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Solving problems with unconventional solutions, one challenge at a time

About Us

4 SIGMA INNOVATIONS LLC designs and develops consumer oriented solutions that:

  • Benefit the consumer by saving time, reducing hassles and reducing expenses
  • Keep America strong by relying on US manufacturing
  • Reduce consumer waste for the benefit of future generations
  • Conserve natural resources for the benefit of the environment
Made in the USA

Our products include:

Watch us grow as we build upon each success.

Spotted Lanternfly Tree Barrier Strip

Made in the USA

The Spotted Lanternfly Barrier Strip is an innovative pesticide device that keeps lanternflies and their egg masses within easy reach. Safe for birds, butterflies, bees, humans, and ground water. Best used on spotted lanternflies from red nymphs through egg laying adults.

PRODUCT CONTENTS: Consists of a reusable plastic barrier and an absorbent cotton wick; both items are 12 feet long. Product also includes complimentary nano-adhesive double-sided attachment pads, zip ties, and an application bottle for easy installation and maintenance.

DESIGN FEATURES: The plastic barrier strip has a smooth surface that is slick enough to prevent many pests from climbing across when used by itself. The barrier strip includes overhanging "petals" that prevents trunk-climbing pests from jumping or flying across from the trunk below. The absorbent cotton wick provides a source for USP-grade mineral oil from your local pharmacy (not provided).

BENEFITS OVER COMPETITION: Eliminates by-catch of native wildlife. Eliminates the need to replace gross and messy sticky tape filled with dead bugs that become stepping stones for other lanternflies climb across. Eliminates the need to replace bags of squirming insects. Eliminates the need for chemical pesticides that may affect pollinators and/or pollute ground water.

MAINTENANCE: Requires periodic reapplication of mineral oil to keep the wick saturated for best results. Dead and dying pests fall to the ground and decompose.

HOW DOES IT WORK? As the lanternfly climbs onto the wick, saturated with USP mineral oil (not provided), the oil adheres to pests claws and prevents them from gripping the slick plastic barrier strip so they cannot climb out-of-reach. The USP mineral oil may be laced with concentrated Insecticidal Soap (50:1 ratio) to potentially kill lanternflies while you are away. Organic pesticide products such as Insecticidal Soap or Pyrethrin may also be used to control lanternflies on or below the barrier strip.

ONE SIZE FITS ALL: Cut-to-size as needed. For small trunks, the overhanging petals should be cut in the middle and barrier strip double-wrapped around the tree to eliminate gaps. For very large trunks, multiple strips may be attached together to form a continuous barrier strip, and to minimize wasted product.

SAFETY FEATURES: USP grade mineral oil, recommended to keep the absorbent wick saturated, is an inexpensive, ingestible product that is used in a wide array of health-related applications and readily available from your local pharmacy. USP mineral oil (EPA CAS no. 8012-95-1) is labeled as inert ingredient that may be used with FIFRA 25(b) minimum risk pesticides.

PRECAUTIONS: Horticultural oil spray concentrate is based on mineral oil and widely used in organic farming. However, the additives in horticultural spray oil concentration that allow it to be mixed with water would also allow the mineral oil to be washed from the absorbent wick during heavy rains. Ready-to-Use (RTU) pesticide products are ~98% water and also not recommended for saturating the wick.

WAIVER: 4 SIGMA Innovations LLC does not recommend and is not liable for the use, mis-use or application of chemical pesticide products (e.g., dinotefuran, bifenthrin) on or below our barrier strip.

SMALL BUSINESS / MADE IN USA: 4 SIGMA Innovations is a micro-business that relies on USA manufacturing to produce our products. Complimentary items provided with this product are procured through a third party.

Follow us on Facebook @SLFbarrierstrip for product updates, best practices and notifications as other commercially available pest-control products are approved for use.

Secure Fit Pool Cover Clips

Made in the USA

Secure your pool's cover the 4 SIGMA way!

4 SIGMA INNOVATIONS LLC's unique pool cover clip is designed to grasp pool ledge features to hold your cover securely in place with less stress on you, the pool and the cover!

  • Innovative asymmetric design provides multiple contact points.
  • Flexible, resilient material with a wide, open-anchor cross-section accepts pool ledges the competitor's clips cannot.
  • Integrated catch lip makes installation a snap and removal a breeze... no pounding required as with two-piece systems!
  • 22" length - easier to install with only one piece recommended per pool section; two may be needed in high wind areas.
  • Economical and reusable; buy once for a lifetime of use.
Above Ground Pool Cover Clip Specifications
Secure in High Winds Video

Post for Beach Umbrella

Existing beach umbrellas require digging, twisting, hammering or filling bags with sand to safely secure them in-place. Our patented, suction-activated beach post can be securely installed in 12 inches of moist sand in under 6 seconds while sitting in a beach chair. This product takes the hassle out of setting-up camp, allowing you to enjoy time with family, friends or a good book quicker than ever.

Beach Umbrella Post Infomercial

Contact Us to learn more.

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Our Customers say:

Spotted Laternfly Barrier Strip

E. RHOADS
4.0 out of 5 stars
So far so good
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2020

"We received this yesterday, purchased from another online source. Easy to install, easy to set up, and seems to be working on the tiny nymphs so far, keeping them low on the tree. The only additions I would consider is a strip of foam adhesive insulation material on the back to create a tight seal on the tree. May not be an issue as the critters get bigger, but currently on my maple tree the bark creates a lot of gaps that the small nymphs could get past so I added some bailing twine under the black strip to fill some of those voids. I wish you the best with this, it is creative and makes sense to me, without the toxicity of pesticides and risk to other wildlife."

As reviewed on Amazon

Nicole
5.0 out of 5 stars Best product for spotted lantern fly
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2020
Verified Purchase

"This is a amazing invention for the spotted lantern fly. They don’t know where to go. They can’t climb any higher. It’s actually entertaining to watch"

As reviewed on Amazon

M. T. Jaegerman
5.0 out of 5 stars

Great solution for SLF infestation
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2020
Verified Purchase

"Great concept for this spotted lanternfly epidemic!"

As reviewed on Amazon

rcthompson04
5.0 out of 5 stars
Works wonders
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2020
Verified Purchase

"We had it for a day and have seen immediate results. The pests don’t seem to understand how to get around the tree barrier strip. The maple tree we have is relatively isolated from other objects other than a small shrub so this works wonders."

As reviewed on Amazon

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easy, neat, effective
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2020
Verified Purchase

"This product is ingenious. We have hundreds if not thousands of spotted lantern flies on 3 trees in our yard. We have been trying to control them with the sticky tape, which has been sort of working but it's very messy and hard to keep up with. Also it doesn't entirely stop the spotted lanternflies. This was very neat and easy to install and I went out and looked the following day after putting it up and there were tons of spotted lanternflies under the overhang. It doesn't kill them but I just went around and swatted them all with a fly swatter. The oil appears to make them slower and they don't jump out like they usually do. I recommend this to anyone with a spotted lantern fly problem. These should be used by authorities to control the issue on a larger scale"

As reviewed on Amazon

Barbara
5.0 out of 5 stars
Works better than tape
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2020
Verified Purchase

"UPDATE: I've been using this product for about a month since my initial review. I added strips to two other trees, and overall, I am very pleased. I realized that you have to saturate wick really thoroughly, so I add more about every week or two. Once there is sufficient oil, the flies begin to die. We have seen a significant reduction in the number of flies, both below the barrier and higher up on the tree. I highly recommend this product.

Original review: I've had this product up on our huge old oak for three days now. I had been observing lantern fly behavior all summer. I noticed that if I added random strips of duct tape (twirled, bunched, whatever) to my regular strip, lantern flies were more likely to get caught there. They didn't understand obstacles, or couldn't figure out how to get past them, and would get stuck. So when I saw the description of this product, I thought it made complete sense.

Pros: Overall, it is much easier to use than tape, AND I don't have to change it every week. As another reviewer has mentioned, I can kill many SLFs by using a fly swatter. BUT, I don't feel I need to do this every day the way I felt I had to with tape alone. Fewer flies are climbing the tree than with tape, which lost its stickiness pretty fast.

Cons: Some flies are still getting over the barrier. Some *were* getting under it, but I watched where and nailed those gaps shut. However, you can even see in my photos how some are managing to climb up and over (sometimes on top of another fly, but sometimes completely on their own). I do not know if I've added the right amount of oil to the cloth strip (how can I tell??). They also fly from other trees and land above the strip.

I had hoped that one strip would cover two trees, but this oak is so big I used all but a few inches for it. I will be buying another strip for a nearby fruit tree with a significant SLF population"

As reviewed on Amazon

carol barbano
4.0 out of 5 stars
If you see one or two act quickly.
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2020
Verified Purchase

"So far it is working and keeping them from going up the tree"

As reviewed on Amazon

Pool Cover Clips

"I have owned a pool for over ten years, by far this was the easiest and fastest I have ever closed my pool. I love the way you have it set up with the ropes going across the pool for the cover. I was able to pull the cover over without getting the water on it. The clips for the cover are great., no more playing around with the wire. This closing system is great!"

Thanks,
Danny

"If you have ever had to fight the wind to keep your pool cover down, then look no further than the Secure Fit Pool Cover Clip. The clip will keep the wind from getting under the cover and will make your cover last longer. Definitely try the sample first and you will be amazed. My sample stayed on the ledge against 40+ MPH winds before I got my 10 pack of 22" clips. Now I can relax when the wind blows and you can too! Fast shipping was the best."

John B. Toccoa Ga.

compare pool cover without and with clips attached

Thank you Danny and John!  Also for the suggestions!

Check out our Installation guide for tips and tricks!