Location: Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research
Project Number: 2040-30400-001-023-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Jun 1, 2025
End Date: Nov 30, 2026
Objective:
We plan to conduct experiments to (1) evaluate the feasibility of using NIR spectroscopy to discriminate medfly strains reared in the laboratory under identical conditions and in field cages, (2) develop classifiers using NIR hyperspectral imaging to discriminate irradiated medfly from wild flies on yellow sticky cards, and (3) take repeating measurements of sticky cards for two months to determine influence of weathering on the performance of classifiers.
Approach:
For Obj 1, we will measure NIR spectra of medfly from three different ARS PBARC colonies (PBARC, HIMed, and Vienna 7) and wild flies from farms on Hawaii Island using a NIR hyperspectral imaging system. The flies will be reared on two different diets and any effects on their NIR spectra will also be investigated. Machine-learning based classifiers will be developed and their performance will be evaluated. For Obj. 2, we will collect irradiated flies from CDFA in Waimanalo, Hawaii and wild flies from farms on Hawaii Island. The flies will be placed on yellow sticky cards and imaged using a NIR hyperspectral imaging system. After the initial imaging, sticky cards will be placed in a covered location in Hilo, HI for two months to mimic the weathering in field conditions. Hyperspectral images will be taken daily during the first week and weekly from week 2 to week 8. Similar to Obj. 1, machine-learning based classifiers will be developed and their performance will be evaluated.