The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of

J C Webb

Carl A Litzkow

Kenneth W Vick

Shuichi Masuda

Detection, and optionally quantification, of insect infestation in an agricultural commodity is provided by a pitfall probe trap which permits detection of the presence or absence of live insects in the trap and optionally estimation of the number of insects in the trap. The present invention may be utilized to detect infestation by a variety of different insects such as: red flour beetle, lesser grain borer, rice weevil, rusty grain beetle, and saw tooth grain beetle; in numerous types of agricultural commodities including corn, wheat, rice, seeds, nuts, oats, barley, cotton or any similar commodity which may be infested during storage. Various embodiments are disclosed including use of the traps in a device for telemetry, in various container means for containing an agricultural commodity including e.g. truck, ship, railroad car or storage bin such as a silo or grain elevator.

Insect detection using a pitfall probe trap having vibration detection

Detection of insect infestation in an agricultural commodity is provided by piezoelectric means for generating electricity in response to vibration only of a frequency above about 500 Hertz, in vibrational communication with the agricultural commodity. The present invention may be utilized to detect infestation by a variety of different insects such as rice weevil, lesser grain borer, angoumais moth, in numerous types of agricultural commodities including corn, wheat, rice nuts, cotton, etc.. Various embodiments are disclosed including use of the piezoelectric means, on a probe, with a sample cup, in a device for telemetry, and with various container means for containing an agricultural commodity including e.g. a truck, ship, railroad car and storage bin such as a silo or grain elevator.

Piezoelectric apparatus and process for detection of insect infestation

The sound created by moving and chewing of insect larvae infested inside an agricultural commodity is acoustically detected and amplified, and thereafter transduced into an electrical signal which is electrically amplified for observation.

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Gainesville, FL, United States of America

J C Webb