The electronic trapping system is a modified McPhail trap developed Agricultural Research Organization - Volcani center in Israel.
It will be used for automated FF detection and identification of Tephritidae insects. In our case it will be used to monitor the Mediterranean fly and two species Bactrocera in various parts of Europe and abroad by the partners of FF-IPM project. 10 of such e-traps where sent to BPI and UTH to place them in several points in Greece.
Dr. Mylonas is presenting the e-trap system (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dyU6B58D1c). It includes a sticky yellow surface, the trap attracts insects - that enter from below – with lure substance, Trimedlure for the Mediterranean fly or Methyl eugenol for the other species, the yellow surface is photographed and the image is sent via a Sim card to a central server where the captured insects are processed and counted, it is autonomous, it works with batteries that enter here 6 in total and it can work independently for a long time in the field 6 to 8 months.
It is based on a micro-camera-type sensor, which sends an alert signal of each trapping event, but also transmits (in real time) a high-resolution picture of the trapped specimen facilitate remote re-confirmation of its identity.
Dr. Panos Mylonas, Head of Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology in Benaki Phytopathological Institute (BPI)