Publication details
Insect identification using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN)
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2008 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | Introduction: The progress in information technology has opened opportunities for the computer-assisted taxonomy. Methods: The use of ANN requires a training database in which specimens, correctly identified by experts, are included. For ANN inputs can be used digital images, optically sensed wing beat frequency spectra, near-infrared reflectance spectra, bioacoustic recordings, chemotaxonomy or morphometry. An ANN model is designed to find a relationship between the characters (=input) and species (=output). The quality of the training set is an essential prerequisite to obtaining reliable identifications. Results: Our case studies used morphometric data mostly. The high percentage of correctly identified specimens (about 97 %) is promising for a wider use of ANN. Conclusions: ANN is cheap and non-destructive suitable also for type material or permanently mounted slides. ANN have the potential to enhance the practice of routine identification with a non-expert as technical help. |
| Related projects: |