Patent · US Expired

Method and device for the biological control of cockroaches

US5057315A · kind A · utility

24Cited by
24References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 15, 1989
Grant dateOct 15, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 15, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S424/08
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A convenient, economical, non-toxic and effective method and means for the control of roaches by administration of entomopathogenic fungi to the cockroaches. In the preferred embodiment, the roaches are exposed to the fungi by means of a contamination chamber having openings through which the cockroaches enter and come in contact with a living culture of a fungus which is pathogenic to cockroaches. The fungal spores attach to the roach, germinate and penetrate into the body of the cockroach, resulting in the death of the infected roach. Death takes approximately two to three weeks after contact with the culture. During this time, the infected roach disseminates spores of the pathogenic fungus throughout the infested areas which may subsequently infect other roaches. Given the proper environmental conditions, the fungus sporulates on the cadaver of the roach and the conidia can be transmitted to other cockroaches, resulting in a further spread of the disease.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.