Patents

4-Poster

The ARS-patent for the '4-Poster' Deer Treatment Bait Station that was developed by scientists at the ARS laboratory in Kerrville, TX, was licensed during 2003 to the American Lyme Disease Foundation of Somers, NY, and will be manufactured and distributed by C. R. Daniels, Inc. of Ellicott City, MD.   In addition, during 2003 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency granted a label to Y-Tex Corporation of Cody, WY, to produce and market a specially formulated '4-Poster' Tickicide containing 10% permethrin to be used exclusively to treat deer that use the '4-poster' Deer Treatment Bait Station.  The '4-poster' Bait Station controls ticks feeding on white-tailed deer and other wild ungulates from contact with one or more of the four tickicide impregnated applicator rollers that are located near the feeding ports.  The tickicide is transferred to the heads, necks, and ears of deer which feed on bait that is slowly dispensed from the device.  In numerous tests conducted throughout the eastern half of the U.S., the device has been shown to be highly efficacious against ticks feeding on deer, and because deer are the keystone hosts for free-living populations of both blacklegged and lone star ticks, controlling the ticks feeding on deer also causes significant reductions in free-living ticks in the areas surrounding the devices.  The reduction in free-living ticks will reduce the incidence of tick bites in humans, and thus should reduce the risk of humans contracting tick-borne disease agents, including those causing Lyme disease, the human ehrlichioses, human babesiosis, STARI (Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness), and other diseases. 

New Class of Synergists

Patent Pending:

Scientists at the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Laboratory have found that a new class of synergists can enhance the control of organophosphate insecticides against ticks and horn flies.  A patent has been applied for and should be available for licensing from ARS upon approval by the patent office.