A novel light-based approach to identify and monitor insects using photonics-based sensors can assist in offering a solution to bridge existing gaps in insect surveillance and address the unfolding biodiversity crises
Meng Li is a PhD student at Combustion Physics and member of Light and Materials working in Mikkel Brydegaard’s group . Her research driven by the pressing issue of global insect population decline and aims to overcome limitations in traditional monitoring methods. In a recent study, published in Advanced Science, Li, Brydegaard and colleagues have investigated the use of wing characteristics, such as wing interference signals (WISs) and wing surface roughness, to enhance the accuracy of remotely identifying insects through photonics-based measurements. In contrast to traditional methods, WIS is a non-invasive alternative that offers improved accuracy, especially in large-scale ecological studies for insect population surveillance and biodiversity understanding.
The most crucial discovery from this study is the effectiveness of WISs, particularly in identifying hoverflies, demonstrating the significant potential of photonics-based sensors for species and sex identification in insects. The practical implications of these results provide a novel method for accurately monitoring insect biodiversity and population trends, essential for maintaining ecological balance.
From a public perspective, the study introduces advanced tools for monitoring and understanding insect biodiversity, emphasizing the critical role insects play in ecological balance. The research supports effective conservation strategies and raises awareness about the importance of protecting insects.
A surprising aspect of the results, says Meng Li, is the substantial increase in identification accuracy when incorporating wing features from WISs into the analysis. This unexpected finding highlights the untapped potential of WISs in species identification.
In conclusion, Meng Li’s and her colleagues’ study establishes that photonics-based sensors analysing WISs offer a revolutionary, non-destructive method for precisely identifying insect species. enhancing large-scale ecological monitoring and biodiversity conservation.
This research paper was selected to be featured as the front cover of Advanced Science, Volume 10, Issue 34!
Reference: Meng Li et al, Discrimination of Hover Fly Species and Sexes by Wing Interference Signals, Advanced Science (2023). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304657
