Abstract
The invention relates to a biological pest control device comprising a cover (1) coupled above a capsule (b) containing beneficial insects or substances that assist in pest control, with a cavity (C) being defined between the cover (1) and the outer upper surface of the capsule (b), which cavity can house an element used to hang the biological control device. The device is suitable for use in agricultural and/or forest production and it can be supported on the branch of a tree or on an existing natural or artificial linear support. The proposed structure allows the device to be firmly secured to the support, with a lower centre of gravity, thereby protecting the beneficial insects or substances contained therein from rain and wind of any speed and from any direction.
Claims
1. A biological pest control device, characterized in that it comprises a top part (1) coupled over a container capsule (b) with beneficial insects or substances that help to control pests, defining a cavity (C) between the upper part (1) and the external upper surface of the container capsule (b) to suspend the biological pest control device.
2. The biological pest control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the top part (1) has a lower face (1) substantially concave and in its ends it defines grooves (1a, 1b) and on the upper face of the container capsule (b) there is formed a concavity (2b); wherein cavity (C) is defined between the lower face (1) of the top part (1) and the external upper surface of the container capsule (b), and cavity (C) is capable of housing an element to suspend the biological pest control device.
3. The biological pest control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the container capsule (b) comprises: a lower hollow body (4) that serves as a container for beneficial insects or eggs of beneficial insects with negative or neutral geotropism, a grid (3) with orifices (3a) that covers said lower hollow body (4); and an upper groove body (2) with orifices (2a) which couples to said lower hollow body (4) in perimeter edges; and wherein there is a partition wall (2c) under said upper grooved body (2) that is capable of holding food for the beneficial insects.
4. The biological pest control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the container capsule (b) comprises: a lower hollow body (4) that serves as an anteroom of the exit for beneficial insects with positive or neutral geotropism; a grid (3) with orifices (3a) that covers said lower hollow body (4) with exit orifices for beneficial insects (4b); and an upper groove body (2) upon which there is defined a concave surface (2b); said body couples to said lower hollow body (4); and wherein there is a partition wall (2c) under the upper grooved body (2) that is capable of holding food for the beneficial insects.
5. The biological pest control device according to claim 4, characterized in that the lower hollow body (4) comprises inner partition walls (4c) capable of holding food.
6. The biological pest control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the container capsule (b) comprises upper exit orifices (2a) located over the substances that are capable of repelling or attracting pests that the capsule contains; and the top part (1) comprises orifices (1g).
7. The biological pest control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the top part (1) has an ovoid structure.
8. A The biological pest control device according to claim 3, characterized in that the grid (3) is made of a flexible material and can be secured by flexing pressure inside the lower hollow body (4), given that it has a larger inner length than its perimeter edges (4d).
9. The biological pest control device according to claim claim 3, characterized in that the partition wall (2c) is rectangular and traverses along the upper grooved body (2) in which it is defined.
10. A The biological pest control device according to claim 3, characterized in that the top part (1) has extra drainage channels (1c) for extreme rains, located in the inner faces of the top part (1).
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0049] In order to make the object of the invention more understandable, figures illustrating preferred farms or variants of the present invention are shown, wherein:
[0050] FIG. 1 is a first partial and complete exploded view of the biological pest control device variant used with beneficial insects with negative or neutral geotropism;
[0051] FIG. 2 is a second exploded view of the device for use with beneficial insects with negative or neutral geotropism shown in FIG. 1;
[0052] FIGS. 3a and 3b are top and lower perspective views of the device assembled for use with beneficial insects with negative or neutral geotropism shown in FIG. 1;
[0053] FIG. 4 depicts a cross-sectional view of the device for use with beneficial insects with negative Of neutral geotropism shown in the preceding figures;
[0054] FIG. 5a is a perspective view of the container capsule of the biological pest control device for beneficial insects with negative or neutral geotropism;
[0055] FIGS. 5b and 5c are respective top and lower perspective views of the top part of the biological pest control device shown in the preceding figures;
[0056] FIGS. 5d, 5e, 5f, 5g depict respective lower, lateral, front and top views of the top part shown in FIGS. 5b y 5c;
[0057] FIG. 5h shows the cross-section along line C1-C1 according to FIG. 5g;
[0058] FIG. 5i shows the cross-section along tine C2-C2 according to FIG. 5g;
[0059] FIGS. 6a and 6b are respective top and lower perspective views of the lower hollow body and container of beneficial insects of the container capsule, of the biological pest control device shown in the preceding figures;
[0060] FIGS. 6c, 6d, 6e depict respective lower, lateral and top views of the lower hollow body and container shown in FIGS. 6a y 6b;
[0061] FIG. 6f shows the cross-section along line C3-C3 according to FIG. 6c;
[0062] FIG. 6g shows the cross-section along line C4-C4 according to FIG. 6c;
[0063] FIGS. 7a and 7b are respective top and lower perspective views of the upper grooved body or anteroom and feeding zone that form part of the container capsule of the biological pest control device shown in the preceding figures;
[0064] FIG. 7c shows a lower view of the upper grooved body shown in FIGS. 7a y 7b, with an enlarged cutout of the orifices 2a;
[0065] FIGS. 7d, 7e, 7f depict respective top, lateral and front views of the upper grooved body shown in FIGS. 7a y 7b;
[0066] FIG. 7g shows the cross-section along line C3-C3 according to FIG. 7c;
[0067] FIG. 7h shows the cross-section along line C5-C5 according to FIG. 7e;
[0068] FIGS. 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d depict respective top, lower, lateral and front perspective views of the grid of the biological pest control device for beneficial insects with negative or neutral geotropism;
[0069] FIG. 9 depicts a cross-sectional view of a biological pest control device variant for use with beneficial insects with positive or neutral geotropism;
[0070] FIG. 10 is a perspective exploded view of the device for beneficial insects with positive or neutral geotropism shown in FIG. 9;
[0071] FIGS. 11a and 11b are perspective views of the top part and the container capsule of the biological pest control device for beneficial insects with positive or neutral geotropism shown in FIG. 9;
[0072] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the container capsule of the biological pest control device shown in FIG. 9;
[0073] FIGS. 13a and 13b are respective top and lower perspective views of the upper grooved body or container chamber of beneficial insects that form part of the container capsule shown in FIG. 12;
[0074] FIGS. 13c, 13d, 13e and 13f depict respective lower, lateral, top and front views of the chamber shown in FIGS. 13a and 13b;
[0075] FIG. 13g shows the cross-section along line C3-C3 according to FIG. 13c;
[0076] FIG. 13h shows the cross-section along line C5-C5 according to FIG. 13d;
[0077] FIGS. 14a and 14b are respective top and lower perspective views of the lower hollow body or anteroom of the exit that forms part of the container capsule shown in FIG. 12, for use in a biological pest control device for beneficial insects with positive or neutral geotropism;
[0078] FIGS. 14c, 14d, 14e and 14f depict respective lower, lateral, top and front views of the anteroom of the exit shown in FIG. 14a;
[0079] FIG. 14g shows the cross-section along line C3-C3 according to FIG. 14c;
[0080] FIG. 14h shows the cross-section along line C4-C4 according to FIG. 14c;
[0081] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a scent releasing device used as a trap or repellent for pests according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0082] FIGS. 16a and 16b are top and lower perspective views of the scent releasing device used as a trap or repellent for pests shown in FIG. 15;
[0083] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the top part of the scent releasing device shown in FIG. 15;
[0084] FIGS. 18a and 18b are respective top and lower perspective views of the container capsule of scents of the scent releasing device shown in FIG. 15;
[0085] FIGS. 18c, 18d, 18e depict respective top, frontal and lower perspective views of the container capsule of the biological pest control device shown in FIG. 15;
[0086] FIGS. 19a and 19b depict top and lower perspective views of the top part of the biological pest control device of the type shown in FIG. 15;
[0087] FIGS. 13c, 19d, 19e, 19f depict respective top, lower, lateral and front views of the top part shown in FIGS. 19a y 19b;
[0088] FIG. 19g shows the cross-section along line C1-C1 according to FIG. 19c;
[0089] FIG. 19h shows the cross-section along line C2-C2 according to FIG. 19c;
[0090] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a scent releasing device, such as the one shown in FIG. 15, which incorporates superficial aesthetic elements to achieve a better pest repelling;
[0091] In all figurers, like numerals and references indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0092] It can be seen In FIG. 1 that the biological pest control device for beneficial insects with negative or neutral geotropism comprises substantially ovoid bodies, particularly a top part 1 with recesses or grooves on ends 1a and 1b mounted on a container capsule b. Moreover, said container capsule b comprises an upper grooved body 2 with side orifices 2a for the exit of beneficial insects, over which there is formed an elongated channel or concave surface 2b.
[0093] There is a grid 3, which is slightly flexible and then it can be bent, is housed within said upper grooved body 2 and a lower hollow body 4 that consists of a bevel 4a for coupling. FIG. 6f shows a generic bevel 4a for coupling. Grid 3 with orifices 3a allows for keeping leaf cuttings with eggs separated from food, which prevents the eggs from sticking to food or spreading and keeps them inside the container chamber for beneficial insects of container capsule b.
[0094] Said grid 3 covers the lower hollow body 4 and has orifices 3a along designed so the grid can be easily unmounted with common sharp objects, such as a pen or pliers. Moreover, said grid 3 keeps the eggs of beneficial insects in the desired place, keeping the intended path for them to the feeding zone and outside clean.
[0095] The lower hollow body 4 enables housing the content to be released and it defines, on its perimeter edges, so as to snap on and lock to the upper grooved body 2, closing the container capsule b.
[0096] Both halves of the capsule are coupled together and said closing can be used with any other type of suitable coupling, such as, for example, the bevel system of the capsule disclosed in patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,6952A or any closing system with a security lock of the state of the art.
[0097] When assembling the device with beneficial insects, grid 3 is bent and introduced into the upper part of the cavity of the lower hollow body 4, this is due to the fact that the grid has a larger length than the perimeter inner borders 4d of said lower hollow body 4, forming a subset A, over which the upper grooved body 2 is coupled, thus forming the container capsule b, Finally, the top part 1 covers and couples to said container capsule b.
[0098] In FIG. 2 it can be seen the way in which the biological pest control device is assembled, fixing the grid 3 by bending pressure inside the lower hollow body 4, then enclosing with the upper grooved body 2, to form container capsule b, and finally coupling to the top part 1.
[0099] It can be seen in the cross-section of FIG. 4, the way in which a gap or cavity C is form, between the top part 1 and the container capsule b in order to readily position the tree branch in which it is desired to control a pest. As the device is coupled along the branch, it will mimic the natural movement of oscillation of the branch. in FIG. 4, the expected path for the beneficial insects is indicated by D, that is, the path from where they are born, in the lower hollow body 4, going through orifices 3a of grid 3 towards chamber E which serves as anteroom of the exit and feeding zone, wherein beneficial insects can mate and/or feed from the solution placed in the partition wall 2c (see also FIG. 7b); then they pass through orifices 2a of the upper grooved body 2, to reach cavity C where the branch is located, passing to the branch easily due to its proximity. These exit orifices 2a will be large enough for the beneficial insects to come out and move in any direction, but small enough to act as a barrier against external enemies. Said orifices 2a are located above the water level that may accumulate between the container capsule b and the top part 1, thanks to the proximity of the drainage channel is for extreme rains.
[0100] The feeding support or partition wall 20 can take other forms and allows food with a certain viscosity that stay on its place due to their shape or support rugosity, if manufactured by 3D printing of fused deposition modeling (FDM) it acquires said rugosity due to the production method. If manufactured by other methods, for example, by injection, the mold part for the partition wall requires a certain texture to transfer it to the piece.
[0101] The upper grooved body 2 of the container capsule b is manufactured with as many exit orifices as necessary, provided that the capsule permeability is not compromised. Drainages 1c of top part 1 are located on the inner face 1 of top part 1, in the area where the exit orifices 2a are located, to ensure water does not enter there.
[0102] In the cross-section of FIG. 4 it can be clearly seen the elongated central channel 2b that will receive the tree branch, and the exit orifices 2a of the beneficial insects. A partition wall 2c is defined under the elongated central channel 2b. Said partition wall 2c supports the position of the grid 3 and, due to its rugosity, can contain feeding solutions for the beneficial insects, for example, honey.
[0103] In FIGS. 5b, 5c, 5h and 5i it can be seen the ovoid structure of the top part 1, with its lower concave face 1 and its internal facets 1c, 1d, 1e and 1f; being 1c the extra drainage channel for extreme rain, 1d is the opposite shape of the container capsule in cider to engage it, 1e is the narrow section at the top that allows the top part to flex and open their sides to receive the capsule, and finally if is the cavity that generates a clearance in the upward direction so that there is enough space between the exit orifices 2a and the top part 1 for the beneficial insects to come out.
[0104] In FIG. 6g it can be seen how the lower hollow body 4, which contains the eggs of beneficial insects, decreases in Inner width from the level of the line 4e to its upper inner peripheral edge 4d, which allows the grid 3 to be inserted by bending, and when stretched it gets trapped under said perimeter edge, thus remaining within the lower hollow body 4 and unable to be removed except by the use of a tool to take it from their orifices 3a. To better understand, in FIG. 4 it can be seen how said grid 3 gets contained due to the shape of the lower hollow body 4.
[0105] Coupling between the top part 1 and container capsule b is preferably achieved by flexing the lateral edges of the top part 1, which allows the container capsule b to be introduced between the lateral walls 1d of the top part 1, to finally produce a contraction that holds it tight in place.
[0106] In FIGS. 9 to 14 it can be seen a first variant of the biological pest control device which enables working with beneficial insects with positive or neutral geotropism, particularly, it can be seen that the exit orifices 2a of the first embodiment are no longer located in the upper part over the sides of the upper grooved body 2, instead, the exit orifices 4b for beneficial insects are now located under the lower hollow body 4 of the container capsule b. It can be particularly seen in FIG. 9 the path D which would be traversed by the beneficial insects in this variant, that is, from chamber E to come out from under the lower hollow body 4 of the container capsule b.
[0107] In this variant, the upper grooved body 2 does not serve as anteroom of the exit or feeding zone like in the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 8, but serves as a container chamber. A few eggs are located in space E and, given that they have positive geotropism, they will try to go downwards after hatching and Will come out through orifices 4b of the lower hollow body 4.
[0108] Particularly in FIG. 13g, it can be seen the interruption of the long partition wall 2d for coupling between the edges of the upper grooved body 2 and the lower hollow body 4.
[0109] In FIGS. 14g and 14h it can be seen the lower hollow body 4 of the variant embodiment of FIG. 9 with inner partition walls 4c on each of its ends, in order to enable placing of food for the beneficial insects that come downwards from chamber E. Said partition wails 4c can take other forms to hold the food. In case of using sticky food, these partition walls 4c substitute for the use of partition wall 2c as a support means for food, given that the latter is adjacent chamber E which contains the eggs of the beneficial insects.
[0110] In all variants of embodiments of the present invention, FIGS. 4, 9 and 15 it can be seen that the device features a wide cavity C to receive the tree branch, which allows, in case of rain, for the water to flow and so water does not accumulate, which also allows the circulation of animals through said space.
[0111] The contents of the capsule and the mass center of the top part are located below the branch, which ensures the stability of the device, given that its center of gravity is low. In addition to this, there is friction between the branch and the passageway of the device, if the branch is narrower than cavity C, the device can still hold to it without rotating, because of the inherent irregularities in the branch direction that apply pressure in different points along cavity C of the device. In addition to this, smooth curves and aerodynamics of the exterior forms of the device reduce the effect that the winds can exert over the device. Because of that, the device, once installed, will remain on its place and correctly oriented.
[0112] If 3D printing is used for manufacturing the pieces, the thickness of the pieces can be thin, which reduces printing times, but has to be enough to ensure impermeability of the content and enough opacity to prevent inner heating because of a greenhouse effect. Said opacity is also selected in order to manipulate insects with marked phototropism.
[0113] In the variant where the device releases beneficial insects, FIGS. 1 to 14, the device presents more efficiency end efficacy than other suspended devices with vulnerable beneficial insects, because the content is not affected by winds or extreme rain, even if it rains obliquely or horizontally, since the passageway formed between the container capsule b and the top part 1 is high enough so that when it rains the water flows through the branch inserted therein, and does not accumulate where device is installed, therefore it can be used not only inside greenhouses but also on the outside. The top part 1 has additionally an extra drainage channel for extreme rains 1c, which ensures that water does not accumulate where the orifices 2a are located.
[0114] Additionally, there will be an increased stability because the gravity center is lower than the branch, because the container is located on the inner part, which is also the heavier part of the top part, which enables to keep a correct orientation of the device.
[0115] Moreover, it has an exit 2a, FIG. 4 or 4b, FIG. 9, next to the branch that allows the beneficial insects to travel toward the affected plant without obstacles, climbing suspending systems, such as hooks or cords, flying or jumping because they cannot find the way to the affected zone.
[0116] The parts of the device can be adapted according to the characteristics of the beneficial insect, the environment and any other determining fact of the strategy. For example, the location and diameter of the exit orifices is determined to enable the beneficial insects to come out, and the passageway width for the branch is defined according to the branch diameter where the device is to be installed, which in forest plantations in the agricultural industry tend to be similar because they are the same age.
[0117] The container chamber will contain beneficial insects in a mobile state or eggs of the beneficial insects. Said eggs can be place by stacking or over leaf cuttings, which enables for easier handling and prevents them from passing through the orifices 3a of the grid 3.
[0118] If the device is to be used as a trap or repellent, the joint between parts of the capsule will be hermetic or the capsule must be manufactured as a single piece (see FIGS. 18a to 18e) because it will house some form of liquid and/or substances. In this case, exit orifices 2a (FIG. 15) should be sealed so the content does not get spilt during transportation, for example, with and adhesive tape that covers them or plugs occluding them.
[0119] When used as a trap, as illustrated in FIG. 15, the device comprises a top part 1 to which orifice 1g (see also FIG. 16a) are made so scents or toxic substance can spread and flying pests that arrive directly through the top part can access to these substances. In the case of flying pests or pests that do not come along the branch, they will access through said orifices or passageways 1g which communicate the outside with the cavity formed between the top part 1 and the container capsule b.
[0120] The container capsule b will contain an attracting substance X and/or toxic substances, for example, a liquid, that the pest will access either from the branch, after going through the orifices 2a made on the upper face of said container capsule b or from the top part 1 after going through orifices 1g.
[0121] Finally, a variant as a deterrent device is like the repellent device, except that shapes (such as in FIG. 20) and/or colors are selected to repel the pest to reinforce the repellent scent. Customization of different shapes 3D printing, by producing low numbers for experimentation and applications for different species, is inexpensive and enables the selection between choosing a mimetic device that gets lost in the environment, which causes confusion to the pest, or highlighting the device to be able to find it easily or to catch the attention of pests.
[0122] Since in this variant it is not necessary to achieve free movement of animals along the branch, the control device can omit the space between the upper convex side surface of the container capsule b and the inner surface 1f of the top part 1, leaving only space for the tree branch, so it may have decreased thickness and height than those of the previous variants, which reduces costs of materials and production times.
