Intelligent Automated Insect Collection System (IFICS)

Flying insect vectors and the diseases they transmit continue to be a significant source of concern for United States service members deployed in field operations. In an effort to reduce contact between the vectors and humans, military entomologists are often required to perform surveillance to assess the prevalence of disease vectors and to evaluate the effectiveness of control measures. Surveillance relies heavily on the use of trapping devices such as the CDC light trap, which has long been the standard device used by military entomologists. The standard CDC light trap, however, lacks many of the features required for reliable and accurate assessment of adult insect populations. As such, there is now an urgent need for improved and more broadly effective surveillance. To meet these needs, Barron Associates and its subcontractor Virginia Tech propose the development of the Intelligent Flying Insect Collection System (IFICS), which combines proven insect attraction methods with innovative sensing and signal processing technology to create a broadly-effective, low-cost and energy-efficient solution for flying insect surveillance. Features attractive to a wide variety of insects are included, making the IFICS an ideal solution for the Army's needs and positioning it as a widely-applicable solution for commercial and research markets.