Vector Arthropod Trap Using a CO2 Attractant Source

The military desires an improved trap to capture and hold arthropods that may carry disease causing pathogens. A continuous source of carbon dioxide is needed over an 8 hour period to attract flea and tick species that are subsequently trapped and held alive for five days. Ideally, the arthropod trap will be smaller than a 2"diameter by 4.5"cylindrical shape to fit into burrows while also weighing less than 3 lbs. Existing arthropod traps are either excessively bulky and heavy limiting their portability, or extremely simplistic limiting their effectiveness. Additionally, the CO2 source is often based on using dry ice or a propane burner adding significant logistical challenges in military service areas. To address these problems, Reactive Innovations has shown a method that produces carbon dioxide where the replaceable consumables are only water and a battery. With this approach, we can integrate this compact CO2 generator into an arthropod trap that produces a CO2 rich stream that permeates from the trap over 8 hours followed by a trickle flow of CO2 over 5 days to hold and maintain the trapped arthropods.