Remote Nanoscopy with Infrared Elastic Hyperspectral Lidar.

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Remote Sensing
• Entomology

Background:

• Insect diversity and decline are critical ecological concerns.
• Traditional monitoring methods face challenges in accuracy and scale.
• Laser remote sensing and spectroscopy offer novel solutions for insect detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate a hyperspectral lidar system for detecting free-flying insects.
• To analyze species-specific wing interference patterns (WIPs) for identification.
• To assess the potential of lidar for insect monitoring and conservation.

Main Methods:

• Development of an infrared (950-1650 nm) hyperspectral lidar with 64 spectral bands.
• Utilized a supercontinuum light source, ray-tracing, and 3D printing for system construction.
• Recorded coherent scattering from insect wings at distances up to 87 meters.

Main Results:

• Successfully retrieved coherent scatter from a damselfly wing at 87 m with high precision (±4 nm).
• Determined effective wing membrane thickness (1412 nm) matching laboratory measurements.
• Recorded similar signals from free-flying insects, demonstrating real-time detection capabilities.

Conclusions:

• The developed hyperspectral lidar system enables precise measurement of insect wing properties.
• The method shows significant potential for non-invasive, long-distance species discrimination.
• This technology can advance insect monitoring, aiding in understanding and mitigating insect decline.