The Tobacco Cutworm, or Cotton Cutworm, is a moth species native to Asia, it is considered a serious agricultural pest. The larvae of Spodoptera litura, to give the species its scientific binomial, are responsible for significant damage to economically vital crops such as vegetables, grains, and cotton, particularly. It can adapt easily to different environments and has developed resistance to conventional pesticides. These and other factors have made it a persistent and costly problem for farmers worldwide.
Research in the International Journal of Agriculture Innovation, Technology and Globalisation introduces a new system based on the Internet of Things (IoT) that might be able to address this agricultural threat by improving monitoring and allowing more targeted response to the species.
Jheng-Hong Hu, Ming-Yao Chiang, Jenn-Kuo Tsai, and Chiling Chen of the Ministry of Agriculture in Taichung City and Chau-Chin Lin of the Society of Subtropical Ecology in Taipei City, have suggested that by using an IoT system that brings together infrared automatic counting devices, low-power LoRa (Long Range) wireless data transmission and mobile platforms, it should be possible to monitor Tobacco Cutworm infestations in real time. Such an automated approach would provide timely alerts, allowing farmers to act quickly and prevent widespread crop damage.
The team has conducted field trials in partnership with the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute and local farmers and demonstrated the system’s effectiveness when compared with manual monitoring as well as its adaptability for practical use. Fundamentally, the approach allows for a more timely response that avoids the use of blanket pesticide spraying and uses more focused treatment with effective materials. It will be effective in a wide range of agricultural settings, from small farms to large commercial enterprises.
Hu, J-H., Chiang, M-Y., Tsai, J-K., Lin, C-C. and Chen, C. (2024) ‘Internet of things technology applied in monitoring and warning of Spodoptera litura Fabricius (tobacco cutworm) occurrences’, Int. J. Agriculture Innovation, Technology and Globalisation, Vol. 4, No. 3, pp.257–272.