Migration monitoring of Ascia monuste (Lepidoptera) and Schistocerca cancellata (Orthoptera) in Argentina using RMA1 weather radar

POFFO DENIS; BECCACECE HERNAN; CARANTI GIORGIO; COMES RAUL; DREWNIAK MARIA; A MARTINA; ADRIANA ZAPATA; ANDRES RODRIGUEZ ; SAFFE JORGE

ISPRS JOURNAL OF PHOTOGRAMMETRY AND REMOTE SENSING

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2018

0924-2716

The meteorological polarimetric radar RMA1 located in the city of C´ordoba was used for a nonconventional phenomenon detection. Massive migrations of both Ascia monuste during early summer of 2015 and Schistocerca cancellata during late winter of 2017 were characterized by means of polarimetric variables (correlation factor ρhv and reflectivity factor ZH). The butterfly swarms show a pulsating behavior as a consequence of biological needs. The highest altitude detected was 2,400 m msl. The correlation factor confirms the biological characteristic of the echo. Thelocustswarmmigrationshowsadifferentpatterninseveralways. First,ithasamoreuniformaspectregardingits displacement. Second, the locusts were observed to attain altitudes of 1,700 m msl. Third, the correlation coefficient for the locust case showed regions with high values, which are different from the low value areas. It is concluded that radarobservationsofinsectspeciesmayresultinusefulbiologicalcriteriaforthegovernmenttoassesareasthatneed to be protected for agricultural production.