BANFIELDBIO INC — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase I: 8.3

Description

To this date there are no commercially available tick traps. A simple tick trap will provide a method for detection of ticks that users can use to make informed decisions about timing appropriate pesticide applications, thus minimizing total pesticide use. Additionally, the traps can be deployed to mass-capture ticks, so that the devices can provide a pesticide-free intervention for controlling ticks. Our proposed trap will fill the gap in current methods and have utility for tick surveillance and potentially mass trapping which would be valuable for tick management in livestock production. The product would be reliable and easy to use for all potential handlers. Once deployed, the trap will significantly reduce the number of ambulatory and questing ticks in the field. The trap will attractant ticks using CO2 and other semiochemicals, and the ticks will be captured by dorsal-contact with an inverted glue-covered surface. This trap is expected to be useful for detection of ticks around livestock so that the farmer can make informed decisions about timely interventions, or when pesticides are contra-indicated (e.g. organic farming, lactating livestock). Additionally, the device will have broad application outside of farming; military and homeowners can use the traps survey for or control ticks by non-pesticidal means. Finally, the compatibility of the trap for downstream pathogen detection within the captured ticks would make this trap useful for those that study epidemiology. The trap would be not only a new research tool but also an efficient way to interrupt the disease pathway (i.e. from host to host), and also limit the interactions in between hosts.