"Adapted Hartstack Pheromone Traps for Automated Moth Counting Dataset"

"Detecting and monitoring moth presence in the field is critical for farmers, as it allows them to determine the optimal timing for pest treatments and ensures maximum efficacy of preventative measures. This paper presents the instrumentation of Hartstack traps with electronic sensors. For over 40 years, these traps have been the standard tool used by farmers and entomologists to capture moths and monitor their emergence and presence in the field. By integrating an infrared dual-beam optical sensor, the modified traps can automatically count moths as they enter and record the timestamp for each entry. This data is complemented by weather information including ambient temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and barometric pressure to provide environmental contexts. Powered by a solar panel and battery, and storing data locally with optional wireless access, the system is designed to operate independently off-grid for several weeks. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this enhanced system, ten instrumented traps were deployed across four fields in North Carolina. The resulting data revealed a linear relationship between trap triggers and actual moth counts, with an R2 value of around 0.8 and an error rate of 11.51% after custom-designed digital filtering and post-processing."