In a detecting device, infrared light is emitted by a first source in a detection target space; second light of a wavelength different from the infrared light is emitted by a second source in a direction different from a direction of the infrared light being emitted by the first source. A reflecting section provided in the direction of the second light being emitted reflects the second light. A light receiver receives infrared light emitted by the first source and reflected by the object, and receives infrared light radiating from the object as a result of the object being irradiated with the infrared light emitted by the first source and being irradiated with the second light emitted by the second source and reflected by the reflecting section. A detector detects the object based on the infrared light received by the light receiver.

A trap for catching or killing insects is disclosed. The trap includes a back housing, an insect capture or killing mechanism, an insect attracting light source, and a cover. The light source is positioned to direct light inwardly directly onto the insect capture or killing mechanism, by the natural configuration of the LEDs or by guides or baffles that channel the insect attracting light in a direction towards the insect capture or killing mechanism, and the light is precluded from being directed immediately outwardly through the cover.

A sensor unit may include a sensor, a housing, at least one microprocessor, a non-volatile memory, a transceiver, a clock, and a connector. The sensor may be configured to measure a change in fringe capacitance and may be tuned to at least one of detect and identify a given animal. The housing may include a power source. The connector may operatively connect the sensor to the housing. The at least one microprocessor may be programmed to continuously recalibrate a baseline capacitance.

A method for determination of a distance from an observation reference point to an object in a measurement volume that can be utilized in a passive optical remote sensing system, and optical remote sensing systems that utilizes the method.

A pest control and/or detection system generally includes an electrically conductive bait matrix including at least one carrier material that is at least one of palatable, a phagostimulant and/or consumable and/or displaceable by pests, and a plurality of electrically conductive particles. The electrically conductive particles are substantially randomly interspersed throughout the at least one carrier material. The at least one carrier material includes a thermoplastic material and/or a resin.

A pest detector includes: a first electrode; a second electrode that is arranged to face the first electrode; an electric field generator that generates an electric field in a gap between the first electrode and the second electrode; an imager that images at least the first electrode; and a hardware processor that determines an attaching state of insect pests that can be attached to the first electrode, based on an image captured by the imager.

A system for real-time monitoring of insects includes a smart trap and an image processor. The smart trap includes a chamber with perforations sized to admit insects into an interior of the smart trap; a collection chamber located within the interior of the smart trap; and an imaging system for capturing images that include the collection chamber. The image processor is configured to receive images captured by the smart trap and to determine a count of insects within the collection chamber based on image analysis of the received image. Image analysis includes identifying a region within the received image corresponding with a boundary of the collection chamber, cropping the received image to the identified region to generate a cropped image, modifying at least one characteristic of the cropped image to generate a modified, cropped image, and determining a count of insects based on the modified, cropped image.

A system for detecting the presence of pests. In one aspect the system comprises an imaging system including: a housing including one or more pest entrances; a pest attractant arranged within the housing; a pest detection surface; an image capture device, said image capture device being configured to capture one or more images of the pest detection surface; and a triggering sensor arrangement for detecting a target pest that is on or about to enter the pest detection surface, said triggering sensor arrangement being configured to provide a trigger-signal if the presence of an object is detected, the image capture device being configured to take an image of the pest detection surface in response to the trigger-signal.

A method of separating a batch of insects from a trap into individual insects comprises pouring the batch into a container having at least one hole, the hole being sized for a single insect; and moving the container to shake the insects within so that individual insects are caused to exit via the hole onto a collecting surface, thereby providing separated insects onto the collecting surface. The insects from the trap may then be counted and image recognition may be used to identify the genus, species or gender. The process may be carried out for multiple traps and location data may be stored with the insect identifications to give a map of insect distribution.

The disclosure relates to the detection of arthropods (beneficial insects and/or pests) in a region in which plants grow via a camera.