DOI: 10.5061/dryad.37pvmcvvr
title: Videos of corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) flight behavior around pheromone trap using infrared camera

description: Understanding the flight behavior of nocturnal insect pests is essential
 for designing effective trapping systems and improving integrated pest
 management (IPM). This study used infrared (IR) reflectance and IR camera
 to analyze the flight behavior of corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) around
 Scentry Heliothis pheromone trap, focusing on approach, escape, and
 capture rates. Video analysis revealed low average catch rate of 25% for a
 total of 48 approaches from 7 p.m. to 4 a.m., as many moths approached the
 lure but escaped without being trapped. The study identified critical
 behavioral patterns, such as upwind approach, downwind horizontal escape,
 or vertical ascending leading to capture. These findings suggest that
 positioning lure closer to the trap entrance could significantly improve
 the effectiveness of Scentry Heliothis trap. Additionally, the study
 highlights the importance of developing a comprehensive database of
 nocturnal insect behavior around trapping systems. This knowledge can be
 used to refine trap design for specific insect pest and to update catch
 count thresholds to improve the effectiveness of insecticide spray
 programs in precision agriculture. This work demonstrates the potential of
 IR cameras as a simple, commercially available, and affordable tool for
 studying nocturnal insect pest activity and flight behavior, with the
 potential to enhance pest management strategies in agriculture.
description: <strong>Setup with IR Camera and IR
 Light</strong> The infrared camera, Phasm Cam,
 was purchased from GhostStop. The video resolution was set to 1080p HD
 (1920x1080 at 60 fps). Additional accessories included an infrared light
 (Orbo LN-5 or Andoer Mini IR Light) emitting at 850 nm, an external
 portable charger (50000 mAh), a 512GB Lexar E-Series Micro SD card, and a
 NEEWER T91 mini tripod, all purchased on Amazon. A hole has been drilled
 in the protective case to connect the Phasm Cam to the external battery
 overnight via the power cable. The IR light is also connected to the same
 external battery overnight. The connections are protected by electrical
 bandage in case of rain. The entire setup was acquired for under $300
 (Figure 1A). <strong>Monitoring
 </strong><strong><em>H.
 zea</em></strong><strong> Flight Behavior and
 Activity</strong> Two Scentry<sup>
 </sup>Heliopsis traps were set on the west side of a cornfield at
 Kime Farms near Geneva, NY (42.844275, -76.910826) on 19 September 2024.
 Each trap was equipped with either Hercon or Trece lure, both containing a
 blend of 97% (<em>Z</em>)-11-hexadecenal (Z11-16Ald) and 3%
 (<em>Z</em>)-9-hexadecenal (Z9-16Ald). These lure are
 comparable in terms of efficacy of trapping corn earworm (unpublished
 results). <strong>Data Analyzing
 </strong> The .mov videos were analyzed using
 QuickTime Player software, with high-speed playback used to rapidly
 identify corn earworm approach events. This process allowed for the
 quantification of approaches that resulted in trapping versus non-trapping
 outcomes and the determination of the time of the approach.
description: # Videos of corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) flight behavior around
 pheromone trap using infrared camera
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.37pvmcvvr](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.37pvmcvvr) The dataset contains video recordings and quantified observations of corn earworm (*Helicoverpa zea*) flight behavior around Scentry Heliothis pheromone traps under nocturnal conditions. The study employed a low-cost infrared camera setup to capture high-resolution (1080p, 60 fps) videos of moth interactions with traps equipped with Hercon and Trece lures. Key data points include the total number of approaches (48 from 7 p.m. to 4 a.m.), capture rates (25%), and distinct behavioral patterns such as upwind approaches, horizontal downwind escapes, and vertical ascents leading to capture. These data contextualize experimental procedures aimed at understanding moth behavior and optimizing trap designs by modifying lure positioning. The results inform strategies to enhance trapping efficacy and integrated pest management (IPM) by leveraging nocturnal insect flight data to improve pest-specific trapping systems and refine pest control thresholds in precision agriculture. The use of affordable, commercially available infrared cameras underscores their potential as accessible tools for behavioral research and pest management optimization. ## Description of the data and file structure The data set is organized in four different videos in .mov format showing of all successful and failed capture, and showing in the videos the time of the event at night. Below is a summary of the files. To view the files, please download the .zip file and uncompress it. Videos with extension .mov are ready to be viewed with a video player. In case of any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the authors. ### Files and variables #### File: CEW\_videos.zip **Description:**  All failed trappings Heliothis-Hercon.mov All failed trappings Heliothis-Trece.mov All successful trappings Heliothis-Hercon.mov All successful trappings Heliothis-Trece.mov