Elizabeth Joy Schaafsma

Title: Innovations by Elizabeth Joy Schaafsma in Bed Bug Management

Introduction

Elizabeth Joy Schaafsma is an innovative inventor based in Seattle, WA. She has made significant contributions to the field of pest management, particularly in the area of bed bug control. Her work focuses on developing effective methods and compositions to attract and trap bed bugs, which are a growing concern for many households and businesses.

Latest Patents

Schaafsma holds a patent for "Bed bug attractants and methods for trapping bed bugs." This invention relates to compositions and methods designed to attract bed bugs using novel attractants. The patent highlights the discovery that known mammal pheromones can serve as effective kairomone attractants for bed bugs. Additionally, it introduces a method for delivering non-volatile attractants by utilizing an attractive heat source to heat and volatilize these attractants. This method has been identified as optimal for disseminating kairomones. Furthermore, the patent discloses a new method for generating low levels of carbon dioxide, which, when combined with kairomones and heat, effectively attracts bed bugs.

Career Highlights

Schaafsma is associated with Springstar Inc., a company dedicated to developing innovative pest management solutions. Her work at Springstar has been instrumental in advancing the understanding and management of bed bug populations.

Collaborations

One of her notable collaborators is Michael Gilbert Banfield, who has worked alongside her in the development of her patented technologies.

Conclusion

Elizabeth Joy Schaafsma's contributions to bed bug management through her innovative patent demonstrate her commitment to solving pest-related challenges. Her work not only enhances pest control methods but also provides valuable insights into the behavior of bed bugs.