Grantee Research Project Results

Final Report: PheroJet Traps for Areawide Integrated Pest Management

EPA Contract Number: 68D00251
Title: PheroJet Traps for Areawide Integrated Pest Management
Investigators: Hayes, Donald J.
Small Business: MicroFab Technologies Inc.
EPA Contact:
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 2000 through March 1, 2001
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2000) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Pollution Prevention , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)

Description:

Microfab Technologies, Inc. (MicroFab) developed automated codling moth pheromone traps based on state-of-the-art fluid microdispensing, electronic imaging/counting, and wireless data transfer technologies. Because the traps are automated and able to communicate in real time, they can easily be integrated into a computer-controlled system for areawide integrated pest management. Successful development of commercial pheromone-dispensing (PheroJet) traps would lead to a significant decrease in the use of pesticides.

The automated traps utilize: inkjet printing technology for control of pheromone dispensing in picoliter quantities with microsecond temporal resolution; electro-optic detection; and wireless communications for low-cost, instantaneous data gathering and transfer from distributed monitoring systems to a centralized location. The traps were developed specifically for codling moth, but with some modifications, would be effective for monitoring other moths such as the pink bollworm, bollworm, budmoth, and many others. The detection device, a key component of this type of trap, was designed to discriminate the target pest from other species that may enter pheromone-baited traps.

During Phase I, prototypes of the traps, without the data transfer subsystem, were fabricated and tested in the laboratory. The data transfer subsystem will be developed during Phase II, in which further testing (open field testing) will occur.

Real-time monitoring of pest populations can significantly reduce the use of pesticides. Not only will entomologists be able to better analyze and define pests' behaviors, but also farmers will be able to control and apply pesticides in a more efficient and timely manner. Based on the acquired data, which can relate weather conditions with pest behavior, more effective pest control mechanisms can be developed for future seasons. Future applications, enhanced by bidirectional data transfer, include matting disruption through pheromone spraying, which can further decrease the amount of pesticide applied. All these elements will be translated into less poisonous products for human consumption.

The traps are being developed initially for codling moth (an apple orchard pest) detection. However, with some modifications, the technology can be applied to other crops such as citrus, grapes, and cotton, as well as other applications such as grain storage in silos.

Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):

Throughout the duration of Phase I, prototypes of pheromone-baited traps to attract codling moths were developed and tested. The prototypes, based on commercially available technologies, were constructed and tested according to three objectives established in the proposal: (1) characterize and optimize the PheroJet subsystem; (2) design, fabricate, and bench test the prototype traps; and (3) demonstrate codling moth attraction and counting in laboratory tests.

During the first stage?characterize and optimize the PheroJet subsystem?different pheromone solutions at different volume-to-volume concentrations were mixed and tested to achieve suitable jetting parameters. Codling moth pheromone was acquired from commercial sources and diluted in butanol. Three solutions exhibited good jetting behavior and were categorized as appropriate for the design. The final decision of which of the solutions to utilize for the PheroJet trap will be based on other factors such as pheromone per hour required to be jetted, size of the reservoir, and estimated service time of the reservoir.

The second stage?design, fabrication, and bench testing of prototype traps?was divided into three components: (1) the pheromone solution reservoir; (2) the detection/counting subsystem; and (3) the electronics. Several prototypes of the systems were designed, fabricated, and analyzed to achieve an optimum solution based on the requirements of the technology. The selected components were incorporated into a commercially available trap and later tested during the next stage.

The third and final stage?testing of the assembly?required construction of a wind tunnel, where the traps were exposed to live insects. Codling moths in pupae state were donated by U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service laboratories (Wapato, WA) and incubated in MicroFab's facilities. Tests were performed using both commercially available traps and MicroFab's design. The traps were located upstream from the insects' release point. No obstacles were placed in the fly path of the moths between their release point and the pheromone-baited traps. Six experiments were conducted during night times and at 70 F, which are the appropriate conditions for moth activity. However, further experimentation was stalled due to the lack of insects with which to experiment. Initial results were inconclusive.

Conclusions:

Pheromone solutions that can be precisely dispensed using inkjet printing technology were successfully mixed and tested. An electronically controlled pheromone microdispensing subsystem that can be integrated into commercially available traps to dispense pheromones was successfully designed, fabricated, and tested. An optical gates arrangement that can be utilized in current traps to detect and count insects as they enter the trap was successfully developed and bench tested.

The assembly was tested with live animals; however, the initial results elucidated that more experimentation is needed to completely evaluate the design and that improvements to the homemade wind tunnel may be required. One of the main impediments for the continuation of the experiments was the availability of the moths; however, this problem has been solved. Throughout the following months, MicroFab will perform the required laboratory experiments needed to raise the technology to the Phase II level, where open field environment experimentation will be conducted. MicroFab is developing a patent application related to this research.

Supplemental Keywords:

pheromone-baited traps, integrated pest management., Sustainable Industry/Business, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Ecological Indicators, Engineering, Ecosystem Protection, Sustainable Environment, Biology, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, exploratory research environmental biology, Microbiology, Monitoring/Modeling, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, Entomology, cleaner production/pollution prevention, New/Innovative technologies, pesticides, pollution prevention, detection system, monitoring, real time measurement, real-time monitoring, pest control