초록

A method of controlling pests, such as insects, by trapping and/or killing them wherein at least a part of a pest to be trapped or killed is exposed a composition comprising particles containing or consisting of at least one magnetic material.

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The invention claimed is: 1. An insect trap comprises a housing having an entrance open to the ambient and allowing access to an interior of the housing, a zone of the housing or a zone within the housing comprising a magnetically polarized material and the zone being coated with a composition suit

The invention claimed is: 1. An insect trap comprises a housing having an entrance open to the ambient and allowing access to an interior of the housing, a zone of the housing or a zone within the housing comprising a magnetically polarized material and the zone being coated with a composition suitable for adhering to insects including particles comprising a magnetic material of opposite polarity to that of the magnetically polarized material; wherein the particles have an average particle size diameter in the range of 2 to 100 μm. 2. An insect trap as claimed in claim 1 wherein the zone of the magnetically polarized material is formed by a portion of at least one wall of the housing. 3. An insect trap as claimed in claim 1 wherein the zone of the magnetically polarized material comprises a removable insert placed within the housing. 4. An insect trap as claimed in claim 1 wherein the zone has a surface which is inclined to the horizontal. 5. An insect trap as claimed in claim 1 wherein the magnetic material is a ferromagnetic oxide. 6. An insect trap as claimed in claim 1 wherein the particles further comprise a pesticidal composition. 7. An insect trap according to claim 1, wherein the composition consists of the magnetic particles. 8. A method of trapping insects with an insect trap having a housing defining an entrance open to the ambient and allowing access to an interior of the housing and a trapping area disposed below the entrance, the method comprising the step of: coating a zone of or within the housing with a composition including particles comprising a magnetic material, inducing an insect in contact with the composition to become at least partially coated with the composition and destabilized, thereby falling into the trapping area; wherein the particles have an average particle size diameter in the range of 2 to 100 μm. 9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the magnetic material is a ferromagnetic oxide. 10. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the particles are applied to a surface in an area of the zone of or within the housing in which pests are present. 11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said surface is inclined to the horizontal. 12. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the composition comprises at least 10% by weight of magnetic particles. 13. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein a pesticide or behavior modifying chemical is admixed with the particles of the magnetic material. 14. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein a pesticide or behavior modifying chemical is coated onto the particles of the magnetic material. 15. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the particles are composite particles which each comprise a core of an inert substrate which is impregnated with and/or coated with the magnetic material. 16. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the core comprises silicon dioxide, magnesium silicate, diatomaceous earth, cellulose or a natural or synthetic polymer. 17. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the inert substrate has a pesticide or behavior modifying chemical impregnated thereon or associated therewith. 18. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the pesticide is an insecticide, fungicide, acaricide, insect growth regulator or chemosterilant. 19. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the pesticide is a bacterium, virus or fungus. 20. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the behavior modifying chemical is a pheromone. 21. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the pesticide or behavior modifying chemical comprises at least 0.1% by weight of the cores of the particles. 22. The method according to claim 8, wherein the composition consists of the magnetic particles.