Identifying Insects with Laser Beams

Mar-25-14 A new method of instantly identifying passing insects could lead to a way of reducing pesticide use by allowing researchers to develop better targeted attacks.

The device, created by a team from the University of California, features a laser-thin beam of light that shines onto an array of phototransistors able to translate light fluctuations into sounds. As an insect flies through the laser beam, the beating of its wings causes the signal to fluctuate. The signal is then recorded as an MP3 file and analyzed by a computer program able to differentiate between the wing beats of species and identify the insects with an impressive amount of accuracy.

The Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research is currently testing a prototype which they hope could help reveal where malaria-carrying mosquitoes hide during the dry season in Mali.

Image: JJ Harrison, Wikipedia Commons

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