Identify pest issues by listening to plants

Entomologist Dr. Emily Bick Photo: University of Wisconsin

Emily Bick develops tools and strategies supporting precision management practices for insect pest control.  She tells Brownfield microphones have long been used to study insects. “Oftentimes, these are above-ground kind of audio recordings. What my lab has developed this past year, in fact starting in February, is the ability to clip on a microphone to a plant and start listening to the things that are feeding on it.”

A University of Wisconsin entomologist is identifying crop pests and gauging the severity of the infestation by listening to the plants.

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