Electronic equipment reproduces vibrations that insects use to communicate. By interfering with their behaviors, equipment can attract the bugs, drive them away and affect their reproduction. Method does not affect the environment, humans or other insects. Technology can be associated with pheromone traps. Embrapa is looking for partners to finish the technology and bring it to the market. The use of vibration signals is science's new weapon to help control agricultural pests like stinkbugs of the Pentatomidae family, which can be grouped into approximately 900 genera and 5,000 species. The technology has digitalized these signals that insects use to communicate and artificially reproduces them to attract or drive them away. To achieve this result, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology – in partnership with the State University of Mato Grosso (Unemat), the Mato Grosso State Research Support Foundation (Fapemat) the Distrito Federal Research Support Foundation (FAPDF) – developed a device and method to store, generate and reproduce such vibration signals. This is one of the first studies in the world aimed at applying vibrational communication knowledge to the management of stinkbugs in agriculture. The patent for the technology was filed in December at the National Industrial Property Institute (INPI), under no. BR102023026187-6. How it works "The method consists of digitizing the vibration signals emitted by the insects and continuously and repeatedly reproducing them to interfere with their behavior, in order to, for example, attract or drive them away," says researcher Raúl Alberto Laumann, a member of the Semiochemical Laboratory team. Thus, it is possible to conduct behavioral manipulation and control of insect pests in crop areas by reducing population density. In addition, the technology allows the signals to be reproduced on different surfaces, such as plant stems and leaves, or other solid substrates, which allows their application under different conditions, considering different particularities in control. "Although the invention of the device and method was motivated by the need for stinkbug management, the technology can be applied to a wide variety of insects," the researcher says. Partnership for prototype Research has already demonstrated the effectiveness of the equipment and method in the laboratory. Embrapa is now looking for partners to develop a prototype of the device and test it in the field. Interested parties can contact us by calling +55 61 3448-3295 or emailing cenargen.chtt@embrapa.br. The equipment The device comprises a power source and a voltage regulator module, which keep the equipment running; a primary audio module, set up to pick up the vibration signal from the insects; a storage module, which stores this recorded signal; an amplifier module, responsible for amplifying the signal; a microcontroller, which manages the arrangement as a whole; a user communication interface, with a display and a keyboard; and an output interface to connect a signal player, such as a speaker, which propagates the vibrations in the environment. Communication between stinkbugs In stinkbugs, vibration signals exchange information between individuals when they are at moderate (1 to 2 meters) or short (a few centimeters or physical contacts) distances. "Through such vibration signals, they receive and send information about the sex of the insect that is‘ singing ’, receptivity to copulation, and spatial distribution," the scientist states. Studies on the stinkbug communication process indicate that their communication occurs through vibrations between 60 and 130 hertz (Hz), produced by the insect's abdomen, which are transferred to plant tissues through their paws, where the sensory receptors of vibration signals are also found. Thus, the use of the vibrations identified in the Pentatomidae family can be an alternative or complement to the use of pheromones to be incorporated into monitoring traps. Pheromones are chemical signals that are also part of the insects' communication system. "In addition, vibration signals with a repellent effect or that interfere with communication have the potential for the management of these agricultural pests, in a system that is similar to that of sexual confusion with interrupted mating, dispensing with the use of chemical substances," he adds. Alternative to the use of chemical products Nowadays stinkbugs are primary pests to the main grain crops in Brazil, and in recent years their incidence has extended to other crops, with reports of severe attacks on cotton, vegetables and castor beans, among others. The most common control methods are based on the use of synthetic insecticides, which involve risks and negative effects on the environment and human health. "The excessive use of agrochemicals makes agricultural systems unstable as a result of the joint elimination of natural enemies and the induction of increased resistance among insect pests. This generates conditions that favor the action of herbivorous insects and subsequent occurrence of more severe attacks and with greater damage to crops," Laumann warns. Thus, the possibility of interfering in insect communication and sexual behavior and hence in their reproductive success, is one of the strategies with large potential for the efficient management of their populations, without the use of agrochemicals. “Several stages of stinkbug reproductive behavior involve information exchange. The types of signals that are most well-known and studied in this group of insects are pheromones, but stinkbugs also exchange information using vibration signals,” Laumann points out. For the researcher, there is already a growing demand for solutions that in the coming decades produce food, fibers and other materials from agriculture with low levels of impact on the environment, especially in conservation areas and springs. The application of sustainable practices in agriculture is a priority to achieve such target. It is in this context that biological control and insect behavioral manipulation have great potential for use in pest management, as they minimize the use of agrochemicals. "Although there are biological control practices already in place, there are still no insect behavioral manipulation technologies aimed at the main agricultural pests that not only maintain quality of life and environmental conservation indicators, but also keep the main grains free of chemical residues," Laumann asserts. Association with pheromones "One of the initial goals of the development of this system was the possibility of using it to reproduce stinkbug vibration signals in population monitoring traps containing the sex pheromone, with the aim of increasing capture efficiency and the accuracy of population density estimates. This way the tool would become more accurate and useful for farmers," Laumann points out.
The use of vibration signals is science's new weapon to help control agricultural pests like stinkbugs of the Pentatomidae family, which can be grouped into approximately 900 genera and 5,000 species. The technology has digitalized these signals that insects use to communicate and artificially reproduces them to attract or drive them away. To achieve this result, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology – in partnership with the State University of Mato Grosso (Unemat), the Mato Grosso State Research Support Foundation (Fapemat) the Distrito Federal Research Support Foundation (FAPDF) – developed a device and method to store, generate and reproduce such vibration signals.
This is one of the first studies in the world aimed at applying vibrational communication knowledge to the management of stinkbugs in agriculture. The patent for the technology was filed in December at the National Industrial Property Institute (INPI), under no. BR102023026187-6.
How it works
"The method consists of digitizing the vibration signals emitted by the insects and continuously and repeatedly reproducing them to interfere with their behavior, in order to, for example, attract or drive them away," says researcher Raúl Alberto Laumann, a member of the Semiochemical Laboratory team. Thus, it is possible to conduct behavioral manipulation and control of insect pests in crop areas by reducing population density.
In addition, the technology allows the signals to be reproduced on different surfaces, such as plant stems and leaves, or other solid substrates, which allows their application under different conditions, considering different particularities in control.
"Although the invention of the device and method was motivated by the need for stinkbug management, the technology can be applied to a wide variety of insects," the researcher says.
 Partnership for prototype
Research has already demonstrated the effectiveness of the equipment and method in the laboratory. Embrapa is now looking for partners to develop a prototype of the device and test it in the field. Interested parties can contact us by calling +55 61 3448-3295 or emailing cenargen.chtt@embrapa.br. The equipment The device comprises a power source and a voltage regulator module, which keep the equipment running; a primary audio module, set up to pick up the vibration signal from the insects; a storage module, which stores this recorded signal; an amplifier module, responsible for amplifying the signal; a microcontroller, which manages the arrangement as a whole; a user communication interface, with a display and a keyboard; and an output interface to connect a signal player, such as a speaker, which propagates the vibrations in the environment. |
Communication between stinkbugs
In stinkbugs, vibration signals exchange information between individuals when they are at moderate (1 to 2 meters) or short (a few centimeters or physical contacts) distances. "Through such vibration signals, they receive and send information about the sex of the insect that is‘ singing ’, receptivity to copulation, and spatial distribution," the scientist states.
Studies on the stinkbug communication process indicate that their communication occurs through vibrations between 60 and 130 hertz (Hz), produced by the insect's abdomen, which are transferred to plant tissues through their paws, where the sensory receptors of vibration signals are also found.
Thus, the use of the vibrations identified in the Pentatomidae family can be an alternative or complement to the use of pheromones to be incorporated into monitoring traps. Pheromones are chemical signals that are also part of the insects' communication system. "In addition, vibration signals with a repellent effect or that interfere with communication have the potential for the management of these agricultural pests, in a system that is similar to that of sexual confusion with interrupted mating, dispensing with the use of chemical substances," he adds.
Alternative to the use of chemical products
Nowadays stinkbugs are primary pests to the main grain crops in Brazil, and in recent years their incidence has extended to other crops, with reports of severe attacks on cotton, vegetables and castor beans, among others. The most common control methods are based on the use of synthetic insecticides, which involve risks and negative effects on the environment and human health.
"The excessive use of agrochemicals makes agricultural systems unstable as a result of the joint elimination of natural enemies and the induction of increased resistance among insect pests. This generates conditions that favor the action of herbivorous insects and subsequent occurrence of more severe attacks and with greater damage to crops," Laumann warns.
Thus, the possibility of interfering in insect communication and sexual behavior and hence in their reproductive success, is one of the strategies with large potential for the efficient management of their populations, without the use of agrochemicals.
“Several stages of stinkbug reproductive behavior involve information exchange. The types of signals that are most well-known and studied in this group of insects are pheromones, but stinkbugs also exchange information using vibration signals,” Laumann points out.
For the researcher, there is already a growing demand for solutions that in the coming decades produce food, fibers and other materials from agriculture with low levels of impact on the environment, especially in conservation areas and springs.
The application of sustainable practices in agriculture is a priority to achieve such target. It is in this context that biological control and insect behavioral manipulation have great potential for use in pest management, as they minimize the use of agrochemicals.
"Although there are biological control practices already in place, there are still no insect behavioral manipulation technologies aimed at the main agricultural pests that not only maintain quality of life and environmental conservation indicators, but also keep the main grains free of chemical residues," Laumann asserts.
Association with pheromones
"One of the initial goals of the development of this system was the possibility of using it to reproduce stinkbug vibration signals in population monitoring traps containing the sex pheromone, with the aim of increasing capture efficiency and the accuracy of population density estimates. This way the tool would become more accurate and useful for farmers," Laumann points out.
