Automated Barometric Chamber for Entomology Experiments: Arthropods' Behavior and Insect-Plant Interactions

Author(s)

Costa, Camila M. ; Camargo, Antonio P. ; da Silva, Eric Alberto ; Bento, Jose Mauricio S.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL; v. 12, n. 14, p. 16-pg., 2022-07-01.

Abstract

Featured Application An automated barometric pressure chamber for entomology research was designed; the system can change the barometric pressure by +/- 15 hPa from the local value; the barometric pressure is maintained with a stability of +/- 0.1 hPa; the system allows the pressure to be changed slowly and according to linear ramps; applications are related to arthropods' behavior and arthropod-plant interactions. Insect behaviors, such as flying, oviposition, parasitism, mating/calling, response to semiochemicals, and others, might be influenced by barometric pressure fluctuations. Abiotic factors controlled in the laboratory facilitate the observation of particularities related to development, behavior, and/or habits of arthropods and plants and their interactions. This study aimed to design an automated barometric chamber for research on arthropod behaviors and insect-plant interactions in the laboratory. The barometric chamber is a transparent box equipped with a single-board computer. An air pump and two proportional solenoid valves were used as actuators to control the air flow, while barometric pressure, air humidity, and temperature sensors were used to monitor the conditions within the chamber. A graphical user interface to operate the barometric chamber was developed to run in a web browser. The barometric chamber was designed to allow the barometric pressure to be changed by up to 15 hPa with respect to the local barometric pressure. In addition, the control system makes it possible to set the rise/fall time (ramp) corresponding to the duration in which a change of pressure will be conditioned. Short- and long-term evaluations demonstrated that the control system can assure pressure stability of +/- 0.1 hPa with respect to the setpoint value. For demonstration purposes, two experiments were carried out to evaluate the influence of barometric pressure on the feeding activity of Euschistus heros and Diabrotica speciosa. For E. heros, the number of stylet sheath was significantly increased under high pressure conditions compared to the low pressure. However, for D. speciosa, there was no statistical difference in leaf consumption at the evaluated testing conditions. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/50871-0 - INCT 2014: National Institute of Science and Technology of Semiochemicals in Agriculture
• Grantee: José Roberto Postali Parra
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants