Odor-based detection of the fall armyworm
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is a highly destructive caterpillar that can feed on numerous crops, but greatly prefers maize. It is native to the Americas, but since the first observation in Africa in 2016, it has spread to all of sub-Saharan Africa, and then Asia as well as Oceania. On these continents it has caused tremendous crop losses and increases in pesticide applications. Recently, it has been observed in Greece and Rumania and is likely to rapidly spread throughout continental Europe. We are working on two strategies to detect the pest with odor sensors. The first is to detect the pest in import containers at European borders. The mostly likely way it would be imported would be on maize cobs. Our collections of odours from healthy and infested cobs, so far have not identified any marker volatiles, however, we still have to measure odors from infested cobs with the husk leaves still attached. This is expected to provide odor information that can be exploited for detection during import. Collection of odors from the insects themselves at different caterpillar stages has revealed a readily detectable compound that was specifically emitted from the caterpillars’ feces and could be used for detection of the insect. The second strategy is to detect the fall armyworm feeding on maize in the field. We have made considerable progress with two types of existing odor detection sensors. These sensors can readily distinguish between caterpillar-infested and healthy maize plants, even under field conditions. These first results hold great promise for our ultimate objective to employ robotic rovers with odor sensors to inform farmers in real-time about the specific location of the fall armyworm in their fields
Plant Pest Prevention through Technology-guided monitoring and site-specific control
Ongoing | 2023-2026
- Main funding source
- Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- France, Germany, Slovakia, Italy, Portugal, Czechia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Great Britain, Switzerland