Red palm weevil sensing and control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9538740-B2
Application number	US-201213684513-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 24, 2012
Priority date	Nov 25, 2011
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

A red palm weevil control system for retaining and exterminating red palm weevils in palm trees is disclosed. The control system may include one or more light detection systems, one or more light emitting devices positioned such that light emitted from the light emitting device can be detected by the light detection system, and one or more red palm weevil food materials that is configured to block light emitted from the light emitting device from being sensed by the light detection system. In use, once a red palm weevil has eaten the food, the light detection system senses the light emitted from the light emitting device, signifying the presence of red palm weevils. The red palm weevil food material may also include a magnetic material and an antimicrobial material.

First claim

I claim:

1. A red palm weevil control system, comprising:
at least one light detection system;
at least one light emitting device positioned such that light emitted from the at least one light emitting device can be detected by the at least one light detection system;
at least one red palm weevil food material blocking light emitted from the at least one light emitting device from being sensed by the at least one light detection system;
wherein the at least one red palm weevil food material comprises at least one magnetic nanoparticle; and
a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field to retain red palm weevils that have already ingested food containing the at least one magnetic nanoparticle.

2. The red palm weevil control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light detection system comprises at least one solar cell.

3. The red palm weevil control system of claim 2 , further comprising at least one radio frequency device in communication with the solar cell that is configured to emit a radio frequency once the solar cell begins to receive light from the at least one light emitting device.

4. The red palm weevil control system of claim 3 , further comprising a radio frequency receiver configured to receive a radio frequency emitted by the at least one radio frequency device and to create an alert upon receiving the radio frequency signifying the presence of a red palm weevil.

5. The red palm weevil control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one nanoparticle is conjugated with fungi extracted from neem leaves.

6. The red palm weevil control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one nanoparticle is formed from iron oxide and mixture of silver-copper-boron.

7. The red palm weevil control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one nanoparticle is formed from mixture of Ag—Cu—B—Fe—Gd.

8. The red palm weevil control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one nanoparticle is formed from mixture of Ag—Cu—B.

9. The red palm weevil control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light detection system and the at least one light emitting device are positioned on one side of the at least one red palm weevil food material, and a mirror is positioned on an opposite side of the at least one red palm weevil food material, whereby the at least one red palm weevil food material blocks reflection of light emitted from the at least one light emitting device to reach the at least one light detection system.

10. The red palm weevil control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnetic nanoparticle is formed from FeO.

11. The red palm weevil control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnetic nanoparticle is formed from mixture of Fe—Gd.

12. The red palm weevil control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least magnetic one nanoparticle is coated with extract from neem leaves.

Assignees

• Univ United Arab Emirates

Inventors

• Haik Yousef

Classifications

• A01M1/103 Primary

  for crawling insects · CPC title

• A01M1/026 Primary

  combined with devices for monitoring insect presence, e.g. termites (bait stations A01M1/2005; detecting other animals in a given area A01M31/002) · CPC title

• A01M1/02

  with devices {or substances, e.g. food, pheronones} attracting the insects · CPC title