed to store bees 50.

[0027] The first capture container 20 and the second capture container 30 are separated by a partition wall 23. The second capture container 30 is adhered to the first capture container 20 by a boundary portion 41 made of adhesive tape. Note that in the embodiment, the boundary portion 41 is adhesive tape, but is not limited to this. The boundary portion 41 may be made of adhesive, welded, or integrally molded. The material and method are not important as long as the second capture container 30 can be attached to the first capture container 20.

[0028] Next, the first capture container 20 will be described. The first capture container 20 comprises a bottom 21, a first vertical wall portion 22 rising from the outer periphery of the bottom 21, a partition portion 23 sloping upward from the top of the first vertical wall portion 22 toward the center of the first capture container 20 in a planar view, and a tubular portion 24 extending linearly upward from the partition portion 23.

[0029] A communication opening 25 that connects the first storage chamber 20a and the second storage chamber 30a is formed at the upper end of the tubular portion 24. The communication opening 25 is formed in the center of the partition wall portion 23 in a plan view. The size of the communication opening 25 is preferably 20 mm to 35 mm. By setting the size within this range, when the bees 50 move from the first storage chamber 20a to the second storage chamber 30a, the inclined partition wall portion 23 makes it easier for them to enter the communication opening 25, while when the bees 50 try to return from the second storage chamber 30a to the first storage chamber 20a, they are not guided by the partition wall portion 23 and therefore have difficulty returning.

[0030] An attraction opening 26 that opens to the outside is formed in the first vertical wall portion 22 of the first capture container 20. The attraction opening 26 is rectangular, and when attracting hornets or bees 50 of a similar size to hornets, it is preferable that the attraction opening 26 has a length and width of 20 mm to 40 mm, with the length and width being greater than the width. The size of the attraction opening 26 is not limited to the above-mentioned size, and may be different sizes such as 10 mm, 15 mm, 45 mm, or 50 mm as long as the bees 50 can pass through. Furthermore, the attraction opening 26 may be circular, elliptical, or polygonal instead of rectangular.

[0031] The lower end of the attraction opening 26 is preferably located 2 cm to 5 cm from the boundary 41 between the first capture container 20 and the second capture container 30. Because the lower end of the attraction opening 26 is located 2 cm to 5 cm from the boundary 41 between the first capture container 20 and the second capture container, it is possible to ensure a minimum size of hole for the bees 50 to enter, and to bring the attraction opening 26 close to the communication opening 25 so that the bees 50 that fly inward from the attraction opening 26 can be immediately guided to the communication opening 25. The lower end of the attraction opening 26 may be located more than 5 cm away from the boundary 41, and the position does not matter as long as the attraction opening 26 is formed in the first capture container 20.

[0032] The first capture container 20 is also formed with a rain cover 27 that extends outward from the upper end of the attraction port 20. The presence of the rain cover 27 prevents rain from entering the interior and diluting the attractant 43 (described below), reducing its concentration. This allows the attractant 43's ability to attract bees 50 to be maintained.

[0033] A volatile attractant 43 that attracts bees 50 is placed in the bottom of the first capture container 20. The attractant 43 is preferably a liquid, and examples thereof include a mixture of sake, vinegar, and sugar, a mixture of water, shochu, sugar, and vinegar, and a mixture of shochu and orange juice. Note that the attractant 43 is not limited to the aforementioned ones, and depending on the type of bee to be captured, it may be based on pheromones, starch sugars, fermented liquid, honey, fruit juice other than orange, or a mixture containing an insecticide component. Furthermore, the material and state of the attractant are not important, and it may be in gel or solid form, etc., as long as it can attract bees 50.

[0034] Next, the second capture container 30 will be described. The second capture container 30 has a second vertical wall portion 31 rising from the boundary portion 41, and an inclined portion 32 that slopes upward from the top of the second vertical wall portion 31 toward the center in a plan view of the second capture container 30. The upper end of the inclined portion 32 extends in a neck-like shape, and an extraction port 33 that opens into the opening is formed.

[0035] The partition wall 23, the cylindrical portion 23, and the communication port 25 are formed to protrude into the second storage chamber 30a of the second capture container 30. The size L1 of the communication port 25 is 1 / 3 or less of the inner size L2 of the first capture container 20, and the distance L3 from the inner wall of the second capture container 30 to the communication port 25 (the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 24) is greater than the size L1 of the communication port 25.

[0036] The bottom of the second storage chamber 30a is configured with a partition wall 23 that slopes upward toward the center. Therefore, the bottom of the second storage chamber 30a narrows in space as it goes downward. As a result, bees 50 that move to the bottom of the second storage chamber 30a find it difficult to move and lose strength before being captured.

[0037] The first capture container 20 and the second capture container 30 are made of plastic bottles. By using commercially available plastic bottles as materials, the production cost of the bee trap 10 can be reduced.

[0038] Next, the operation of the bee trap 100 of the comparative example will be described. 4(a) shows a comparative example of a bee trap 100, which has an opening 102 formed in a container 101 and a roof 103 provided above the opening 102. The comparative example of a bee trap 100 also has a cap 104 provided at the top end of the container 101, and is hung from a tree branch (not shown) by a string 105.

[0039] The bees 50 are attracted by the attractant 106 placed in the container 101 of the comparative example, and enter the container through the attractant opening 102 as shown by arrow (1). After the bees 50 come into contact with the attractant 106 as shown by arrow (2), they fly upward as shown by arrow (3) in an attempt to escape (or return). Some of the bees 50 run out of energy and are captured inside the container 101. However, the remaining bees 50 fly around the container 101 or grab onto the inner walls, and a certain percentage of them reach the attractant opening 102 as shown by arrow (4) and escape to the outside. In this way, with the bee trap 10 of the comparative example, even if the bees are captured, a relatively high percentage of them escape, resulting in a lower capture efficiency.

[0040] Next, the operation of the bee trap 10 of the embodiment will be described. Figure 4(b) shows the bee trap 10 of the embodiment, which has a two-stage structure consisting of a first trapping container 20 and a second trapping container 30. The bee trap 10 is hung from a tree branch (not shown) by a string 42 with an attractant 43 placed inside.

[0041] The bees 50 are attracted by the attractant 43 placed in the first capture container 20 of the embodiment and enter the first storage chamber 20a through the attractant opening 26 as shown by arrow (5). After coming into contact with the attractant 43, the bees 50 fly upward in an attempt to escape (or return). Some of the bees 50 run out of energy and are captured in the first storage chamber 20a as shown by arrow (6).

[0042] Of the remaining bees 50, those that fly upward or climb the inner wall are guided by the partition wall 23 and enter the second storage chamber 30a at a certain rate through the communication opening 25 as shown by arrow (7). The bees 50 then fly further upward or climb the inner wall as shown by arrow (8), but because the second storage chamber 30a is a closed space, they have nowhere to escape and are captured in the second storage chamber 30a, exhausted as shown by arrow (9).

[0043] Thus, the bee trap 10 of the embodiment has two storage chambers: a first storage chamber 20a for storing bees 50 formed in the first capture container 20, and a second storage chamber 30a for storing bees 50 formed in the second capture container 30. Since it is a two-stage capture structure in which bees 50 that cannot be captured in the first storage chamber 20a of the first capture container 20 are captured in the second storage chamber 30a of the second capture container 30, it is possible to improve the capture efficiency of bees 50. Furthermore, since the attractant 43 is placed in the first capture container 20 and the second capture container 30 is provided above the first capture container 20, the bee 50 that enters through the attractant 26 flies upward in an attempt to escape from the first capture container 20, reaches the communication port 25 formed in the partition portion 23, and enters the second capture container 30. This prevents the bees 50 from escaping to the outside, and the capture rate of the bees 50 can be further improved.

[0044] Furthermore, the bees 50 in the first capture container 20 fly upward in an attempt to escape, but because the partition wall 23 is inclined upward from the top of the first capture container 20 toward the center of the first capture container 20 in a plan view, they are guided along the partition wall 23 to the communication opening 25 and are contained in the second containment chamber 30a of the second capture container 30. This further improves the capture rate of the bees 50.

[0045] Furthermore, the partition wall 23 has a communication opening 25 formed at the upper end of the tubular portion 24 that extends linearly upward, so even if the bees 50 that have entered the second storage chamber 30a reach the communication opening 25, the tubular portion 24 prevents them from immediately going to the first storage chamber 20a, making it easier for the bees 50 to stay in the second storage chamber 30a. This makes it possible to further improve the capture rate of the bees 50.

[0046] Furthermore, in the bee trap 10 of the embodiment, the lower end of the attraction opening 26 is located within 2 cm and 5 cm of the boundary 41 between the first capture container 20 and the second capture container, so that the size of the hole through which the bee 50 enters is ensured at a minimum, and the attraction opening 26 is brought close to the communication opening 25, so that the bee 50 flying inward from the attraction opening 26 can be immediately guided to the communication opening 25. Therefore, the bee 50 that enters the first storage chamber 20a as shown by arrow (5) can easily move immediately as shown by arrow (7) and be guided to the second storage chamber 30a, further improving the capture rate of the bee 50.

[0047] Furthermore, the size L1 of the communication opening 25 (see FIG. 3) is less than 1 / 3 of the inner size L2 of the first capture container 20, so the size of the communication opening 25 is relatively small, and once the bees 50 enter the second storage chamber 30a, they are prevented from easily returning to the first storage chamber 20a. Furthermore, the distance L3 from the inner wall of the second capture container 30 to the communication opening 25 (the outer periphery of the tubular portion 24) is greater than the size L1 of the communication opening 25, so the legs of the bees 50 moving along the wall of the second storage chamber 30a are less likely to reach the communication opening 25, making it easier for the bees 50 to stay in the second storage chamber 30a. This further improves the capture rate of the bees 50.

[0048] Furthermore, in the bee trap 10 of the embodiment, by removing the cap 36, the captured bees 50 can be easily removed from the outlet 33 at the top end of the second capture container 30, and the bee trap 10 can be reused by refilling the attractant 43. Furthermore, the inventors have found that refilling a bee trap 10 with remaining attractant 43 with new attractant 43 results in more bees 50 being captured than filling a new bee trap 50 with new attractant 43. This is presumably because refilling a previously used attractant 43 that was highly effective at capturing bees 50 with new attractant 43 leaves the bee 50 with proven attractant 43. Therefore, repeated use of the bee trap 10 can further improve the capture rate of bees 50.

[0049] Next, the bee-catching effects of the bee trap 10 of the embodiment and the bee trap 100 of the comparative example will be described. 5 is a graph showing the results of an experiment in which the bee trap 10 of the embodiment and the bee trap 100 of the comparative example were hung on tree branches and the average cumulative number of captured bees was counted over the number of days that had passed. The horizontal axis of the graph is the number of days that had passed, and the vertical axis is the average cumulative number of captured bees. Compared to the bee trap 100 of the comparative example, the bee trap 10 of the embodiment caught more bees (50).

[0050] Next, the trapping effect of different colors of the bee trap 10 will be described. As shown in Figure 6, the inventors experimented with the trapping effectiveness of bee traps 10 by hanging them on a transparent plastic bottle, a plastic bottle covered with green tape, and a plastic bottle covered with black tape for a predetermined number of days. In bee trap 10a, both the first trapping container 20 and the second trapping container 30 are transparent. In bee trap 10b, the first trapping container 20 is transparent and the second trapping container 30 is green. In bee trap 10c, the first trapping container 20 is green and the second trapping container 30 is transparent. In bee trap 10d, both the first trapping container 20 and the second trapping container 30 are green. In bee trap 10e, the first trapping container 20 is transparent and the second trapping container 30 is black. In bee trap 10f, the first trapping container 20 is black and the second trapping container 30 is transparent. In bee trap 10g, both the first trapping container 20 and the second trapping container 30 are black.

[0051] The experimental results showed that the bee trap 10a, in which both the first trap container 20 and the second trap container 30 were transparent, captured the most bees. This is thought to be because bees have a habit of attacking black objects, whereas the bee trap 10 attracts and captures bees with its scent, so the bees are wary of objects with a black surface. Similarly, the bees are wary of objects covered in green because they cannot see inside well, and as a result, the bee trap 10a, made of a transparent plastic bottle, is thought to have captured the most bees.

[0052] In this way, by forming the bee trap 10 (10a) of the embodiment from a transparent plastic bottle, the bee capture rate can be further improved.

[0053] In the embodiment, the first capture container 20 and the second capture container 30 are circular plastic bottles (cylindrical plastic bottles) in plan view, but this is not limited thereto and plastic bottles that are rectangular in plan view may also be used. Furthermore, the first capture container 20 and the second capture container 30 may be formed from resin or glass containers other than plastic bottles.

[0054] In addition, in the embodiment, the partition wall portion 23 is shaped to slope upward toward the center, but this is not limited to this, and the partition wall portion 23 may be configured as a flat surface with no slope. In addition, in the embodiment, the cylindrical portion 24 is provided on the upper part of the partition wall portion 23, but the cylindrical portion 24 may be omitted. In addition, the size L1 of the communication hole 25 may be set regardless of the size L2 of the inside of the first capture container 20 or the distance L3 from the inner wall of the second capture container 30 to the communication opening 25.

[0055] In addition, in the embodiment, the bee-catching container 10 is transparent, but this is not limited to this, and the bee-catching container 10 may be black, green, translucent, etc. In other words, as long as the function and effect of the present invention are exhibited, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. [Industrial Applicability]

[0056] The bee trap of the present invention is suitable for catching hornets. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 10... Bee trap 20... First capture container (plastic bottle) 20a... First Containment Cell 23… Bulkhead part 24... Cylinder part 25... Connecting port 26... Attractor 30... Second capture container (plastic bottle) 33... Removal port 36... Cap 41... Boundary (tape, adhesive) 43... Attractant 50... Bee L1: Size of communication port L2: Inner size of the first catch container L3: Distance from the inner wall of the second capture container to the communication port

Claims

1. A bee trap that contains an attractant for bees and attracts and captures the bees through an open attraction port, A bee trap characterized by comprising: a first capture container in which the attractant is placed and which has a first storage chamber for storing the bees and the attraction port formed therein; a second capture container which is provided above the first capture container and which has a second storage chamber for storing the bees formed therein; and a partition portion which separates the first capture container from the second capture container and which has a communication port which connects the first storage chamber to the second storage chamber.

2. 2. The bee trap according to claim 1, The partition wall is inclined upward from an upper portion of the first catch container toward a center of the first catch container in a plan view, A bee trap characterized in that the communication port is formed in the center of the partition wall.

3. The bee trap according to claim 1 or 2, the partition wall portion includes a cylindrical portion extending linearly upward from the partition wall portion, A bee trap characterized in that the communication port is formed at the upper end of the cylindrical portion.

4. The bee trap according to claim 1 or 2, A bee trap characterized in that the size L1 of the communication opening is less than 1 / 3 of the inner size L2 of the first capture container, and the distance L3 from the inner wall of the second capture container to the communication opening is greater than the size L1 of the communication opening.

5. The bee trap according to claim 1 or 2, A bee trap characterized in that the lower end of the attraction port is located between 2 cm and 5 cm from the boundary between the first capture container and the second capture container.

6. The bee trap according to claim 1 or 2, A bee trap characterized in that an outlet opening to the outside is formed at the upper end of the second trapping container, and a removable cap is provided on this outlet.

7. The bee trap according to claim 1 or 2, A bee trap characterized in that the first capture container and the second capture container are formed from transparent plastic bottles.

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