A camera to highlight the predation of insects on the soil surface

Abstract

Predation amongst arthropods is an important key in the regulation of ravaging insects in crops but it is difficult to highlight it and to quantify it. To be able to visualise those predators in action in the field, we have developed our own instrument to capture image in time-lapse in a nano-computer Raspberry Pi. A tailored programming interface was developed in the meantime. This device is used to confirm the role of ground beetles, spiders and harvestmen in the predation of insect grub at the ground surface. It highlights the importance of unexpected predators such as slugs.