Additional comments

Information on insect population dynamics is fundamental for better targeting pest control treatments in integrated pest management. It takes time to survey pheromone traps, collect and process the data so as to have real time information for taking quick decisions that allow timely targetting of pest problems. The INSECTLIFE project improved available pheromone traps to catch both soil and flying insects by endowing them with sensors. The ZooLog Sensor System allows automating monitoring tasks and having real-time information on pest populations. Sensors alone did not discriminate between captured insect pests and beneficial insects, so the system was improved by adding cameras that allowed identifying and counting each species automatically by the insect body size. In the case of flying insects, the traps were not efficient enough due to random flight patterns of the insects. This was solved by adding compressed air devices that would direct the insect to the trap collectors when detected by the sensors. The ZooLog Sensor System was tested in the field and the results showed an increased efficiency in catching and counting the insects. This allows to easily collect real-time data which coupled with meteorological data can quickly provide accurate information to farmers on the best moment to apply pest control treatments. As a result, farmers will save on pest control products and will reduce environmental impacts.