Spectral response to defoliation by Colorado Potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)

Recent technological advances in sensors and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) have accelerated the interest in developing remote sensing tools for insect pest management.  One obvious area where remotely sensed data can be applied to IPM is assessing defoliation.  Varying populations of Colorado potato beetle were established in trial plots by using different chemical management strategies.  A temporal series of aerial images were obtained through the season using a camera sensitive to green, red and near infrared (NIR) electromagnetic wavelengths, mounted on a multi-rotor UAS.  Vegetation indices were constructed using reflectance data from the resulting images.  Statistical analyses indicated defoliation can significantly influence spectral reflectance of a canopy.