Smart Trap for Mosquito Classification

Abstract

In order to appropriately address concerns of mosquitoes which carry disease, this device has been created to initially classify the mosquito to formulate appropriate extermination strategies. Classification of mosquitoes is typically done through the wing beat frequency by either noise or light interruption. It is important to be aware that not all mosquitoes are harmful and any data that may be collected concerning the harmful mosquito should be as accurate as possible to avoid altering the food supply in any particular area.

Claims

1. A trap for mosquito classification which is comprised of: a. a tubular housing; wherein the tubular housing provides a top opening and a bottom opening; b. a hood; wherein the hood is attached to the tubular housing; c. an attractant; wherein the attractant is placed in the hood; d. a hood cover; wherein the hood cover is attached to the hood; wherein the hood cover is porous; e. a funnel; wherein the funnel is placed in the opening of the tubular housing; wherein the funnel is porous; wherein a tapered tip is provided on the funnel; f. a target; wherein a target is placed over the opening for the funnel; g. a section of dark tubing; wherein the target is placed over the opening of the section of dark tubing; wherein the section of dark tubing surrounds the funnel; h. transparent tubing; wherein the transparent tubing provides a first end and a second end; wherein the transparent tubing has a mesh opening; wherein the mesh opening allows air to pass through it; i. a mosquito identification box; said mosquito identification box abuts the section of dark tubing; wherein a microcontroller is placed within the mosquito identification box; said microcontroller operates the components of the device; wherein the microcontroller captures wingbeat frequency data; wherein the transparent tubing is inserted through the mosquito identification box; j. a catcher; wherein the catcher is secured to the second end of the transparent tubing; wherein the catcher has a lid; k. a fan; wherein the fan is provided within the tubular housing; l. a radiofrequency antenna; said radiofrequency antenna is housed in the mosquito identification box; m. a light emitter; said light emitter is housed in the mosquito identification box; n. a light detector; said light detector is housed in the mosquito identification box; o. a controller; wherein the controller is provided within the mosquito identification box; wherein the controller is connected to the fan, the radiofrequency antenna, the light emitter, and the light detector; p. a power source.

2. The trap for mosquito classification as described in claim 1 wherein the power source is alternating current.

3. The trap for mosquito classification as described in claim 1 wherein the power source is direct current.

4. The trap for mosquito classification as described in claim 1 wherein the light emitter provides a source of light.

5. The trap for mosquito classification as described in claim 1 wherein the light detector detects the scattering of light within the mosquito identification box.

6. The trap for mosquito classification as described in claim 1 wherein the device is inverted.

7. The trap for mosquito classification as described in claim 1 wherein the target is red.

8. The trap for mosquito classification as described in claim 1 wherein the target is black.

9. The trap for mosquito classification as described in claim 1 wherein the attractant is a chemical.

10. The trap for mosquito classification as described in claim 1 wherein the attractant is heat.

11. The trap for mosquito classification as described in claim 1 wherein the attractant is light.

12. The trap for mosquito classification as described in claim 1 wherein a connection piece is used to connect the tip of the funnel to the first end of the transparent tubing.

13. The trap for mosquito classification as described in claim 1 wherein a hole is provided in the tubular housing.

14. The trap for mosquito classification as described in claim 1 wherein the power source is provided through an electrical outlet, which the device plugs into.

15. The trap for mosquito classification as described in claim 1 wherein the power source is a battery.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the device without the target installed.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a side view of the device with the target installed.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view according to Line 3-3 on FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the mosquito identification box and the transparent catcher.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the hood.

NUMBERING REFERENCES

[0028] 1 Device [0029] 3 Hood [0030] 4 Hole in tubular housing [0031] 5 Funnel [0032] 6 Target [0033] 8 Hood Cover [0034] 10 Tapered tip of the funnel [0035] 15 Transparent tubing [0036] 17 Dark Tube [0037] 18 Mesh [0038] 19 Connection piece [0039] 20 Mosquito Identification Box [0040] 21 Light or heat attractant [0041] 22 Chemical attractant [0042] 25 RF antenna [0043] 27 Light Emittter [0044] 29 Light Detector [0045] 30 Transparent Catcher [0046] 31 Lid [0047] 35 Tubular Housing [0048] 40 Fan [0049] 45 Electrical Plug [0050] 47 Battery

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0051] This device 1 is a mosquito trap and classification system. It is designed to be portable and will be placed in open outdoor environments to assist in the trapping and then the classification of mosquitoes. Once the classification has occurred, the scientists can then develop an effective strategy to eliminate the type of harmful mosquitoes in any particular area. The challenge in the classification of mosquitoes is to target the relatively small number of mosquitoes that cause harm to humans and animals while maintaining a healthy population of mosquitoes for the food supply in the area. Once the harmful mosquito has been identified, effective strategic use of pesticides can be applied to help control the numbers of harmful mosquitoes.

[0052] The device 1 will be comprised of a tubular housing 35 in the general shape of a C. An opening for a funnel 5 is provided at one end of the tubular housing 35. The funnel 5 provides an entry point for the mosquito and is surrounded by a section of dark tube 17 to ensure that the mosquito travels down the funnel 5. The tip 10 of the funnel 5 will be connected to one end of a section of transparent tubing 15 with a connection piece 19. The connection piece 19 will ensure that the tip 10 of the funnel 5 will remain attached to the transparent tubing 15 during the normal operation of the device 1.

[0053] A fan 40 is placed in the tubular housing 35 below the tip 10 of the funnel 5 and will provide a draft of air to direct the mosquito downward and eventually into the section of transparent tubing 15.

[0054] A hole 4 in the tubular housing 35 is provided to allow some of the air flow to escape as it circulates within the confines of the C-shaped tubular housing 35. While it is important to allow air to freely circulate, it is also important to limit the amount of air flow so that a mosquito will enter the opening. The hole 4, which is strategically placed opposite from the target 6 on the side of the tubular housing 35, as shown in FIG. 2, displaces some of the air flow and also directs some of the air flow to the target 6. Additionally, a hood 3 is placed over the end of the tubing. The hood 3 serves two general purposes: to contain the air flow while at the same time expanding the area surrounding the air flow to reduce the pressure of the air flow as it leaves the C-shaped tubular housing 35. As mentioned previously with regard to the hole 4, the use of the hood 3 serves to displace the air flow as it leaves the tubular housing and helps to direct the mosquito past the target 6 and into the opening with the funnel 5. A hood cover 8 that will allow the flow of air through the hood cover 8 is provided to prevent the entry of debris from the outside.

[0055] Attractants such as heat 21 or chemical 22 may also be placed within the hood 3 to lure the mosquito. The attractants are thus mixed with the air circulated throughout the tubular housing 35.

[0056] A target 6 may also be placed over the opening. This target 6 may be either black or red; it has been discovered that different types of mosquitoes are attracted by different colors. For instance, the mosquito that causes malaria is attracted to the color black while the mosquito that is responsible for the Zika virus is attracted to the color red.

[0057] A dark tube 17 will surround the opening with the funnel. It has been determined that mosquitoes are attracted to dark areas and the purpose of the dark tube is to block as much ambient sunlight as possible to encourage the mosquito to travel into and down the funnel 5, which is constructed from porous or screen material to allow the passage of air through the funnel 5. The funnel 5 will taper to a tip 10 as depicted in FIG. 3; the attachment point at the end of the funnel 5 connects to the connection piece 19 to guide the mosquito into the transparent tubing 15. As depicted in FIG. 3 the mosquito travels through the tip 10 of the funnel 5 and into the area of the transparent tubing 15. The mesh 18, which is slightly angled, is provided to ensure the free flow of air through the device 1. The bottom section of the transparent tubing 15 connects to the mesh 18 but is slightly longer than the top section of the transparent tubing 15, which is shown in FIG. 3. The mesh 18 is provided in the end of the transparent tubing 15 to ensure that the air flow is not impeded and to prevent the mosquito from traveling outside the device 1 but instead to move into the transparent tubing 15 and eventually into the mosquito identification box 20.

[0058] The mosquito identification box 20 abuts the dark tube 17. The section of transparent tubing 15 will thread or insert through the interior of the mosquito identification box 20. This will insure that the mosquito will travel the distance of the mosquito identification box 20 and enter the transparent catcher 30 as it leaves the mosquito identification box 20.

[0059] As the mosquito enters the transparent tubing 15 it will travel into a mosquito identification box 20. Within the box is a radio frequency antenna 25, a light emitter 27 and a light detector 29. The mosquito identification box 20 is also made of dark material so that the mosquito travels down the tubing then through the mosquito identification box 20, and towards the light and into the transparent catcher 30, which is connected to the transparent tubing 15 at its other end. A lid 31 is provided on the transparent catcher 30 as depicted in FIG. 2.

[0060] As the mosquito travels down the horizontally positioned transparent tubing 15 and into the mosquito identification box 20, the mosquito is classified according to its wingbeat frequency as it travels past the light emitter 27 and light detector 29. Within the mosquito identification box 20 a light emitter 27 will provide a stream of light, which will be scattered by the wingbeat of the mosquito as the mosquito flies through the mosquito identification box 20 and into the transparent catcher 30.

[0061] A controller is placed within the mosquito identification box 20 to operate the radio frequency antenna 25, light emitter 27, light detector 29 and fan 40) of the device 1. A power source, which can be either alternating current or a direct current source is also provided.

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT

[0062] The device 1 itself will work just as the first embodiment does except that the funnel 5 is inverted. The purpose of inverting the funnel 5 is to ensure that trash (leaves and twigs as examples) does not clog the entrance to the funnel 5 and prevent the mosquito from entering the device 1. The device 1 will operate in the same fashion in this embodiment as the first embodiment.