Automated optical and vibroacoustic pest detection systems for agriculture and forestry
Smart insect traps and tree probes that detect, count, and timestamp pest activity in real time. Optical counters for crop pests are field-proven at TRL-9, while vibroacoustic tree probes are being miniaturized below 100 euros for mass deployment against wood-boring insects across forests and plantations.
Overview
This solution combines two complementary technologies for automated pest monitoring: optical insect counters integrated with pheromone-baited funnel traps, and vibroacoustic probes attached to trees. The optical counters detect and count insects as they enter the trap, timestamping each capture and transmitting the data along with environmental parameters to a central server for visualization and historical analysis. The tree probes analyze vibration signatures to determine whether a tree is infested by wood-boring insects and communicate the infestation status wirelessly.
Together, these tools replace labor-intensive manual trap inspections with continuous, automated surveillance. Farmers, forest managers, and agricultural inspectors gain timely, statistically valid data on pest presence and density, enabling faster and more informed decisions about treatment and integrated pest management. Current deployments include cotton, tomato, vineyard, olive, and palm plantation environments.
Technical specifications
Optical counters for insect traps:
- Detect and count insects upon entry into pheromone-lured funnel traps
- Transmit counts with timestamps and environmental parameters to a central server
- Validated for Tuta absoluta in tomatoes and Helicoverpa armigera in cotton
- Target expansion to additional Lepidoptera pests including fall armyworm and Lobesia botrana in vineyards
- Designed to support four months of autonomous pheromone release and insect capture
Vibroacoustic tree probes:
- Attach to tree trunks to detect wood-boring insect infestation through vibration analysis
- Currently validated for longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae)
- In-situ decision-making capability: probe transmits only an infestation status rather than raw data
- Cost-reduction target below 100 euros per probe to enable mass deployment
- Generic design intended to work across tree species and borer types
Connectivity and data:
- Remote firmware update capability across all deployed devices
- GPS tagging of captures for spatial analysis of pest pressure
- Historical data storage for population dynamics and trend analysis
Technology readiness level
The optical counter technology has reached TRL-9, meaning it is fully deployed and operational in commercial agricultural settings including cotton plantations and vineyards. The vibroacoustic tree probe technology is at an earlier stage, having been validated for specific pests (Cerambycidae) but not yet generalized or cost-optimized. The next development phase focuses on acquiring and testing ten optical counters and ten tree probes, enabling remote firmware updates, and validating the probes as generic, low-cost devices capable of transmitting a simple infestation decision for any borer species.
About INSECTRONICS
Insectronics develops and manufactures advanced optoelectronic and vibroacoustic monitoring technologies designed to automate insect pest detection and population tracking in agriculture and forestry. Their product range includes specialized sensors, such as optical wingbeat recorders and electronic funnel traps, which detect, count, time-stamp, and GPS-tag insects as they enter or move through monitored areas. These devices utilize sensors to analyze wingbeat modulation or vibration signals, allowing for real-time data transmission to central monitoring agencies. By integrating these systems, Insectronics aims to replace traditional, labor-intensive manual trap inspection methods with automated, large-scale surveillance solutions that provide reliable, actionable information on pest presence and density.
These technologies enable farmers and agricultural inspectors to make informed, timely decisions regarding pest treatment and management strategies. The systems are deployed in diverse environments, including olive orchards, vineyards, cotton fields, and palm plantations, to monitor pests of economic importance. By providing a continuous flow of statistically valid field data, the equipment helps address the limitations of manual monitoring, such as inconsistent coverage and identification errors. Insectronics' devices, including the E-funnel trap and the Woodoscope, have been used in research settings and practical agricultural applications to support pest control, improve crop health, and assess the value of timber by detecting wood-boring insect activity.
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