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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 3/11/2011 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Commercial-crop and ornamental palm trees serve important functions in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and considerable precautions are taken each year to identify and control infestations of a variety of different insect pests. Large weevils, including the red palm weevil and the coconut rhinoceros beetle, are particularly dangerous pests because they often attack and kill the growing tip or the central, water-transporting region, which results in the death of the entire tree. These insects are difficult to detect, and often kill the tree before they are detected. Early detection would permit prophylactic treatments or tree removal to protect surrounding trees. This report describes acoustic equipment that can be used to detect insects over 3-4-m distances along the palm tree trunks, and signal analyses that have been developed to distinguish targeted pests from other insects or background noise. |
