Real-Time Remote Sensing of the Lobesia botrana Moth Using a Wireless Acoustic Detection Sensor

Abstract

This article presents a wireless sensor for pest detection, specifically the Lobesia botrana moth or vineyard moth. The wireless sensor consists of an acoustic-based detection of the sound generated by a flying Lobesia botrana moth. Once a Lobesia botrana moth is detected, the information about the time, geographical location of the sensor and the number of detection events is sent to a server that gathers the detection statistics in real-time. To detect the Lobesia botrana, its acoustic signal was previously characterized in a controlled environment, obtaining its power spectral density for the acoustic filter design. The sensor is tested in a controlled laboratory environment where the detection of the flying moths is successfully achieved in the presence of all types of environmental noises. Finally, the sensor is installed on a vineyard in a region where the moth has already been detected. The device is able to detect flying Lobesia botrana moths during its flying period, giving results that agree with traditional field traps.

A Multimodal Sensing Platform for Interdisciplinary Research in Agrarian Environments

“…While they have a range of advantages, the main drawbacks for their field deployment are the increased system cost and high bandwidth requirements in locations where high-speed data are generally unavailable. Optical and acoustic methods also exist [ 23 , 24 ], and these are much better suited for larger-scale deployments.…”