Design of a smart LED lamp to monitor insect populations in an integrated pest management approach

Abstract

This study aimed to present the design and field test results of an LED (light emitting diode) lamp for integrated pest management (IPM) and other entomological studies. The light spectrum of the LEDs was tuned to optimize insect attraction and lower energy consumption. An electronic circuit with control software was integrated with the lamp, enabling it to operate in standalone mode, automatically identify night and day, monitor and control the battery charge with energy from a photovoltaic solar panel, protect the battery against over-discharge, and provide feedback about the operating status of the system. Additionally, energy consumption is about five times lower than that of the fluorescent lamp, reducing the battery and solar panel size needed for its energy supply. In the 2017/2018 growing season, the smart LED lamp was installed in a Sonne light trap in an irrigated rice field, and the total number of insects captured was compared with the number collected in a conventional light trap fitted with a traditional 15 W black light fluorescent lamp. Total captures in the Sonne trap were approximately three times greater than in the conventional system.