Satellite imagery could protect trees from devastating moth outbreaks
Researchers have developed a new algorithm that uses high-resolution satellite imagery to track defoliation caused by European spongy moths. This tool helps land managers predict outbreaks and target insecticide spraying more effectively.
Why it matters
Improved pest management through satellite technology can protect forest ecosystems and reduce the labor-intensive nature of environmental surveillance.
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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Add as preferred source An adult European spongy moth. Credit: Cornell University Satellite-derived maps of defoliation caused by European spongy moths—a devastating U.S. forest pest that consumes the leaves of a wide variety of trees—offer a promising solution for tracking where and when to spray and for identifying large-scale trends and conditions that lead to pest outbreaks, according to a new study.
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