New LED technologies applied in capture and monitoring systems

As we already know, pest insects constitute a group of individuals capable of causing numerous types of direct or indirect damage. In the food industry, these damages are reflected in economic losses, causing in many cases the impossibility of obtaining benefits within that production system. The destruction of raw materials, food contamination, and structural damage are just some examples of these losses. Within arthropods we can find a great variety of morphologies, habits and reproductive capacities which generate in these small individuals a particular ability to spread and generate specific damage. Monitoring is an important and fundamental tool before starting any control strategy. The tools used for this purpose are numerous and varied, but this time we will talk about equipment that takes advantage of a behavior that many insects have when stimulated by light. The behavioral response to light is known as PHOTOTAXY, and insects can be attracted (positive phototaxis) or repelled (negative phototaxis) to a certain type of light. As you know, light has a dual behavior since it can act as a particular or as a wave. In the latter case, the wave has a length and a frequency. The different types of light are classified according to the wavelength of that light, thus describing the spectrum of light. Wavelengths ranging from 315 to 400 nanometers are known as type A ultraviolet light (or UV-A light) and are the most attractive to most flying insects with positive phototaxis. Light traps or insect catchers are tools that allow efficient and rapid capture of flying insects, and are also required to comply with regulatory frameworks associated with productive quality. But it is important to understand that not all light traps are the same just as not all light sources are the same. The specific equipment requires light sources consistent with the emission of UV-A and the trap designs are adjusted to efficiently capture the greatest number of insects in the fastest period of time. The importance of monitoring is relevant when implementing integrated management strategies, since monitoring is the tool that will provide you with qualitative information (to know what pest you have) and quantitative information (to know how many pests you have) within your production process. This information is important to better understand how, where and when to carry out control strategies and also to be able to measure the effectiveness of the treatments through a correct comparison in the capture. Light traps are tools used to meet commercial or regulatory requirements in the food industry. They must therefore be elements of permanent monitoring, precise and capable of providing information 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN LIGHT TRAPS When thinking about new technologies for urban pest management, the concept is inevitably associated with sophisticated and expensive tools, the product of complex developments. However, sometimes, the incorporation of technological advances to increase work efficiency is within reach and arises from daily life itself. Traditionally, the lighting of industrial plants constituted one of the most persistent obstacles to the control of flying insects. The various types of lamps used attracted a wide variety of species that, sooner rather than later, entered the interiors, overshadowing again and again the results of the pest control professional in charge of the service. UV FLUORESCENT LAMPS Fluorescent lamps have been widely used for over 60 years to create attractive UV light sources for flying insects, but in reality they are hugely ineffective sources of UV rays. Although well-made fluorescent lamps can produce adequate levels of UV to attract flying insects, they generate heat and also produce significant levels of light (typically blue) within the visible light spectrum (400 – 600 nm), at a wavelength that the human eye can see. Although the visible blue light emitted by UV fluorescent lamps has a non-significant impact on attracting flying insects, it provides intense brightness and visible illumination, which is often mistakenly assumed to be the reason insects are attracted. It's actually the invisible UV-A light that attracts insects, while creating the visible blue byproduct of fluorescent lamp light is wasted energy. UV LED SOURCES UV LED sources incorporate a series of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that, unlike fluorescent lamps, generate directional output at 368 nm, but with limited visible light. This makes them much more efficient than traditional UV fluorescent lamps, as they waste a minimum of energy creating heat or unwanted visible light. As a result, to the human eye, well-designed UV LED sources appear to have a lower “brightness”, however this should in no way be interpreted as an indicator that the UV source is not effective at creating UV or attracting flying insects, but rather that it is creating UV efficiently with lower energy consumption and in a much more sustainable manner. Another important point is that LED technology stands out for having a reduced carbon footprint when compared to classic fluorescent tubes, this leads to less impact on the environment during the manufacturing process. In addition, UV LED light sources are also more durable, which leads to savings in the replacement of insect trapper consumables, and in many cases can triple the hours of use, consuming on average 60% less energy.