Controlling Migratory Insect Pests - Migration analysis, prediction technique

and international collaboration -

Monitoring of Flying Insects

Migration Analysis

Example of migration routes of insect pestsVarious pests cross the borders in East Asia. The rice planthopperis one of the worst pests for rice. The pest migrates in Vietnam,China, Korea and Japan. Although the oriental fruit fly has beeneradicated in Japan, sometimes this pest migrates to smallislands of southwestern Japan. The oriental armyworm whichattacks maize, grass and rice also migrates to northern Japan inearly summer.

Oriental fruit fly

Oriental armyworm

Small brown planthopper

Brown planthopper

Monitoring with radarAn entomological radar detects a flying insect at high altitude (upto 1.4 km above the ground) and collects flight parameters suchas direction, height, speed, size, body alignment etc. The radarvisualizes how and when insects disperse into the fields.

To control migratory insect pests in East Asia, NARO works withmany institutes in neighboring countries conducting internationalcooperative research and information exchange on theoccurrence of pests and management methods.

Prediction system for pest managementRice planthopper migrates from China to Japan in summer rainyseason. The simulation model predicts the arrival of this pest inwestern Japan, which enables us to conduct an on-time control.

Technologies for migration analysisThe migration source and routes of pests are estimated basedon analysis of DNA, air currents, and stable isotope of insects.

Hopper clouds

DNA analysis

Isotope analysis of wings

Mass spectrometer

2H

Trajectory analysis to estimate source

Migration area matched

Examples of trajectories for the oriental armyworm’s immigration2017 2017

2001

1

22:02 July 12, 2013

1400 m

0 m

1000 m

500 m

30 sec0 sec

Insects in the night sky (white lines)

Micro wave

Prediction of pest arrival at fields is essential for efficient pest control. NARO develops cutting-edge technologies on migration analysis and

prediction of pests arrival. International collaboration on management of migratory pests is also the

key in pest control. Migratory Insect Pests International Collaboration

Migration Prediction