PORTABLE TRENCH BARRIER FOR INSECT PESTS IN AGRICULTURE

摘要

A portable trench barrier is capable of greatly reducing the number of beetles migrating into a cultivated area, such as a field of potato plants. The device comprises a series of linear barrier sections and connector pieces joined together to enclose and protect a cultivated area. Each linear barrier section comprises an extruded plastic section having (a) an elongated floor section, (b) a pair of continuous leg portions extending downwardly from the side edges of the floor portion. The leg portions are adapted to penetrate the soil and form a continuous sub-surface barrier. A pair of opposed upwardly inclined elongated ramp portions extending upwardly and inwardly from the side edges of the floor portion, these ramp portions terminating in downwardly curved free edge portions having smooth outer surfaces with the curved free edge portions of the opposed ramp portions forming therebetween a gap having a width of up to about 20 mm. The opposed ramp portions and gap are arranged such that beetles are able to climb the ramp and continue along the ramp until they reach a point on the curved free edge portion where they lose their footing and slide down into and are trapped in a chamber formed by the floor section and ramp portions.