INSECT COLLECTOR

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an insect collector having improved detection accuracy of captured insects, and high capturing efficiency. SOLUTION: The insect collector can accurately detect and count the number of the insects because a plurality of optical sensors is arranged so that the light paths between the light-emitting parts and the light receiving parts of the optical sensors may be formed so as to be laterally arranged. A counter has a set threshold value beyond which the signal from the light-receiving part of the optical sensor is counted as the detection of the insect, and has a gain-regulating function for regulating the threshold value so as to follow the change of a base level when the base level which is a received light signal level when the insect is not detected is changed. As a result, the detection of the insect by the optical sensor is enabled even when the base level of the receiving signal of the light-receiving part when no insect is detected is lowered. Thereby, the detection and counting of the insects can be carried out in high accuracy even if the base level is changed by the staining, deterioration or the like of the optical sensor. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI