An Entomology Study: Development of Acoustic Model of Wood Boring Insects for Characterization and Detection for U.S. Forestry and Canadian Forestry.
Outlines
- Basic Abstract
- Introduction
- Importance
- History and Origin
- Approach
- Results
- Conclusion
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to build a field deployable device that is able to make an exact diagnosis of a tree infected with a wood-boring insect. The device was initially developed for the Asian Long Horned Beetle, a species indigenous to China. Currently, the system is being enhanced to include the Cotton Wood Borer, (a species indigenous to the North East United States), and the Brown Spruce Beetle, indigenous to Europe but a Canadian problem. The need of this device becomes apparent when one considers the damage that can be done to the hardwood industry if the insect is left unchecked to destroy the hardwood. It is estimated that the damage done by these insects will approach tens of millions of dollars. The method being used to build the device is acoustic detection, which can be compared to eavesdropping. Using a computer based software called Mathlab, several models have been developed which have been combined with confidence estimates to give the user the ability to detect an infested tree. Samples of sounds are being collected from infested trees and analyzed. At this time, three models have been developed for these boring insects that include the Asian Long Horned Beetle and the Cotton Wood Borer. Future work includes enhancements to these models and the inclusion of the Brown Spruce Beetle.Introduction.
This is a study of wood boring insects such as the Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophora Glapennis), the Cotton Wood Borer (Plectrodera Scalator) and the Brown Spruce Longhorned Beetle (Tetropium Fuscum), which burrow into healthy and exotic trees. Examples of trees that are hosts to the Asian Longhorned Beetle are Maple (Norway, Sugar, Silver, and Red) Birch, Horse chestnut, Poplar, Willow, Elm and Ash. Examples of trees that are hosts to the Cotton Wood Borer are Cottonwood, poplar and willow trees. Examples of trees that are hosts to the Brown Spruce Longhorned Beetle are Firs, Pines, Larches, Spruce and some hardwood. The destruction of these cash crops done by these beetles is affecting industries such as maple sugar, lumber and tourism and making the United States and other countries lose millions of dollars.Importance
The importance of this study is to device a way through acoustic detection (eavesdropping) to make an exact diagnosis of trees infected with the beetles instead of making guesses, which sometimes may be wrong. Acoustic detection has been used on termites, which is why acoustic detection will be used in this study. This will help save lots of uninfected trees from getting cut down thereby saving millions of dollars which is being lost to the beetles. The acoustic model will help detect beetles in trees and wooden packaging material long before they are visible to the eye. Also, the acoustic model will be able to detect beetles that may be found in wooden crates and pallets used for imports and exports before they leave the warehouses.History and Origin
The Asian Longhorned beetle (Anoplophora Glapennis), originated from China and North Korea. The Asian Longhorned beetle was first noticed in the United States when a resident in New York saw some large holes in a tree and thought they were acts of vandalism. It was investigated and the conclusion was drawn that the Asian Longhorned beetle, which came into the United States through imports from China and North Korea had done the damage. The Asian Longhorned beetle has also done some damage to some trees in Central Park, New York and some areas of Chicago thereby constituting a serious threat to the United States Forestry department. The Cotton Wood Borer (Plectrodera Scalator) on the other hand, is indigenous to the Michigan area of the United States. Its mode of living is very similar to that of the Asian Longhorned Beetle with differences in their origin. The Brown Spruce Longhorned Beetle (Tetropium Fuscum) is indigenous to Europe and Asia, which includes: Central Europe, Forest of the Urals, Bosnia, Turkey and Japan. This beetle recently has been found in Halifax, Nova Scotia-Canada and its main infestation occurred in Point Pleasant Park. The Brown Spruce Longhorned Beetle also got into Nova Scotia the same way the Asian Longhorned Beetle got into the United States: through wooden crates and pallets used for export. The mode of living of the Brown Spruce Longhorned Beetle is also similar to that of the Asian Longhorned Beetle and the Cotton Wood Borer.Description of Beetles
The Asian Longhorned Beetle is a large, bullet shaped beetle about 1 to 1.5 inches long. It is shiny and black with white spots and has an exceptionally long antennae banded black and white. Its’ elongated feet are black with a whitish blue upper surface. Although its size and large mandibles cause it to appear threatening, it is harmless to humans and pets. The female Asian Longhorned Beetle burrows holes in the bark of the tree and lays her eggs there. These eggs develop into larvae in 1-4 months and burrow further into the tree causing sap and frass (sawdust and insect waste) to flow from wounds inflicted on the tree. They develop into pupae in 1-2 weeks and develop into beetles and crawl out of the holes they have created. If left undetected, the Asian Longhorned Beetle will girdle the vascular system of the tree and cause a healthy tree to wither and die. The Cotton Wood Borer is a large beetle about 1 to 1.25 inches long. It is black with numerous cross stripes of white formed by dense growth of white hair. Their black-segmented antennae are almost as long as their bodies. The female Cotton Wood borer deposits eggs in openings chewed into the bark below the ground line at the base of the tree. The eggs hatch in 10-14 days and the larvae burrow into the base and roots of the tree pushing out sawdust-like frass at the point of entry. 2 years is needed for the complete lifecycle of the Cotton Wood borer. The Brown Spruce Longhorned Beetle has a flattened body with length ranging from 8 to 17mm. The head and the neck are dark brown to black. The wing covers can be tan, brown or reddish brown and has 2 to 3 longitudinal stripes. The antennae are reddish brown and about half the length of the body. The female Brown Spruce Longhorned Beetle lays eggs underneath the bark scales or in crevices in the bark. Larvae hatch in 10-14 days. They overwinter as small larvae in tunnels about 4cm within the wood. They pupate in the spring and after about two weeks; the adult beetles begin to emerge. The signs of a tree infested with the Brown Spruce Longhorned Beetle are:- Oval or round holes in the bark approximately 4mm,
- Excessive resin production down the length of the stem (stem weeping),
- Networks of feeding tunnels up to 6mm across, filled with sawdust like material and located just underneath the bark,
- L-shaped tunnels in the wood about 4cm and another 4cm parallel to the grain,
- Coarse sawdust may be found in and around the tunnels or plugging the entrance/exit hole.
- The hardwood industry from losing more money.
- Our ecosystem from being destroyed by these wood-boring insects.
Approach
The algorithm used for the model was developed in MATHLAB, an analytical software. Using an accelerometer, sounds were collected from sample trees from China, Michigan and Nova-Scotia. These sounds were then converted into data form and then incorporated into the developed algorithm. Using the graph plotter incorporated in MATHLAB, graphs were plotted and these graphs were used to determine the proper parameters that were used in the development of the acoustic device. Results The acoustic model today works for the Asian Longhorned Beetle and it is about the size of a laptop computer. The device is being modified to accommodate other beetles, especially the Cotton Wood Borer and the Brown Spruce Longhorned Beetle. Also, the device is also being modified in size and it is expected to be as small as a wristwatch for easier use. The device has been shipped to the United States Department of Forestry for operational use.Conclusion
Other than visual inspection, which in most times is inaccurate, there was no way of detecting an infested tree. This has caused the hardwood industry to lose millions of dollars, which is why the development of this device is important. If these beetles are left undetected, they can threaten our ecosystem. The device will be used by agriculturists to detect infested trees and Customs to check wooden crates and pallets before they are exported. Detection of these insects will help protect:CCS | CSM | ORNL