By Scout Nelson
A groundbreaking research project led by Emily Sur, a master's student in entomology at Kansas State University (K-State), is helping develop a new way to detect crop pests by listening to the sounds and vibrations insects create inside plants. The work could provide farmers with an innovative tool for identifying pest problems earlier and making more informed crop management decisions.
Sur's research combines entomology, agriculture and emerging technology to study insect activity that often goes unnoticed by traditional scouting methods. Working with a team of undergraduate researchers, she installs microphones on soybean plants and collects recordings that capture insect-generated vibrations for analysis.
The project is part of the development of the Insect Eavesdropper, an advanced monitoring system created by Emily Bick, professor of entomology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The technology uses sound sensors, artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to detect insects hidden within crops by recording faint plant vibrations that are beyond human hearing.
Researchers believe the technology could significantly improve pest monitoring by providing continuous observations rather than relying only on visual inspections. Many destructive insects remain difficult to detect because they feed inside plant stems, below the soil surface or during periods when field scouting is limited.
Explaining the value of the technology, Bick said, "By 'eavesdropping' on the vibrations insects create as they feed and interact with a plant, we can detect activity without destroying the plant and, ultimately, help growers make better-timed, more targeted management decisions."
At K-State, Sur works closely with Brian McCornack, head of the Department of Entomology and leader of the Field Crop Integrated Pest Management Lab. The research team has focused much of its testing on Dectes texanus, or soybean stem borer, an insect that burrows inside stems and is notoriously difficult to detect without cutting open plants.
McCornack emphasized the technology's potential, saying, "By using this new tool, we can detect these insidious invaders without needing to sacrifice plants." The team has also collected sound data from other insects, including Japanese beetles, to improve the system's identification capabilities.
A key strength of the project is its interdisciplinary approach. Scientists, engineers, data analysts and computer specialists work together to convert large volumes of sound recordings into useful information, while machine learning models help identify meaningful patterns.
The project is also creating valuable learning opportunities for students. Participants gain experience in research, troubleshooting technology, project management and collaboration across multiple institutions and scientific disciplines.
Researchers believe the Insect Eavesdropper could eventually provide growers with automated alerts when unusual insect activity is detected in a field. Discussing its long-term value, McCornack said, "The goal is to listen for change. If something different is happening in a field, those signals can tell us it's time to take a closer look. Better decisions — whether they're related to resource management, pesticide applications or labor deployment-depend on having reliable data."
Looking ahead, the team believes the technology could become an important tool for improving pest detection, supporting crop health monitoring and helping farmers make more informed management decisions.
Photo Credit: kansas-state-university
Categories: Kansas, Crops, Equipment & Machinery