Multiband modulation spectroscopy for determination of sex and species of mosquitoes in flight

We present a dual-wavelength polarimetric measurement method to distinguish species and sexes of disease transmitting mosquitoes in flight. By measuring co- and de-polarized backscattered light at 808 and 1550 nm, the degree of linear polarization, wingbeat frequency, reflectance, spectral ratio and glossiness of mosquitoes can be retrieved.

Body and wing contributions to these signals can be separated. Whereas the optical cross-section is sensitive to the aspect of observation, thus the heading direction of the insect in flight, we demonstrate that polarimetric- and spectral- band ratios are largely invariant to the aspect of observation.

We show that wing glossiness, as well as wing- and body-spectral ratios are particularly efficient in distinguishing Anopheles coluzzii and Anopheles arabiensis, two closely related species of malaria vectors. Spectral- and polarimetric ratios relate to microstructural and melanization features of the wing and body of these species.

We conclude that multiband modulation spectroscopy is a useful expansion of the parameter space that can be used to improve specificity of entomological lidars.