[Nhcoll-l] webcams using for pests monitoring

[rachael at amartconservation.com]

Dear Lennart and others,

I think your idea is not far off from technology that is already starting to be used in the field.  There are a number of companies that are experimenting with remote monitoring and sensing in conjunction with various forms of traps.  I think this is most advanced at the moment for rodent monitoring with a number of companies using/developing systems that allow you to know when a trap has been activated by movement or feeding activity.

 

In the U.S. Insects Limited has a camera/pheromone trap system called SightTrap for insect pest monitoring.

https://foresightipm.com/

I believe the system is currently being monitored by trained humans (!) but also uses artificial intelligence to make the system smarter as it goes. The system is currently being deployed mostly for agricultural use but I look forward to the day in the not too distant future when systems like these will be options for cultural heritage institutions as well.

 

For the reasons Gali list, I agree that any remote monitoring will work better in conjunction with trapping. In my work I find that most institutions don’t think that they have any problem with pests unless they are trapping or the problem is so vast that it is unavoidably noticeable.  It is easy for insect activity to be hidden unless you are monitoring or looking for it.

Best,

Rachael

MuseumPests Working Group Co-Chair

 

Rachael Perkins Arenstein

Principal, A.M. Art Conservation

Art Conservation, Preservation Consulting and Collection Management

 <http://www.amartconservation.com> www.amartconservation.com

 <mailto:rachael at amartconservation.com> rachael at amartconservation.com

917-796-1764

 

From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Gali Beiner
Sent: Friday, September 11, 2020 11:42 AM
To: Lennart Lennuk <Lennart.Lennuk at loodusmuuseum.ee>
Cc: Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] webcams using for pests monitoring

 

Hi Lennart, 

 

Using webcams is an intetesting idea. However, one may wonder whether webcams can really monitor pests when these are often small, well hidden in the folds and creases of the objects? Wouldn't damage have to be fairly far gone to be clearly seen on a webcam, unless each object is laid against a bright enough background, unlike, say, some drawers with a lot of bird specimens etc. ? For monitoring a space, say the floor in a room, the pests may have to be of the larger kind to be seen, otherwise maybe traps might be easier to follow. Unless researchers of entomology have better ideas of live insect monitoring. 

 

Cheers, 

 

Gali

 

בתאריך יום ו׳, 11 בספט׳ 2020, 18:14, מאת Lennart Lennuk ‏<Lennart.Lennuk at loodusmuuseum.ee <mailto:Lennart.Lennuk at loodusmuuseum.ee> >:

Dear museum specialists,

I have an idea of using webcams for pests monitooring in museum storages.

Do you know if something similar has been used before in museums?

 

It feels that it can save some time and energy at monitoring pests and maybe there is some ohter uses as well.

 

Best regards,

Lennart Lennuk

Head of zoology

Estonian Museum of Natural History

https://www.loodusmuuseum.ee/en

+37256569916

 

 

 

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