Catchmaster’s industry standard insect monitor 288i has a new sibling, the 288i Rev C , or Consumer 288i. The exterior of the trap has been rethought and makes a number of improvements we think non-industry consumers will be very pleased with. But first let’s get a refresher on the 288i (and 100i ).
288i insect monitor
Catchmaster® produces the pesticide free, non-toxic 288i insect monitors using an integrated food grade molasses bait that has a vanilla / molasses scent. The 288i sports dual ‘monitor’ windows on either side and is folded into a rectangle which also can be anchored in high traffic or wind prone areas through use of the adhesive backing allowing for flexible placement in nearl any position – even upside-down.
The 288i has always been a green pesticide free product ( despite the presence of EPA EST #4877-NY-1 which is used to identify the manufacturer, not to imply pesticide use).
Green spider traps, now green-er
So what is new? TrapsDirect has provided a cosmetic overhaul to the venerable 288i replacing the bold Catchmaster RED logos with a dark green that allows the spider trap to hide in plain view.
In addition the IPM matrix has been removed, while the EPA registration, made in USA, TrapsDirect.com logo and model 288-i rev C text have been moved to the underside of the trap.
288i – 2015 – revision C – Consumer
The top of the trap has been covered with a camouflage of differing shades and shapes of dark green. Under two windows are “Placed On: ” & TrapsDirect.com/spider re-order information.
Our First Thoughts
Being skeptics, we were unsure of whether these cosmetic changes held much value, but after seeing pictures of the traps, we were surprised to find that the traps did actually melt into the background. It wasn’t just the removal of the Text (which our minds are so programmed to consume) , but the mezzotint pattern on the top of the trap is random enough to not attract more than a glance (some patterns catch the brain trying to locate the repeating elements of a pattern, thus drawing too much attention)
Finally, the choice of a dark green, much the shade of Kentucky Bluegrass (which is a deep green, not blue at all) lends a harmony to the trap in the same way you might expect grass to be on the ground.
Initial Customer Feedback
From early sales and Beta testers the 2015 Consumer 288i revision has received high marks.
More customers than had been previously assumed have been purchasing the base model 288i given the strong economic advantage of more small traps vs large expensive spider traps. The abundance of consumers (home owners) purchasing the original red 288i traps has translated into a wave of consumers eagerly buying up the 288i rev c traps on both amazon and traps.cleanertoday.com
In fact at the time of this writing trapsdirect.com was concentrating inventory with traps.cleanertoday.com
We understand that after a 45 day “launch window”, www.trapsdirect.com will start direct sales as well.
My aunt has been using the commercial 288i catchmaster (red) insect trap and monitors in her home for years. I never bought any because they stood out like a sore thumb.
Now I bought the ‘consumer’ version.
It would have made more sense to be called the home version because they are ideal home spider traps, but I live in an apartment so maybe consumer spider traps makes more sense.
Either way these home spider traps are as effective as the professional version but they are more easily hidden