Insect identification using laser and wing beat frequency

Wing beat frequencies (WBF) of three species of insects were recorded using a photoelectric system that tracks vibrational frequencies of objects in between a common laser and photoelectric diodes. The wing beat frequencies of a mosquito Aedes aegypti (AeA) and two closely related species of fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster (DMel) and Drosophila suzukii (DSuz) were collected. Approximately 150 insects of three species were placed into photo transmitter cages and monitored with recording devices for 2-3 days, and WBF analyzed. The three species insects tested have shown to have an average species-specific wing beat frequency that allows for separation of species: AeA=433.0504Hz, DMel=223.5633Hz, and DSuz=226.2800Hz. These results indicate that it may be possible to create an automatic trap that will monitor the WBF of the insects captured and provide identification of the insects inside. This will allow farmers to have updated information on what pests are currently infesting their crops, thus allowing them to better manage them. Despite the two Drosophila species having overlapping wing beat frequencies, we might be able to identify between insects in the same genus by separating them using their circadian rhythms, allowing the grower to determine whether they have the pest DSuz in their crops or a simply a benign DMel. These two species are extremely difficult to separate visually and by using their wing beat frequency, but by paring the information on their circadian rhythms and geographical locations, we may be able to identify between the two more easily.