Flytraps and Their Operation. 



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THE CONICAL HOOP TRAP. 



A trap which appears from extensive tests made by Mr. E. W. 

 Laake and tlio author to be best for effective trapping, durability, 

 ease of construction and repair, and cheapness may be made as fol- 

 lows : 



The trap consists essentially of a screen cylinder with a frame 

 made of barrel hoops, in the bottom of which is inserted a screen 

 cone. The height of the cylinder is 24 inches, the diameter 18 

 inches, and the cone is 

 22 inches high, and 18 

 inches in diameter at 

 the base. Material 

 necessary for this trap 

 consists of four new or 

 secondhand wooden 

 barrel hoops, one bar- 

 rel head, four laths, 

 10 feet of strips 1 to 

 1^ inches wide by one- 

 half inch thick (por- 

 tions of old boxes will 

 suiRce) , 61 linear 

 inches of 12 or 14 mesh 

 galvanized screening 

 24 inches wide for the 

 sides of the trap and 

 41 inches of screening 

 26 inches wide for the 

 cone and door, an 

 ounce of carpet tacks, 

 and two turn-buttons, 

 which may be made of 

 wood. The total cost 

 of the material for this 

 trap, if all is bought 

 new at retail prices, is 

 about $1. In practi- 

 cally all cases, however, the barrel hoops, barrel head, lath, and strips 

 can be obtained without expense. This would reduce the cost to that 

 of the wire and tacks, which would be 80 cents. If a larger number 

 of traps are constructed at one time, the cost is considerably reduced. 



One of these traps is illustrated in figures 1 and 2. In constructing 

 the trap two of the hoops are bent in a circle (18 inches in diameter 

 on the inside), and nailed together, the ends being trimmed to give 



r A 



Fig. 1. — Conical hoop flytrap, side view. .1, Hoops form- 

 ing frame at bottom. B, Hoops forming; frame at top. 

 C, Top of trap made of barrel head. D, Strips around 

 door. E, Door frame. F, Screen on door. G, Buttons 

 holding door. H, Screen on outside of trap. /, Strips on 

 side of trap between hoops. J, Tips of these strips pro- 

 jecting to form legs. K, Cone. L, United edges of screen 

 forming cone. M, Aperture at apex of cone. 



