AI-powered monitoring is revolutionizing caterpillar control in CEA

Added on 04 April 2025

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AI-powered monitoring is revolutionizing caterpillar control in CEA

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Caterpillar infestations, especially from tomato loopers, can devastate greenhouse crops like cucumbers—but by the time damage is visible, it’s often too late. A new AI-driven tool, PATS-C, is helping Dutch growers detect threats early and act with precision. This article explores how real-time insect monitoring is changing pest management for the better.

At Bosch Komkommers in Berkel en Rodenrijs, the spring of 2024 marked a turning point in greenhouse pest control. Crop protection specialist Daan van den Bosch made the leap into high-tech biological monitoring by installing PATS-C, a camera-based insect detection system designed to spot nocturnal moth activity, particularly the tomato looper (Chrysodeixis chalcites). For cucumber growers, this pest is a growing threat—not just to foliage, but increasingly to fruit quality and marketability.