Insect monitoring for vector surveillance and plant health
Automatic detection of exotic mosquitoes and invasive insects at risk sites, with alert and photo.
Plant health and public health authorities keep watch on risk sites where exotic mosquitoes and other invasive insects enter: tyre importers, plant importers, airports and ports. Faunabit develops cameras with image recognition that monitor such sites continuously and send an alert with a photo as soon as a relevant group is recognised.
Risk sites continuously in view
Exotic mosquitoes and other invasive insects arrive through trade and transport. Surveillance at risk sites currently requires regular inspections and checking traps. Cameras with image recognition can take over part of that work: they watch a site continuously and report as soon as there is something to see.
Tiger mosquito trap: alert with photo
The Faunabit Tiger Mosquito Trap attracts mosquitoes with water for egg laying, photographs the trap plate and distinguishes mosquitoes of the genus Aedes from other mosquitoes and insects. On recognition an alert with photo follows, so an expert can confirm the species without first driving to the site.
DIOPSIS for broader surveillance
The DIOPSIS insect camera records the full spectrum of flying insects and is suited to signalling changes at a site, for example around ports, auctions or importers. Also read about monitoring invasive species.
What the systems do and do not do
Image recognition works at group level and does not replace identification by a specialist. What the systems do is direct attention to the sites and moments that matter. Contact us to discuss what fits your surveillance.
Related
Frequently asked questions
Which mosquitoes does the tiger mosquito trap recognise?
The trap distinguishes three groups: the genus Aedes (to which the tiger mosquito and the yellow fever mosquito belong), other Culicidae and other insects. Identification to species is done by an expert based on the photo that is sent.
Can the DIOPSIS camera also be used for pest insects?
The DIOPSIS insect camera photographs all flying insects that land on the screen and classifies them by taxonomic group. For specific quarantine organisms additional recognition or expert checking is needed; we are happy to discuss what is feasible.
What is the status of the tiger mosquito trap?
The trap was developed as a proof of concept for the Dutch government and builds on an existing BIOMON trap. Scaling up and validation at specific sites are agreed with the client.
Automating surveillance at risk sites?
We are happy to discuss which sites and target groups lend themselves to camera monitoring, what recognition can and cannot do today and how alerts fit your process.