Combating the RPW

The book describes a user-friendly, handheld, and efficient management system for Red Palm Weevil (RPW) acoustic detection that is non-invasive in nature.The research delves into the detailed biological characteristics of the RPW, particularly its larval stage and the acoustics it produces, as well as the sound recording procedures, analysis methods, and the software program that can confirm the presence of RPW larvae. The proposed device, developed as a prototype, has been tested in various field scenarios and has demonstrated the ability to reliably detect the presence of RPW larvae at the earliest possible stage through its acoustic signature. To effectively detect the presence of RPW larvae without causing significant harm to the palm trees, this research foccused on the utilization of acoustic technology. The RPW larvae produced distinct sounds due to their activities within the palm tree. By analysing these acoustics, it is possible to identify the presence of the pest at an early stage. Previous approaches to acoustic detection have relied on sophisticated audio equipment and laboratory based analysis, which can be both technically complex and invasive to the trees.