Processamento digital de imagem na investigação de caminhamento de cupins Nasutitermes corniger (insecta: isoptera)

Abstract

Termites are present in several biomes and, despite being known as urban pests and agricultural crops, perform activities of high ecological importance, being classified as primary consumers and decomposers, helping in aeration and soil nutrition. These insects present pathways that can be understood by methods of processing motion quantifying images. Thus, to achieve the objectives proposed in the present work, digital image processing techniques were applied to evaluate the walking behavior of the termite Nasutitermes corniger (Insecta: Isoptera) carried out during foraging simulation and presenting dead plant material as possible visual obstacles. In order to quantify the results obtained in this research, the calculation of the Intensity Dispersion Module (MDI) implemented in MATLAB 2018b was used. Termites were collected in colonies at the Federal University of Sergipe (UFS), randomly selected 12 individuals classified as soldiers and distributed into 5 groups. Such individuals were submitted to the simulation activity of walking in arenas using Petri dishes (14 x 1.5 cm) illuminated by HeNe laser 632 nm, during the movement of the insect videos were captured, later processed using the Generalized Differences Method and the Moment of inertia. It was possible to detect the areas of walking and of greater activities naturally caused by groups of Termites present in the arenas, as well as the method of MI showed to be significantly different when analyzed before and during the walk. Thus, it was possible to analyze the activity of the Nasutitermes corniger walk through image processing techniques in, and it can be applied as a possible tool to evaluate the termite walk.