Trap for collecting flies

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a trap for collecting flies, comprising a vertically arranged surface emitting light which is arranged above the upper opening of a tube which is arranged below a bottom end of a collecting device. Another object of the present disclosure relates to a method for collecting flies comprising the steps of emitting light by a vertically arranged surface which is arranged above the upper opening of a tube which is arranged below a bottom end of a collecting device, collecting the flies which fall through the opening into the collecting device.

Description

TRAP FOR COLLECTING FLIESDESCRIPTIONField of the Disclosure

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a trap for collecting flies.Brief description of the related art

[0002] Diptera, particularly the black soldier fly, is mass-reared on organic side streams and biowaste to produce larval biomass and frass, among others used as pet and animal feed and fertilizer. In mass-rearing facilities, adult flies emerge from pupae in different containment systems such as rooms or cages and can then be utilized to produce offspring for organic side stream and biowaste recycling for high-value products.

[0003] Flies like the black soldier fly, have a so called positive phototaxis which relates to an innate positive phototactic response to light sources. Said innate response is common among flies that primarily fly during the night towards the light of the moon for orientation. It is further established that flies respond to optical appeals, i.e. light quality and quantity and other abiotic cues, i.e. air flow, air temperature and humidity.

[0004] Flies are frequently reared under artificial light with a distinct light quality and quantity to maximize mating and fecundity in mass rearing facilities (cf. US 2018 / 303076 Al). An attractant is used in such facilities to lure female flies to the place of egg oviposition following mating.

[0005] Many different types of trapping insects are known in the prior art. Published European patent application EP 1 575 355 A2 discloses an insect trap which is intended in particular for trapping and / or rendering harmless flying and / or pest insects. In a first variant, the insect trap has a flat or curved, light-colored surface and at least one dark contrasting area arranged withinit. In a second variant, the insect trap has an outflow surface for generating a weak air flow emanating from the surface. Both variants can be combined with each other as desired to increase the effectiveness of the trap. In the insect trap, devices for holding, capturing and / or killing attracted insects are also provided on a surface of the trap and / or in a cavity arranged therein. Such insect traps are used for pest control in closed rooms and outdoors as well as for detecting insect densities (monitoring).

[0006] Published European patent application EP 4 223 117 Al relates to an insect catching device and a method for catching flying insects, the insect catching device comprising an insect retaining or insect killing enclosure; a suction opening; a device for producing a suction flow with a suction direction from the suction opening into the enclosure; a retaining device assigned with or to the suction opening, which retaining device is devised for temporally stationarily retaining the insects prior to transferring the insects into the insect retaining or insect killing enclosure and a detecting device for detecting insects, that are temporally retained on the retaining device.

[0007] Published International patent application WO 2019 / 042839 Al discloses an insect trap and a method for attracting and / or catching flying and / or pest insects. The trap has an intake opening which continues into an intake channel in which an air flow prevails which acts on the intake opening with negative pressure or with a suction flow and which leads to an interior of the insect trap. Furthermore, the trap has a surface which surrounds the intake duct in the vicinity of the intake opening and envelops the intake duct in the wider region at a varying radial distance and widens in a direction parallel to the direction of the air flow passing through the intake duct and which is at least partially permeable to outflowing air and forms at least part of an outer of the insect trap. In addition, an end or base side adj oining the outer wall and largely impermeable to incoming or outgoing air and opposite the intake opening is provided, which is at least slightly spaced from an open-end side of the intake duct extending into the interior of the trap.

[0008] Published Chinese patent application CN 113 056 192 A provides an insect trap which effectively attracts target pests to make it possible to improve the probability of capturing / exterminating the target pests and to increase the production amount of agricultural products. To this end, this insect trap comprises: light sources which radiate light for causing phototaxis in insects; a mortar-shaped reflection part which is disposed vertically downward ofthe light sources, and which reflects the light emitted from the light sources vertically upward; a cylindrical part which is disposed vertically downward of the mortar-shaped reflection part, and which extends from the mortar-shaped reflection part; a fan which generates an air flow that is sucked into the cylindrical part from the mortar-shaped reflection part; and a capture net which is disposed vertically downward of the fan, and which captures insects. The insect trap is characterized by the light sources having a radiation wavelength with a maximum radiation peak near 560 nm or near 565 nm; and the mortar-shaped reflection part having a coating film with a color similar to a hue within the range of 10YR-10Y in the Munsell color system. The insert trap according to this document requires a vertically reflecting mortar-shaped reflection part which makes the insect trap more complex with respect to the required parts.

[0009] Published Korean patent application KR 2021 0147224 A discloses a pest detection system according to the embodiment includes a plurality of light emitting units and a light receiving unit, a pest detection device for detecting identification of pests, a signal processing unit for converting a pest detection signal received from the pest detection device into time information, and a signal processing unit for conversion By including a management unit that analyzes information about pests through time information, stores a database and provides a solution thereto, it analyzes information about pests more precisely and accurately, and tailors it to the user according to the type and characteristics of the pest, service can be provided. The light is emitted and received in a through hole which makes the system more complex because a light receiver is required.

[0010] Published Korean patent KR 101 391 174 Bl discloses pest collecting apparatus and a collecting method. The disclosed pest collecting method is a method of attracting insects by irradiating a lamp light to a lamp in the vicinity of an installation site and sucking insects gathered around the lamp to collect insects. A pest collecting apparatus according to this document comprises: a lamp that emits light for attracting pests; a light divergent angle adjusting means for adjusting a direction of light emitted from the lamp; A blowing fan for generating a suction force for collecting pests gathered around the lamp and having a suction port positioned at a lower portion of the lamp so that the suction force is directly applied to the lamp without bending; And a collecting insect storage body adapted to be passed through a wind containing the insect puff sucked by the blowing fan and to be filtered to be stored therein. The pest collecting method of the present invention is a method of attracting pests to the vicinity of the lamp by irradiating the light of the lamp toward a lamp around the installation place andsucking pests gathered around the lamp with a strong suction force to collect pests There is a very good insect trapping effect. Th device according to this document requires a fan and emits the light around the installation site.

[0011] Published Korean patent application KR 2017 0025927 A discloses a pest catching apparatus includes a capturing unit disposed at the lower end such as an attractor capable of attracting a pest by irradiating light, a light emitting unit arranged at the upper end of the capturing unit and irradiating infrared rays, A light receiving unit disposed at a predetermined distance apart from the light emitting unit so as to correspond to the light receiving unit and corresponding to the light receiving unit, an antireflective unit provided on both sides of the light receiving unit to prevent reflected light of the received infrared light from being reflected, Wherein the antireflection unit is formed of a material that does not reflect the infrared rays so that the detection unit can accurately count the insect number. The device according to this document requires light emitting and light receiving parts which make the device complex with respect to the required parts.

[0012] Published Canadian patent application CA 2 919 287 Al discloses an apparatus including a mating chamber, an artificial light source, and an oviposition chamber in communication with the mating chamber. The light sources are used to attract adult Black Soldier Flies to exit the mating chamber.

[0013] A first disadvantage of solutions known from the prior art relates to using air flow or suction. Other solutions from the prior art numb or kill insects. The traps known from the prior art have not been used in enclosed mass rearing facilities but are typically used in residential buildings or in the wild.

[0014] Thus, there is a need for a device and method for the collecting flies in mass-rearing facilities considering that it is very important for the mass production that the flies are not harmed, and their fitness is not negatively influenced by the used trap.Summary of the Disclosure

[0015] The present disclosure provides a trap for collecting flies, comprising a vertically arranged surface emitting light which is arranged above the upper opening of a tube which is arranged below a bottom end of a collecting device.

[0016] The trap according to the present disclosure comprises in an embodiment a collecting device comprising a funnel, a cone, a hopper, a slide, or a tube.

[0017] It is further intended that the opening of a trap according to the present disclosure is in an embodiment connected by a tube to the collecting device

[0018] It is further intended that a collecting vessel is connected by the tube to the collecting device.

[0019] The trap comprises a ventilation member which is connected to the tube, wherein the collecting vessel is a container a duct, room or a suction device.

[0020] It is intended that the suction device is connected to a vessel or a room.

[0021] In an embodiment, the trap comprises a ventilation member which is connected to the tube.

[0022] It is envisaged that a power source is connected to the vertically arranged surface emitting light. A controller can be connected to the power source for controlling whether the vertically arranged surface emitting light is on or off.

[0023] In an embodiment, the tube of a trap according to the present disclosure is reversibly fixed to the collecting device, wherein the tube is made of a flexible material.

[0024] The collecting vessel of a trap comprises in an embodiment wheels mounted to its bottom.

[0025] In an embodiment, the vertically arranged surface emitting light is part of a wall of a room, and wherein the collecting device extends from the wall and is arranged below the vertically arranged surface emitting light.

[0026] It is further intended that the vertically arranged surface emitting light of a trap according to the present disclosure emits light in the range of 200-600 nm.

[0027] Another object of the present disclosure relates to a method for collecting flies comprising the steps of emitting light by a vertically arranged surface which is arranged above the upper opening of a tube which is arranged below a bottom end of a collecting device; collecting the flies which fall through the opening into the collecting device.

[0028] In an embodiment, the method according to the present disclosure comprises the steps of collecting the flies in a collecting vessel which is connected by the tube to the collecting device.

[0029] The foregoing summary is not intended to summarize each potential embodiment or every aspect of the present disclosure.Summary of the Figures

[0030] The disclosure will be described based on figures. It will be understood that the embodiments and aspects of the disclosure described in the figures are only examples and do not limit the protective scope of the claims in any way. The disclosure is defined by the claims and their equivalents. It will be understood that features of one aspect or embodiment of the disclosure can be combined with a feature of a different aspect or aspects of other embodiments of the disclosure, in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows schematically a side view onto a light trap according to the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows schematically a perspective view onto a light trap according to the present disclosure.Detailed Description of the Disclosure and the Figures

[0033] The technical problem is solved by the independent claims. The dependent claims cover further specific embodiments of the disclosure.

[0034] The present disclosure relates to a trap for collecting fit and flying insects in mass-rearing facilities from the place where they emerge from the pupae.

[0035] The term vertical or vertically arranged shall be understood as in a right angle to a horizontal plane, wherein a deviation from up to + / - 10 degree from the right angle also falls within the meaning of the term vertical.

[0036] The trap comprises one or more light sources which emit a light in the range of 200-600 nm in a concentrated manner to stimulate the flies to fly in the direction of the light. The light source is a vertically arranged surface, which can be a wall of a room. The light source is mounted at a height or above an opening, wherein the opening comprises funnel-shaped upper opening attached to collecting vessels below the upper opening. The flies are attracted by the light, bounce against the vertically arranged surface emitting light and fall in the funnel-shaped upper opening which can also be connected to one or more fixed or flexible tubes which are connected to one or more collecting vessels. From there, the flies can be transferred to a reproduction room. The light can be switched on and off flexibly, which is very practical as the hatched flies can be "harvested" at a defined point in time.

[0037] The present invention is based on a vertically arranged surface which has a double function. On one hand light is emitted for attracting flies. In a second instance the vertically arranged surface serves as a barrier for the flies. They fly against the vertically arranged surface and fall as a consequence in the upper opening which is formed as a funnel so that the flies can be connected.

[0038] In an embodiment, the vertically arranged surface emitting light is part of a vertical wall of a room and the upper opening extends from the wall so that the flies fall again into the upper opening aften the flies have been flying against the vertically arranged surface emitting light.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows schematically a side view onto an embodiment of a light trap according to the present disclosure. A vertically arranged surface 5 which represents the light source by emitting light, is arranged above the upper openings 10 of tube 15 is arranged at the bottom end 11 of a collecting device like a funnel 12. The embodiment in FIG. 1 shows two funnels 12 which are arranged below the vertically arranged surface 5 emitting light. The bottom end of each funnel 12 is connected by a tube 15 with a closed collecting vessel 20. For the sake of completeness, the bottom end 11 of a funnel can be connected directly to collecting vessel 20 and the present disclosure encompasses embodiment with only a single funnel.

[0040] The light trap according to the present disclosure is intended for a containment system such as a cage or room for hatching of flies from pupae. Turning on the light will cause the flies to fly towards the vertically arranged surface 5 which emits the light and against the vertically arranged surface 5 from where they drop into the funnel and thus the upper opening and fall through the tube into the collecting vessel.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows schematically a perspective view onto an embodiment of a light trap according to the present disclosure.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which the vertically arranged surface 5 emitting light is part of a wall 30 of a room. The collecting device like a funnel 12 extends from the wall 30 and is arranged below the vertically arranged surface 5 emitting light. Tube 15 goes through the wall 30 or upper opening 10 already extends through wall 30 from the bottom end 1. The collecting vessel 20 is arranged on the opposite side of wall 30. It is also within the scope of the present disclosure if the collecting vessel is arranged in the same room than the vertically arranged surface 5 emitting light. Parts that are located behind wall 30 are indicated by dotted lines.

[0043] The vertically arranged surface 5 emitting light has to be arranged in a manner at the height or above at least one opening. To make the flies colliding with the wall or the vertically arranged surface 5 emitting light and to fall into opening 10, a funnel 12 is arranged above opening 10 so that flies drop into the funnel 12 and fall through the opening 10 and tube 15 into the collecting vessel 20.

[0044] In an embodiment, the tube is connected to a separate cage or room, such as a reproduction room. A ventilation member can be used for ventilating flies in the direction ofthe trap and / or through the tube into the collecting vessel or into another room. The tube is reversibly connected to the collecting vessel so that the collecting vessel can be exchanged. The collecting vessel can be a standardized pallet, be on rails or wheels so that the collected flies can easily be moved manually or by forklifts to other rooms or areas for utilizing the flies.

[0045] It is an advantage that the light trap according to the present disclosure allows physical separation of fly emergence and reproduction as this allows exposing the two different life stages (pupae and flies) to their optimal abiotic and biotic conditions contributing to a more efficient and reliable reproduction process required in mass-rearing facilities.

[0046] It is an advantage for reproduction that the light trap according to the present disclosure contributes to high fitness and low age disparity among collected flies, because only flies that can fly are collected which is vital for efficient mass rearing of insects.

[0047] It is an advantage that the light trap according to the present disclosure does not harm or numb the flies, consequently ensuring quick reproduction after their re-location from the location of hatching to the place of reproduction.

[0048] The system according to the present disclosure is highly flexible with respect to its modular attackable nature. The system can thus easily be adapted to the spatial conditions of buildings or of rearing facilities. The throughput of the system can also be adjusted by the size, configuration and number of rooms and fly collection systems.

[0049] The foregoing description of preferred and other embodiments is not intended to limit or restrict the scope or applicability of the inventive concepts conceived of by the Applicants. It will be appreciated with the benefit of the present disclosure that features described above in accordance with any embodiment or aspect of the disclosed subject matter can be utilized, either alone or in combination, with any other described feature, in any other embodiment or aspect of the disclosed subject matter.Reference NumeralsI light trap5 vertically arranged surface emitting light10 upper openingI I bottom opening funnel12 funnel15 tube20 collecting vessel30 wall

Claims

CLAIMS1. A trap for collecting flies, comprising a vertically arranged surface emitting light which is arranged above the upper opening of a tube which is arranged below a bottom end of a collecting device.

2. The trap of claim 1, wherein the collecting device comprises a funnel, a cone, a hopper, a slide, or a tube.

3. The trap of claim 1 or 2, wherein a collecting vessel is connected by the tube to the collecting device.

4. The trap of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the collecting vessel is a container a duct, room or a suction device.

5. The trap of claim 4, wherein the suction device is connected to a vessel or a room.

6. The trap of any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a ventilation member which is connected to the tube.

7. The trap of any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a power source which is connected to the vertically arranged surface emitting light.

8. The trap of claim 7, comprising a controller which is connected to the power source for controlling whether the vertically arranged surface emitting light is on or off.

9. The trap of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the tube is reversibly fixed to the collecting device.

10. The trap of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the tube is made of a flexible material.

11. The trap of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the collecting vessel comprises wheels mounted to its bottom.

12. The trap of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the vertically arranged surface emitting light is part of a wall of a room, and wherein the collecting device extends from the wall and is arranged below the vertically arranged surface emitting light.

13. The trap of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the vertically arranged surface emitting light emits light in the range of 200-600 nm.

14. A method for collecting flies comprising the steps of emitting light by a vertically arranged surface which is arranged above the upper opening of a tube which is arranged below a bottom end of a collecting device.; collecting the flies which fall through the opening into the collecting device.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising the steps of collecting the flies in a collecting vessel which is connected by the tube to the collecting device.

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