Researchers at Kansas State University (K-State) are testing a system that listens for insects instead of looking for them. The Insect Eavesdropper uses microphones, artificial intelligence and data analysis to pick up the vibrations insects make while feeding or moving inside plants, so farmers could find hidden pest problems earlier.
The target is the kind of pest ordinary scouting struggles with. Much of the K-State work has focused on the soybean stem borer, which tunnels inside the stem where it cannot be seen.
In the field, graduate student Emily Sur clips recording devices to soybean plants, then compares the recordings with inspections of the same plants to measure how well the system detects the insects. "By using this new tool, we can detect these insidious invaders without needing to sacrifice plants," said Brian McCornack, who works with her.
The project is a multistate collaboration led by Emily Bick of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It brings together entomology, engineering, artificial intelligence and data science to process large volumes of sound data, with the aim of a practical tool for continuous crop monitoring and better pest-management decisions.
For growers, the promise is time: a pest heard before the damage shows can be managed sooner and with more precision. The researchers say the system has strong potential, but it is still being tested under real farm conditions.
Photo: United Soybean Board / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Source: Farms.com
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