Background
Insect decline
In October 2017, a groundbreaking article by Radboud University and the Krefeld Entomological Society was published in which it was shown that in 27 years' time German nature reserves had seen an average 75% decline in flying insects (Hallmann, 2017). Later, strong decline in flying insects and ground beetles were also reported for our country (Hallmann, 2020).
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75% decrease in flying insects over 27 years
To make this research possible, entomologists have conducted decades-long surveys, installed and emptied malaise traps, spent nights counting moths, and emptied endless catch pots for benthic fauna. Such persistent, highly uniformed research is almost impossible to muster. Hence, in 2018, the DIOPSIS consortium explored ways to automate insect sighting. This led to the design of the DIOPSIS insect camera and the development of an AI algorithm to analyze photos from this camera.
Pilots
In the summer of 2018, some insect camera prototypes ran in backyards of collaborators. The results were so encouraging that funds were sought in the winter of 2018-2019 to build 100 cameras. With financial support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Nature and Food Quality, the World Wildlife Fund, EIS Knowledge Center Insects and the Radboud Alumni Fund, we succeeded in developing the necessary software. Commissioned by the provinces of North Holland, South Holland, Zeeland and Gelderland, the first version of the DIOPSIS camera was built. In 2019 and 2020, more than 90 cameras monitored insects at different locations in the Netherlands.
After this successful pilot, Faunabit B.V. took over the development of the camera in 2021 and released an updated version. A second pilot was conducted in 2021, 2022 and 2023, commissioned by Province of Flevoland, Province of Fryslân, Province of Gelderland, Province of North Holland, Province of Zeeland, Province of South Holland, Municipality of Amsterdam, Hoogheemraadschap Noorderkwartier (HHNK), PWN Waterleidingbedrijf Noord-Holland (PWN) and Ministry of LNV. For this purpose, cameras were placed at more than 70 different locations in the Netherlands, divided between nature reserves, agricultural locations and built-up areas. This pilot produced a wealth of data and information. Among other things, it shows that there are differences in the numbers and diversity of insects between landscape types, and under the influence of different weather conditions. Ecological analyses of the 2021-2023 data will soon be published by the consortium. Analysis of long-term trends will take place when data from even more years become available.
Growing interest
Meanwhile, public attention to automatic insect monitoring is increasing. Researchers, students, associations and companies are eager to use insect cameras to monitor the insects in their environment. For example, cameras are being used in Living Labs projects in the Ooijpolder, Alblasserwaard and the Bulb Region, among others, and construction company Heijmans is using the cameras to research the effect of nature-inclusive building applications.
Operation of camera and image recognition software
On the Camera page, we explain what is measured how. The Image Recognition page has more information about the image recognition software.
Entomology
DIOPSIS is an acronym for 'Digital Identification Of Photographically Sampled Insect Species'.
DIOPSIS is also the scientific name of a genus of the Steeleye flies (see logo). DIOPSIS was chosen as mascot because the fly seems to look into the world with eyes on stems investigating. By the way, the Steeleye fly is only found in the tropics and subtropics.