Non destructive detection and localization of internal pests in agricultural hosts using microwave imaging with application to red palm weevil

Abstract

Red Palm Weevil (RPW) infestations present a major threat to global palm agriculture, causing substantial economic losses and lacking reliable early stage detection tools. Microwave imaging (MWI) is a well-established non-invasive technique in medical diagnostics; however, its application in pest detection remains largely unexplored. This study investigates the use of MWI for RPW detection through a controlled experimental setup in which a biologically realistic phantom replicating the pupal stage of RPW in terms of geometry and dielectric properties was embedded within a natural palm trunk. Electromagnetic simulations and experimental validation using a rotating antenna platform were performed. The results demonstrate that MWI can accurately detect and localize internal RPW infestations, including challenging scenarios involving multiple hidden pupae. These findings highlight MWI as a powerful non-destructive technique for pest detection, offering advanced capabilities for early diagnosis and supporting more effective integrated pest management strategies.