Automated size measurements of Halyomorpha halys (Stal) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) with simple image-based methodology

Authors: Tabb, Amy; Elsensohn, Johanna; Leskey, Tracy

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/22/2022
Publication Date: 10/3/2022
Citation: Tabb, A., Elsensohn, J.E., Leskey, T.C. 2022. Automated size measurements of Halyomorpha halys (Stal) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) with simple image-based methodology. Florida Entomologist. 105(3):262-264. https://doi.org/10.1653/024.105.0314.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1653/024.105.0314

Interpretive Summary: We explored whether insects could be measured autonomously with an image-based system and computer code. We created software to perform insect measurements in images. We found that the measurements of insect length and width were generally reliable and identified situations where there are failures of the system. Insect measurement is important for learning the effects of different treatments in insects, and to be able to do it autonomously would allow entomologists to acquire these measurements more quickly.

Technical Abstract: Insect size is important to understanding species ecology, biology, and systematics. Accurate measurements of an insect’s width or length is laborious and time-consuming. Here, we explored an automated approach to insect measurement using an image-based method with adult Halyomorpha halys (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) as a model. Wild-collected H. halys length and width were measured from their ventral side manually with calipers and compared with measurements taken with a smartphone-based automated image-based method. The comparison between manual methods and our automated approach yielded R2 values of 0.69 and 0.84 for width and length, respectively, indicating that an image-based measurement method has potential for usage in future entomological studies.