CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a § 371 national phase of International Application No. PCT/EP2018/080509, filed on Nov. 7, 2018, which claims the benefit of European Patent Application No. 17200992.0, filed on Nov. 10, 2017, which applications are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of traps for bed bugs. In particular the present invention relates to a bed bug trap in which bed bugs are caught on the dorsal side of the insect and immobilized, by means of an adhesive provided on the inner surface of an outer element, while crawling on the outer surface of an inner element in an upwardly tapering space defined between an outer surface of the inner element and an inner surface of the outer element. The present invention further relates to a method of detecting and/or trapping bed bugs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Insect infestation of human habitats has been on the increase in recent years. One reason for this increase is the development of resistant insect species (although this differs from region to region) to prevalent extermination methods. By way of example, the population of bed bugs, having been almost eradicated in the developed world in the 1940s, has slowly been recovering since then. Moreover, the recovery has accelerated since mid-1990s.

Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius, Cimex hemipterus) are wingless insects with exoskeleton, the size and shape of an apple seed. They favor tight and dark spaces. Consequently, they prefer to hide in beds and crevices and cracks in floor/walls and behind skirting-boards. They feed on blood, are active at night and bite any areas of exposed skin. A number of adverse health effects may occur due to bed bug bites, including skin rashes, allergic reactions and/or mental distress. Obviously, above-mentioned rise in population has contributed to increase in bed bug bites and related conditions.

Several methods of combatting insect infestation in general, and that of bed bugs in particular, are known in the art.

One way to address said problem is to subject, for a determined period of time, the infested area to a temperature, either high or low, that is injurious to bed bugs. Accordingly, to kill adult bed bugs as well as laid eggs, said area needs to be heated to 60° C. for one hour or be kept below −18° C. for at least 48 hours.

Another frequently used method for combatting bed bugs is to spread diatomaceous earth (DE) in powder form on the floor and/or along or behind skirting-boards of the room. Once the bed bug comes into contact with DE, sharp micrometer-sized pieces of DE absorb the wax layer on the bed bugs. This starts an irreversible dehydrating process in the bed bug eventually leading to its death. This method may also be used in combatting other insects having similar properties and behavioral patterns.

Still other methods propose the use of different kinds of traps designed to trap bed bugs. These traps typically are of the pit-fall type where bed bugs fall of a precipice into a container in which they are collected, one example being shown by US20090183419A1 wherein a bed bug trap comprises a cone having a top opening through which the bed bugs fall, the inner surface of the cone being covered by an adhesive. Another example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,792 wherein an insect trap comprises dual cones stacked on top of each other to define a passageway into the inner cone in which a bait or lure is placed and into which an insect is lured and trapped.

Despite these advancements there is still a need for further traps for trapping and detecting bed bugs.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a trap for bed bugs which is simple and of low cost so that it may be used in high numbers to more securely detect the presence of, and/or trap, bed bugs.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a trap for bed bugs which decreases the risk that the bed bugs detect and grow wary of the trap.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a trap for bed bugs which allows the capture of bed bugs to be easily detected.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a trap for bed bugs which can be supplied in a knock-down, unassembled or unfolded shape to be assembled by a user.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a trap for bed bugs which when used together with a lure is effective for a long time.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a method of detecting and/or trapping bed bugs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

At least one of the above objects, or at least one of the objects which will be evident from the below description, is according to a first aspect of the invention achieved by a trap for bed bugs comprising:an inner element having an outer surface delimited by a first base and a first top, andan outer element being hollow and having a second base and a second top delimiting an inner surface,the outer element being positioned around the inner element with the second top adjacent to the first top and the second base adjacent to the first base, a tapering space being defined between the outer surface of the inner element and the inner surface of the outer element, the tapering space tapering towards the first top,the tapering space being accessible to bed bugs crawling on the outer surface of the inner element through a base opening defined between the outer surface of the inner element and the second base,
wherein an adhesive is provided on at least part of, preferably all of, the inner surface of the outer element for adhering to the dorsal side of a bed bug crawling on the outer surface of the inner element.

Thus the present invention provides a very simple trap, as offered by the use of merely one inner and one outer element, which is still effective in trapping bed bugs due to the bed bugs never encountering the adhesive until it is too late and the adhesive has already contacted the dorsal side of the bed bugs, e.g. the back shield or the back side or dorsal side of the abdomen of the bed bug. The trap can be made from a low amount of material, for example by merely folding or bending two planar sheets of inexpensive materials such as paper. Simply inverting the trap and visually inspecting the tapering space allows any trapped bed bug to be readily identified. The trap may further be conveniently handled, by gripping the outer element, without necessitating contact with the adhesive or any bed bugs caught in the adhesive.

The simple construction further allows the trap to be supplied in a space saving disassembled state where for example the inner and outer elements are separate, to be assembled by the user of the trap.

While the trap according to the first aspect of the present invention is primarily aimed at trapping bed bugs, also other crawling insects will become trapped on their dorsal sides provided that they crawl far enough into the tapering space towards the first top.

The inner element may be solid or hollow. It may for example be made from bent or folded paper or cardboards, moulded pulp, moulded plastic, or any other material that can be suitable shaped and provided or having an outer surface that the bed bugs can crawl on.

The outer surface preferably has a surface roughness that is suitable for bed bugs to crawl on. Ordinary paper and cardboard have at least the required surface roughness.

In the context of the present invention delimited is to be understood as encompassing that the feature referred to is provided between, or bordered by, the delimiting features. The first base is preferably of wider cross section than the first top. The first base may be suitable for placing and supporting the trap on a planar surface. In any case the inner element, preferably via the first base, may be used to support the trap. The first base may be closed or open, i.e. establishing fluid communication into the interior of the inner element. The first base may have a circular or polygonal cross section.

The first top is positioned opposite, such as distally from, the first base. The first top may be pointed or blunt, such as where the inner element has a frustoconical shape or is shaped as a truncated pyramid. The first top may be provided with a radial, i.e. perpendicular to the general longitudinal axis of the inner element extending from the first base to the first top, through going bore for receiving a retaining pin or rod to lock the outer element in position around the inner element. The first top may also be provided with a handle in the shape of a string or rod attached to the first top to facilitate handling of the inner element and/or the trap.

The outer element is hollow and may for example be made from bent or folded paper or cardboards, moulded pulp, moulded plastic, or any other material that can be suitable shaped. Hollow is to be understood as encompassing that at least a part of the element referred to is hollow, whereas another part of the element may be solid. For example a lower part of the outer element may be hollow, whereas an upper part, which extends beyond the first top of the inner element, may be solid.

The second base is preferably of wider cross section than the second top. The second base may be defined by the circumference of the outer element. The second base should be open, i.e. establishing fluid communication into the interior of the outer element. The second base may have a circular or polygonal cross section.

The second top is positioned opposite, such as distally from, the second base. The second top may be pointed or blunt, such as where the outer element has a frustoconical shape or is shaped as a truncated pyramid. The second top may be provided with a radial through going bore for receiving a retaining pin or rod to lock the outer element in position around the inner element. The outer element at the second top may also be provided with a handle, for example being formed by partly cutting off the second top and folding the cut off part to the side.

The inner surface preferably has a surface that allows the adhesive to be attached to it.

The outer element is positioned around the inner element. The outer element may be positioned so that all of the outer element is provided around the inner element, or alternatively only a part of the outer element is provided around the inner element as long as the tapering space is formed between the inner and outer surfaces. Preferably the outer surface of the inner element is not fully covered by the outer element, instead a part of the outer surface adjacent the first base should be non-covered, i.e. the outer element should not be provided around this part of the inner element, in order that bed bugs crawling on a planar surface on which the first base is positioned on should first encounter the outer surface of the inner element. Typically this part of the outer surface may be spaced apart from the first base 0.5-10 mm, such as 2-5 mm, such as 3-4 mm towards the first top. A low value, i.e. 0.5 mm-1 mm, may be selected to only allow nymphs to access the tapering space in case only the capture of nymphs is of interest.

Alternatively however it is contemplated that the outer element could cover also this part, i.e. the second base being aligned with the first base. In this case bed bugs must enter the trap directly through the base opening, or alternatively one or more apertures or cut-outs may be provided in the outer element along the second base thereof to provide entry into the tapering space.

In the context of the present invention the second top should be adjacent to the first top. This is not to be understood as requiring an alignment of the second top and the first top along the longitudinal axis of the inner and outer elements, rather adjacent is here to be understood as encompassing any of close to, in the vicinity of, and near, and generally the second top should be closer to the first top than to the first base, and the second base should be closer to the first base than to the first top.

The tapering space may generally be annular or polygonal, or in other words provided around the circumference of the inner element, e.g. defined between the outer circumference of the inner element and the inner circumference of the outer element. The tapering of the tapering space is to be understood to encompass that the distance between the outer circumference of the inner element and the inner circumference of the outer element decreases towards the first top. Thus the tapering may, but does not require, that the width or diameter of the tapering space also decreases, as long as the radial cross sectional area of the tapering space decreases. The tapering space preferably ends at or near the first top, i.e. here the outer surface of the inner element and the inner surface of the outer element contact each other so that the distance between them is zero. Alternatively the tapering space may end at a position in which the minimum distance between the inner and outer surfaces is still non-zero provided that this minimum distance is smaller than the height of a bed bug to ensure that the adhesive of the inner surface will contact the bed bug.

The tapering space is accessible, i.e. such that a bed bug may enter it, through the base opening, this base opening being defined between the outer surface of the inner element and the second base, i.e. between the outer circumference of the inner element and the inner circumference of the outer element at the second base. The base opening may thus be annular or shaped as an annulus.

The adhesive may be provided as a sticky liquid or gel-like substance directly to the inner surface, or may alternatively be provided on a separate carrier, such as for example as a double sided adhesive tape, to the inner surface.

If the adhesive is provided on a part of the inner surface it is preferably provided on those parts of the inner surface where the distance to the outer surface is smaller than 3 times, such as smaller than 2 times, the height of a bed bug. The adhesive need for example not be provided where the distance is less than 0.5 times the height of a bed bug.

The adhesive should be capable of adhering to the dorsal side of a bed bug. In the context of the present invention it is to be understood that such an adhesive is also capable and/or suitable for adhering to any upper body portion of a bed bug.

In a preferred embodiment of the trap according to the first aspect of the present invention the inner element is hollow and comprises a lure compartment therein, and a hole for establishing fluid communication between the lure compartment and the tapering space is provided in the outer surface.

This is advantageous in that a lure increases the tendency of bed bugs to enter the trap. The hole is preferably provided near the first top and in a position where the distance between the outer surface and the inner surface is less than the height of a bed bug so that a bed bug cannot reach the lure without contacting the adhesive, e.g. with its dorsal side.

The lure compartment may be open to the exterior of the trap via the first base.

The lure may comprise at least (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-octenal and 2-hexanone. The lure may additionally comprise (E)-2-hexenoic acid and 2-octenoic acid.

Preferably the lure comprises 1 part (E)-2-hexenal, (1) to 5 parts (E)-2-hexenoic acid, 1 part (E)-2-octenal, 1 to 10 parts 2-octenoic acid and 1 part 2-hexanone. All parts may be by weight. Alternatively the lure comprises 100-300 mg/l (E)-2-hexenal, 100-1500 mg/l (E)-2-hexenoic acid, 100-300 mg/l (E)-2-octenal, 100-3000 mg/l 2-octenoic acid, and 100-300 mg/l 2-hexanone, based on the total volume of the lure. A dose of the lure may comprise 0.1 to 100 g, such as 0.5 to 10 g, such as 0.5 to 3.5 g of the lure, or alternatively, 0.1 to 100 ml, such as 0.5 to 10 ml, such as 0.5 to 3.5 ml of the lure.

Preferably the lure comprises no other volatile components than (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-hexenoic acid, (E)-2-octenal, 2-octenoic acid and 2-hexanone.

In a preferred embodiment of the trap according to the first aspect of the present invention the inner element comprises a plurality of individual lure compartments, and the outer surface of the inner element comprises a plurality of holes for establishing fluid communication between a corresponding lure compartment and the tapering space.

Each lure compartment is preferably only open to the exterior of the trap (including the tapering space) via its corresponding hole.

This is advantageous in that the different lures, customized for efficiently attracting different sub-populations, such as males, females, different nymph instars, or different species of bed bugs, i.e.Cimex lectulariusandCimex hemipterus, can be used concurrently in the trap.

In a preferred embodiment of the trap according to the first aspect of the present invention at least one hole is covered by a puncturable seal or a tearable cover.

This is advantageous as it allows the trap to be stored over time without the lure losing its effectiveness. When the trap is to be used the seal or cover is punctured or torn, and the corresponding lure is allowed to release its scent into the tapering space. Alternatively, where different lures are provided in different lure compartments, the user of the trap may select to activate a single lure by puncturing or tearing only that seal or cover.

In a preferred embodiment of the trap according to the first aspect of the present invention the inner element is made from paper or plastic.

Paper and plastic are good materials for the inner element. Plastic may be preferred if the inner element includes a plurality of lure compartments, or if the inner element is to be used several times, whereas paper provides the cheapest and most environment friendly inner element. Other suitable materials include cardboard. The paper or cardboard may have density of more than 70 g/m2, such as more than 200 g/m2or 80-300 g/m2, such as 80-200 g/m2, or 100 to 150 g/m2.

Further suitable materials include moulded pulp and pressed leaves.

In an alternative embodiment of the trap according to the first aspect of the present invention the inner element is made out of a lure material as described above.

This is advantageous in that it provides a very simple inner element. The lure material may for example include a vax, gelatine or a polyethylene glycol (PEG) that retains its shape at room temperature. Alternatively the lure material may comprise mineral oil.

In a preferred embodiment of the trap according to the first aspect of the present invention at least one groove or ridge, extending at least partly from the first base towards the first top, is provided in or on the outer surface of the inner element.

This is advantageous because bed bugs by instinct tend to follow structures, such as grooves or ridges, extending upwards thus rendering the trap more interesting for the bed bugs. Preferably a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves or ridges are provided on the outer surface of the inner element. The depth or height of the grooves or ridges should either be less than the height of a bed bug, or decreasing towards the first top, to ensure that the bed bugs cannot escape contact with the adhesive on the inner surface by staying in the groove or near the ridge. Where a ridge is provided in or on the outer surface of the inner element the ridge may also serve as a spacing element to maintain the distance between the outer surface of the inner element and the inner surface of the outer element in order to define the tapering space.

In a preferred embodiment of the trap according to the first aspect of the present invention the inner surface of the outer element, and/or the outer surface of the inner element is provided with at least one spacing element for ensuring a minimum distance between the outer surface of the inner element and the inner surface of the outer element at the second base. This is advantageous in that it ensures that the tapering space is accessible to the bed bugs through the base opening. It also makes the trap more robust, especially when the trap is made from less sturdy materials such as paper, and thereby facilitates handling of the trap.

The spacing element should contact the opposite surface so as to prevent the inner and outer surface at the spacing element from coming closer than the distance that the spacing element protrudes from the inner or outer surface.

The spacing element may for example be formed by attaching a protrusion to the inner or outer surface, by forming a protrusion in the inner or outer surface, or by partially cutting the inner or outer surface to form a portion thereof that may be folded, bent or inverted so as to provide the spacing element.

In a preferred embodiment of the trap according to the first aspect of the present invention the outer element has a top opening at the second top, the top opening being configured for receiving the first top so that at least part of the first top extends through the top opening.

This is advantageous in that it allows the trap to be handled by manually gripping the first top. By the circumferential contact between first top and the outer element around the top opening a stabilising or stiffening effect is obtained on the outer element so as to maintain the shape of the outer element including maintaining the tapering space between the outer surface and the inner surface.

In a preferred embodiment of the trap according to the first aspect of the present invention the first base has a larger cross sectional area than the first top, and wherein the second base has a larger cross sectional area than the second top.

This is advantageous in that it provides a trap having a lower center of gravity thus making the trap more stable. This is especially desirable when making traps out of lightweight materials.

In some embodiments the trap has a height that is larger than the width of the first and second bases. The trap may for example have a height that is 1.1-3, such as 1.3-2 times the width of the first and second bases. Such traps have a small footprint, i.e. take up little space when placed on a surface. In other embodiments the trap has a height that is smaller than the width of the first and second bases. The trap may for example have a height that is 0.05-0.9, such as 0.05-0.5 or 0.1-0.5 times the width of the first and second bases. Such traps may resemble a disk and be useful in small spaces such as in beds or in or under furniture, under doorsteps or skirting boards, etc.

In a preferred embodiment of the trap according to the first aspect of the present invention the inner element has a conical, frustoconical, pyramidal or truncated pyramidal shape, and the outer element has a conical, frustoconical, pyramidal or truncated pyramidal shape.

This is advantageous as these shapes provide a large outer surface on which the bed bugs may crawl, and these shapes are also easy to manufacture. The cone angle or top angle for the inner element should be smaller than the cone angle or top angle for the outer element. The cone angle or top angle of the inner element may be 50% or lesser, such as 35% or lesser, such as 10% or lesser, such as 5% or lesser, such as 2% or lesser, than the cone angle or top angle of the outer element. Alternatively the cone angle or top angle of the inner element may be 20° or lesser, such as 10° or lesser, such as 5° or lesser, such as 2° or lesser than the cone angle or top angle of the outer element.

The cone angle or top angle for the outer element should be 180° or smaller, such as 175° or smaller, such as 120° or smaller, such as 90° or smaller, such as 60° or smaller, such as 45° or smaller.

In some embodiments the cone angle or top angle of the outer element may be 30-90° such as 40-75°, such as 45-65°, while the cone angle or top angle of the inner element is 0.1-10°, such as 0.1-5° or 0.1-2° smaller than the cone angle or top angle of the outer element.

Traps according to these embodiments provide a small footprint, i.e. take up little place in use while providing a large inner surface of the outer element yielding a high capacity for trapping bed bugs. Furthermore, less light enter the tapering spaces of these traps, thus they become attractive to the bed bugs.

In other embodiments the cone angle or top angle of the outer element may be 90-180° such as 100-180°, such as 120-175°, while the cone angle or top angle of the inner element is 0.1-10°, such as 0.1-5° or 0.1-2° smaller than the cone angle or top angle of the outer element.

Traps according to these embodiments have a low height, and may resemble discs, and can thus be positioned in small spaces such as in beds or in or under furniture, under doorsteps or skirting boards, etc.

In a preferred embodiment of the trap according to the first aspect of the present invention an area of the inner surface of the outer element adjacent the second top is devoid of adhesive. This is advantageous in that it is one way of making the outer element detachable from the inner element. The area may typically extend along the upmost (i.e. closest to the second top) ⅛ to ¼ of the outer element.

In a preferred embodiment of the trap according to the first aspect of the present invention the outer element is detachable from the inner element.

This is advantageous in that it allows for easy inspection of the trap, i.e. by removing and inverting the outer element such that the adhesive on the inner surface thereof may be inspected for any trapped bed bugs.

In a preferred embodiment of the trap according to the first aspect of the present invention at least one of the inner and outer elements is made from a folded or bent planar sheet, the planar sheet preferably being provided with indicia showing how it should be folded and/or a fastener for fastening one part of the planar sheet to another part of the planar sheet to maintain the planar sheet in a folded or bent configuration.

This is advantageous in that it allows the trap to be supplied and transported in an at least partially unassembled state. Preferably both of the inner and outer elements are made from a folded or bent sheet.

Preferably the sheet is cut into shape, such as a circular segment or a cut open and unfolded pyramidal shape.

The fastener typically comprises a strip of adhesive along one edge of the sheet for fastening that edge to another edge of the sheet once the sheet has been bent or folded into shape.

A stiffening element may be provided attached to the sheet at a position opposite the fastener when in the conical shape in order to even out the effect of the fastener on the shape of the element.

The inner and outer element may also be made from folded or bent planar sheets and then flattened prior to transportation and packaging. Such elements may be de-flattened prior to positioning the outer element on the inner element, or alternatively the outer and inner elements may be flattened when assembled.

For the outer element a release sheet may be used to protect the adhesive from adhering unintentionally when the outer element is present as a planar sheet, or when it is flattened.

At least one of the above objects, or at least one of the objects which will be evident from the below description, is according to a second aspect of the present invention achieved by a method of detecting and/or trapping bed bugs, comprising the steps of:i. providing a trap according to any of the preceding claims, andii. positioning the trap with the first base towards a planar surface in a locale where bed bugs are present or suspected of being present.

