Monitoring insect pests using pheromone traps is a vital component of integrated pest management (IPM) in apple production and an important tool in vegetable production. These traps use species-specific lures to attract target pests, enabling early detection and population tracking. In apples, traps are essential for managing codling moth, a key export-limiting pest, while in vegetables, they help monitor threats like corn earworm and diamondback moth.
Marcus Fitzsimmons, Fruitfed Supplies Extension Advisor – Pipfruit, says, “Timely data from traps supports precise spray timing, reduces unnecessary insecticide use, and protects beneficial insects. This proactive approach enhances crop quality, market access, and sustainability across horticultural systems.”Traditionally, pheromone traps have relied on manual inspection to monitor pest populations. However, recent advances in remote sensing and artificial intelligence now allow pests to be automatically identified and counted, making pest monitoring significantly quicker and less labour-intensive. This shift enables faster, more consistent data delivery, improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of crop protection decisions.
In 2025, Fruitfed Supplies participated in two independent trials evaluating the performance of scoutlabs digital smart traps, one in apple orchards targeting codling moth, and another in sweetcorn crops targeting corn earworm, to assess their viability as a modern alternative to manual monitoring.“In the pipfruit industry, codling moth trapping is a mandatory part of pest management,” says Marcus. “Traps are checked weekly, and the results play a key role in determining access to important export markets, particularly in Asia.”
Fruitfed Supplies Technical, alongside the Crop Monitoring Services team, is now into its second season of trial work with scoutlabs digital smart traps. Last season, eight traps were deployed in Hawke’s Bay and two in Blenheim. This year, the project has expanded to include more traps across a wider range of regions. In total, 30 scoutlabs traps have been installed: five in Gisborne, 16 in Hawke’s Bay, five in Marlborough, and four in Canterbury.
Chris Lambert, Fruitfed Supplies Technical Specialist – Vegetables, says, “Based on last season’s results, we saw the need to broaden the trial to further validate the accuracy of the AI cameras before considering wider adoption. The trial also helps identify any connectivity or technical challenges, with the aim of future-proofing the technology for New Zealand conditions.” Marcus and Chris agree that, so far, the results have been largely positive. “The traps demonstrate good accuracy,” says Chris, “and the built-in solar panels are providing reliable battery life. The simple app interface has made it easy to monitor trap activity in real time. While there were a few lessons learned during the first season, close collaboration with the scoutlabs team meant technical issues were quickly addressed, ensuring the trial stayed on track.”
Findings from the sweetcorn project, funded by Te Ahikawari, demonstrated that scoutlabs traps are robust, weather-resistant, and easy to maintain. The ten traps installed in four regions achieved approximately 90 percent accuracy in corn earworm identification, with no false negatives, meaning pests were never missed when present. Data could be accessed via a user-friendly dashboard and delivered to growers an average of three days earlier than traditional manual inspections.
Marcus adds, “Feedback from growers was overwhelmingly positive, with several expressing interest in adopting the technology. The traps were found to be simple, scalable, and a valuable addition to pest monitoring programmes. While bucket traps proved more sensitive than delta-style smart traps, this was not considered a limitation given the focus on pest population trends rather than absolute presence.” Building on these results, further trials are underway in vegetable crops to assess smart trap performance against other key pests, including potato tuber moth, fall armyworm, and diamondback moth.
