Detection and Classification of Caterpillar using Image Processing with K-Nearest Neighbor Classification Technique

Caterpillars are the developmental stage of the flying insect called butterfly. The moths are the beautiful creature of earth which comes under the class of insects. They are recognized by their beautiful and colorful forewings body and legs. Caterpillars are the larval stage of the moth which are found in the leaf and stem of the plants when the moth laid eggs on the leaves after their mating. Caterpillar after fully developed from its eggs draw out a flimsy, soft cocoon made up of dark coarse silk on leaves and stem for their shelter. Caterpillar is also a beautiful creature that is found with different colors and strips with spines and urticating hair in their body for releasing venom for self-defense from external predators. The present study works on the detection and classification of the caterpillar using image processing with a k-NN classifier.This research help in characterizing the type of caterpillar image classification for particular three classes such as accuracy of Buck Moth Caterpillar, the accuracy of Saddleback Caterpillar, and the accuracy of Io moth Caterpillar. The following stages have been considered are preprocessing, segmentation, feature extraction, and classification methods using K- Nearest Neighbor classifier. The present investigation results that SYMLET5 analysis works well in the classification of the caterpillar with an accuracy of 96% using K- Nearest Neighbor classifier compare with other measures during investigation and analysis.

Survivorship, Development, and Fecundity of Buck Moth (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) on Common Tree Species in the Gulf Coast Urban Forest

Hemileuca maia maia (Drury), the buck moth, is abundant in urban areas of the Gulf Coast region where it defoliates oaks. However, the extent to which the buck moth can survive on other tree species common in the southern urban forest has not been reported. In the laboratory, we studied the suitability and acceptability to larvae of 14 common tree species in New Orleans and determined the extent to which larvae were able to switch to species other than oak midway in their development. Larvae had greater survival, pupal weight, and fecundity, as well as reduced development time, on live oak, water oak, black oak and black cherry than on green ash, sugarberry, sweetgum, red maple, a deciduous ornamental magnolia, American holly, tallow tree, crapemyrtle, mulberry, and black willow. Larvae showed some ability to switch from oak to some non-oak species, but fecundity, pupal weights, and development time were affected as assessed from the time of switch. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of outbreak dynamics of the moth in urban forests.

Effect of Leaf Age and Photoperiod on Buck Moth (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) Larval and Pupal Development

Dietary “early season” live oak foliage and longer scotophase accelerated larval development and resulted in heavier pupae of the buck moth, Hemileuca maia (Drury). Female pupae were heavier than male pupae under all conditions. Males required significantly fewer days to pupate. Rearing at a shortened scotophase on more mature foliage reduced larval survival. Phenolics and tannins were higher in early season oak foliage than in late spring foliage.