The U of A and U of A System Division of Agriculture researchers have developed a prototype of an insect trap that can help farmers monitor and identify potential pests more efficiently. 

Ashley Dowling, a professor of entomology and plant pathology conducting research for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, partnered with Khoa Luu, an assistant professor of computer science and computer engineering, to create a trap that captures footage of insects, uses artificial intelligence to identify them and sends real-time data back to the farmers. 

Once farmers become aware that certain pests are present, they can take the appropriate measures to counteract their potential damage. 

“The trap itself was created by a local Arkansas business [SolaRid AR], and they came to the university with lots of ideas about what they’d like their trap to be able to do,” Dowling said. “One of the things on their list was this smart trap approach to things. We jumped at the chance to work with them and create this for them.”

Prior to the development of this prototype, farmers typically set traps manually and then sent someone out to evaluate them every few days — a process that takes much longer and can sometimes result in crops being ruined in the meantime. 

“Oftentimes, by the time they get the data, it’s almost too late,” Dowling says.

The new device, however, eliminates the need for manual monitoring, so farmers can make decisions on the fly. 

“The trap itself is attracting insects using lights of certain wavelengths that are attractive to insects,” Dowling explains. “It also has the ability to put chemical odors into it that you can target very specific insects with.”

As insects beeline their way into the trap, they pass through a sensor with an infrared plane, which then activates the camera. From here, the computer uses artificial intelligence perfected by Luu to identify the insect and transmit the results to the user. 

Dowling explains that when certain thresholds of insects are reached in a field, that tells the farmer it’s time to take action, particularly to avoid substantial economic losses. And, knowing if the pests are isolated to a certain area allows farmers to target only the areas that are potentially affected. 

Beyond the fields, the technology has the capability of being applied in other areas of entomology, like biodiversity or museum collections, where samples containing thousands of specimens are regularly collected and need to be analyzed in a timely manner. 

Learn more about Dowling and Luu’s smart insect monitoring system in “Caught on Camera: Insects Edition” and find additional Short Takes videos here.

---

More Short Takes

Caught on Camera: Insects Edition U of A researchers have developed insect trap prototype to help farmers identify potential pests more efficiently in order to protect valuable crops. Artificial intelligence identifies pests and sends data back to the farmers.

Determined to Succeed Erick Soto found a way to help other students as a mentor in the Freshman Commuter Student Success Program. Soto believes: “If you’re determined to succeed, I think you’ll accomplish anything you put yourself to.”

The Heart of Student Success at the U of A The Cordia Harrington Center for Excellence is passionate about helping students grow to meet the rigors of academic life. It’s a place where they work together to ensure success and create a sense of belonging.

---

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.