Monitoring insects with artificial intelligence

Accurate and timely information about pest populations helps determine when, where, and how to implement control measures. It is common practice to regularly walk a crop to observe pest populations and to deploy traps in areas where target pest species may be present.

To identify the pest species caught in a trap, the contents of the trap should be analysed by a qualified individual. This process is time-consuming, labour-intensive, costly and error prone. Furthermore, repeatability makes this a cumbersome and inefficient process, such as monitoring the same trap repeatedly or visiting several traps over a wide area.

Through AI-based computer vision, pest monitoring can be improved while decreasing human error and effort. In response, Russell IOT has developed TruePest, an innovative AI-powered pest monitoring solution that helps growers monitor and manage pest activity more effectively and conveniently.

TruePest provides a clear assessment of pest data throughout your farm with the aim to be economically sustainable and user friendly for all growers.

Managing spotted wing drosophila

Growers today face a range of pressing issues, from rising costs to the increasing demand for sustainable practices. One of the most challenging problems is pest management. Insects such as spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila Suzukii) causes significant economic damage to a wide range of soft and stone fruit crops, including strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and grapes.

These polyphagous pests generate both direct and indirect economic damage through crop losses of up to 100% if left unmanaged, to the refusal and shorter shelf life of infested fruits, labour and material costs for field monitoring and sanitation, as well as costs attained to post-harvest handling.

Early detection and IPM intervention are paramount and can help prevent major infestations, saving time and money, and also helping to reduce pesticide intervention that has the potential to  harm human health and the environment.

Offering a solution

Russell IOT says TruePest offers a solution to these challenges. Using AI technology, TruePest allows any of your staff members to identify, count and monitor spotted wing drosophila in real-time on their smartphone device.

The system uses strategically placed sticky traps and lures that attract and capture pests. Once these traps are scanned, TruePest’s AI system analyses the data and generates detailed reports that are sent to the grower’s smartphone and computer.

A key benefit of TruePest is its simplicity. The system requires no in-field WiFi and is available on both Android and iOS devices. The easy-to-use mobile app and web portal enable growers to monitor pest activity with minimal disruption to their workflow.

Real-time alerts

One of the key benefits of the TruePest system is the ability to provide real-time alerts based on the threshold you can set and change on the web portal throughout the season. Growers can receive immediate notifications when pest populations reach concerning levels, allowing for rapid intervention. This early warning system ensures that pest control measures are more targeted and effective, helping growers avoid the high costs associated with labour.

The app not only provides alerts but also enables growers to track the movement of pests across their fields. By centralising pest data, TruePest helps growers make more informed decisions about when and where to apply control measures. TruePest also provides you with the ability to share key data with other staff members including your agronomist(s) if required.

The TruePest ecosystem

TruePest is constantly evolving, with plans to expand its offerings. Building on a successful beta trial in 2024, Russell IPM and IOT launched TruePest SWD in April 2025, specifically designed to help growers monitor spotted wing drosophila, a major pest in fruit production.

In May 2025, TruePest will also launch products to monitor thrips and whiteflies, two additional pests that cause damage to a wide range of crops. These additions will make TruePest an even more comprehensive pest monitoring solution, helping growers across different sectors protect their crops, improve sustainability whist ensuring profitability of their operations.

For more information, visit the official TruePest website: www.truepest.net

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