Smart traps for automatic remote monitoring of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

This work describes a novel solution to remote R. ferrugineus monitoring. Classical, plastic RPW traps containing aggregation pheromones for RPW are modified to include an optical sensor that senses adult pests falling in the trap. The counts of the pests are accumulated through the day and the counts are transmitted via the mobile phone network straight to a smartphone/tablet or internet address. The device is small and is attached internally in the trap carrying all necessary electronic equipment to allow optical detection, counting and transmission of counts through GSM. Smart RPW traps are expected to reduce the cost of monitoring and allow for reliable decision making as the wireless transmission is instantaneous thus allows the creations of real-time infestation maps. Our device has been tested extensively in real field delivering excellent detection results. We did not observe a single case that a RPW was not detected while being inside the trap and our trap delivers nearly zero rate false alarms.