Technology Description:

The invention is an improved electronic grain probe insect counter (EGPIC) to detect insects in stored commodities. Millions of dollars in losses are caused annually by insect infestation and early pest detection is crucial to initiate timely control measures. The invention comprises a probe having an infrared beam. As insects drop through a probe containing a sensor, the invention accurately records and time stamps each insect detected across a full range of species' sizes. Results are displayed on either small control/display units for low end applications, or calculated by a computer for larger applications. Probes can be either permanently or temporarily mounted in storage structures. The counting accuracy of EGPIC is greater than 95 percent, with the main sources of error caused by grain particles and insects clumped together.

Inventors:

 

Carl A. Litzkow USDA, ARS, IABBB Gainesville, FL 32608 (904) 374-5701 / Fax: (904) 374-5781	Dennis Shuman (Same as first inventor) (904) 374-5737 / Fax: (904) 374-5781
Sergey Kruss (Same as first inventor) (904) 374-5811 / Fax: (904) 374-5804	James A. Coffelt (Same as first inventor) (904) 374-5719 / Fax: (904) 374-5804

Reference:

Patent Number 5,646,404, issued August 8, 1997.