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Title: ENTOMOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS OF NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY

Author
item Throne, James
item Dowell, Floyd
item Perez Mendoza, Joel
item Baker, James

Submitted to: Stored Products Protection International Working Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/22/2002
Publication Date: 7/31/2003
Citation: THRONE, J.E., DOWELL, F.E., PEREZ MENDOZA, J., BAKER, J.E. ENTOMOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS OF NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY, p. 131-134. In: STORED PRODUCTS PROTECTION INTERNATIONAL WORKING CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS. 2003.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Our work on applications of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to entomological problems is reviewed. 1) Using an automated NIRS system, we were able to differentiate between uninfested kernels and kernels infested with late-instar larvae of three stored-product insect pests. The ability to rapidly scan individual kernels indicates potential for automated segregation of infested kernels from bulk grain. 2) The automated NIRS system was used to differentiate uninfested wheat kernels, kernels infested with rice weevils, and kernels that contained rice weevils that were parasitized by Anisopteromalus calandrae. Being able to distinguish kernels containing parasitoids would be useful for quality control in commercial insectaries. 3) The NIRS system was used to segregate samples of transgenic maize that contain low and high levels of the biopesticidal protein avidin. 4) A manual NIRS system was used to quantify insect fragments in flour. Although the sensitivity is not sufficient to detect insect fragments at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration defect action level (75 fragments per 50 grams of flour), the technique is accurate at an action level of 130 fragments per 50 grams of flour and could be useful for prescreening large numbers of flour samples to select samples for more expensive and labor intensive chemical analyses. 5) A manual NIRS system was used to identify stored-product insect pests to species. We were able to identify insects to genus with >95% accuracy and to identify insects as being primary or secondary pests with >99% accuracy. This technology could be useful to pest managers who may not be familiar with insect taxonomy. 6) The manual NIRS system was used to determine chronological age of three stored-product insect pests.