Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) The objective of this project will be to understand the acoustical communication of fire ants. To achieve this objective the mechanism of sound production will be analyzed for the different castes of fire ants and how these sounds are transmitted to different ants and Formosan subterranean termites will be detected in structures, trees and soil. Approach (from AD-416) The detection of near field sound will be evaluated in more detail to explain the mechanism for insect hearing. The system for high frequency or ultrasonic sound production will be investigated among the various ant castes. Acoustical apparatuses will be constructed to detect unseen infestations of termites. These devices will be based on recognition of sound-producing activities. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations Under a Reimbursable Agreement between ARS and University of Mississippi, (6402-22320-005-01S). Individual ants of all castes were tested for threshold sensitivity to substrate vibrations (created using a shaker stimulated by a function generator) at different frequencies and amplitudes using a newly developed intercellular electrophysiology setup. Stridulatory vibrations transmit several centimeters through the soil and travel throughout the legs and ant body (vibrations measured with a laser Doppler vibrometer). The stridulatory organ (SO) was examined for all castes. SO ridge number was strongly correlated with worker size and female alates had the most ridges. Stout SO hairs may provide information to the ant on how far the scraper has traveled on the SO. Substrate vibrations due to ant activity were recorded from natural mounds using 40 cm rod waveguides and accelerometers. Mounds were recorded from throughout the day and after strong rains and after disturbance. Adjacent mounds appear to differ greatly in vibrations produced. Ongoing monitoring of this project is accomplished through emails and phone conversations. Under a Specific Cooperative Agreement between ARS and the University of Mississippi, (6402-22320-005-02S). We investigated methods of termite detection comparing piezoelectric accelerometers with two optical detectors (OD). We concentrated on detecting head-banging (HB) of soldier subterranean termites since that vibration has the greatest amplitude and is the most diagnostic signal they make. In the first series of tests a 1 volt/g accelerometer was placed on top of wood in which termites occurred below and induced to HB by agitating the wood. Optical detectors were immediately adjacent to the accelerometer. With suitable amplification for each sensor, termite HB could be detected and simultaneously recorded accelerometer and OD channels were similar. In November 2006, and March 2007, we compared one and 10 volt/g accelerometers and the same two ODs in an abandoned, Formosan termite infested fire station in New Orleans. Accelerometers were magnet mounted to pre-existing metal screws used to attach the plywood to the subfloor or were attached to newly inserted 3/8� diameter lag bolts. ODs were placed immediately adjacent to the accelerometers. In that situation the accelerometers were superior in detecting termite head-banging compared to the ODs. When the accelerometers were used without waveguides (the accelerometer and magnet were laid on top of the floor, and not attached to a waveguide) then the ODs outperformed the accelerometers. Ongoing monitoring of this project is accomplished through emails, phone conversations and the Formosan termite technical committee meeting. Accomplishments Phorid Fly Attacks against Fire Ants The interaction of the parasitoid phorid fly, Pseudacteon curvatus and its black imported fire ant host have been investigated on field mounds using high-speed video (2,,000 to 10,000 fps) and high-definition video along with acoustic recordings of fly wingbeats. Unless attacked by the fly, worker ants seem unaware of the extremely fast flying fly which flies extremely close to the ant (often touching). Details of the attack have been recorded along with the aftermath of the attack. The project contributes to the National Program 104 "Medical, Veterinary, and Urban Entomology" and specfically addresses Component 4: Control Technology and Problem Area 4.1 "Chemical Pesticides and Repellents". Insect Movement Software Packages We have produced two software packages ready for release to researchers concerning 1) image analysis of insect movement and 2) comprehensive acoustic sampling, playback and analysis. The project contributes to the National Program 104 "Medical, Veterinary, and Urban Entomology" and specfically addresses Component 4: Control Technology and Problem Area 4. 1 "Chemical Pesticides and Repellents". Fire Ant Acoustics during Flight Acoustic cues associated with flight may be important for male-female recognition during swarming; an important means of colonization. Stereo video taken at 8000 frames per second (fps) was used to study the movement of wings of male and female alates. A particle image velocimetry setup was constructed to visualize the air-flow patterns around the wings associated with flight parameters (such as lift) and near-field acoustic cues. Microphones recorded sounds associated with wing movement. The project contributes to the National Program 104 "Medical, Veterinary, and Urban Entomology" and specfically addresses Component 4: Control Technology and Problem Area 4.1 "Chemical Pesticides and Repellents". Technology Transfer Number of Invention Disclosures submitted: 1 Number of Patent Applications filed: 1 Number of Non-Peer Reviewed Presentations and Proceedings: 2 Number of Newspaper Articles,Presentations for NonScience Audiences: 3
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Progress 03/08/06 to 07/02/07
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) The objective of this project will be to understand the acoustical communication of fire ants. To achieve this objective the mechanism of sound production will be analyzed for the different castes of fire ants and how these sounds are transmitted to different ants and Formosan subterranean termites will be detected in structures, trees and soil. Approach (from AD-416) The detection of near field sound will be evaluated in more detail to explain the mechanism for insect hearing. The system for high frequency or ultrasonic sound production will be investigated among the various ant castes. Acoustical apparatuses will be constructed to detect unseen infestations of termites. These devices will be based on recognition of sound-producing activities. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations Progress concluded with the 2008 Annual Report, but was not terminated because of financial management reasons. See 2008 Annual Report for last reported progress. This is the final report.
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Progress Report 1. What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? Why does it matter? The objective of this project is to utilize acoustics to detect, monitor and control pest infestations, primarily imported fire ants and termites. Early detection of termite infestations will help to reduce damage and loss. Behavioral responses of imported fire ants to an acoustical signal will allow us to develop a technique for surveying and monitoring fire ant populations, or to develop a novel non-chemical technique for control. Formosan termites are causing serious damage in cities along the Gulf Coast region, and imported fire ants are a major pest in fifteen states. These pests are estimated to cost over one billion dollars each year in the United States. This program, which combines regional programs and integrated pest management to develop novel strategies for the control of
imported fire ants, falls primarily within Component 4 (Control Technology) of NP 104, with some aspects that fall within Components 2 (Detection and Surveillance Technology) and 3 (Biology and Physiology). The project includes elements of 2.1 (Detection and Diagnostics), 3.2 (Physiology, Anatomy, and Biochemistry), 4.1 (Chemical Pesticides and Repellents), and 4.2 (Biological Control). Additional details can be found in subordinate project 6402-22320-005-02S entitled, "Acoustics Detection of Pests in Crops, Structures, Trees, and Soils" and the subordinate project 6402-22320-005-01S entitled, "Acoustical Communication by Imported Fire Ants." 2. List by year the currently approved milestones (indicators of research progress) This is a new project entitled, "Detection and Acoustical Communication of Termites and Fire Ants" established in April, 2006 and replaces an earlier project, "Acoustical Communication of Fire Ants and Termites." The milestones for this new project are
currently undergoing development. 4a List the single most significant research accomplishment during FY 2006. The most significant accomplishment during FY 2006 is addressed in the recently replaced project, "Acoustical Communication of Fire Ants and Termites." 4d Progress report. Research on head-banging in the Formosan (FST) and Native Subterranean (Reticulitermes flavipes) (Rf) termite continued this year with high- speed video observations. Using a high-speed video camera at 10,000 frames per second we correlated the sound produced with the visual observation. In both species the prothorax was raised by using the body with little contribution from the legs. The head impact with the substrate occurs evenly over the ventral surface. Rf raises its head higher than FST. Both species often display head rebounding where after the original impact the head rebounds one to three times adding to the sounds produced. With the high-speed video we have calculated the head acceleration
and velocity for both species. Rf has much higher values for both acceleration and velocity compared to FST. We can differentiate the termite species based on the head banging patterns. A termite acoustic incubator was designed and developed to simulate soil temperatures from 0-1 m depth in New Orleans City Park in order to determine seasonal activity variations caused by temperature. A four- inch diameter PVC pipe contained 4 wood inserts and 4 solid-state controlled heating pads placed at intervals along the pipe. Each wood insert had an acoustic waveguide connected to an accelerometer so that chewing vibrations and relative activity at the 4 zones could be detected without disturbing the termites. Despite extensive testing and modification the controllers could not accurately maintain temperatures at desired levels. We are currently modifying the design to provide improved temperature control. A novel device for the detection of termite vibrations within structural walls is
being contstructed and is expected to be completed and tested in the laboratory in FY 2007. This device should provide improved speed and accuracy of termite detection within infested walls. Extensive programming has been accomplished this year in LabView that allows one software program for recording and analyzing data from all acoustic sensors. We currently have efficient routines for recording data in the field and laboratory that also couples metadata with acoustic wave files. The operator can add any additional data he wants to this metadata. We are currently working on the software routines for analysis of data recorded. We are currently evaluating additional equipment for recording directly in the field at optimal sampling rates and with flat-field response at all frequencies. We have also delivered additional termite detection probes to collaborators in New Orleans for use in discovering termite infestations in structures and trees. We evaluated software for detecting
termite sounds. This software is an audio retrieval system originally designed to search the web and other databases for desired sounds. We tested this with short clips of male and female singers and with termite head-banging sounds. The program was in general extremely unsatisfactory for grouping sounds and termite head banging sounds could not be distinguished from other percussive sounds. 5. Describe the major accomplishments to date and their predicted or actual impact. This research project was recently established in April, 2006 and does not have a major accomplishment at this time.
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