Insect monitoring system and method

An insect monitoring system comprising:

• an insect attracting light;
• an intake positioned adjacent the insect attracting light;
• an exhaust;
• an airflow conduit extending between the intake and the exhaust;
• a motorized fan for creating an airflow in the airflow conduit from the intake to the exhaust;
• a movable insect collecting mesh positioned in the airflow conduit between the intake and the exhaust, said movable insect collecting mesh being rotatively mounted in the airflow conduit to be movable from a first position for forcing the airflow through the movable insect collecting mesh and a second position for releasing insects to the exhaust;
• a movable cleaning blade for scraping the movable insect collecting mesh when placed in the second position;
• a digital camera positioned to capture images of the movable insect collecting mesh;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to each of the insect attracting light, the motorized fan, the movable inset collecting mesh, the movable cleaning blade and the digital camera, the controller being operable to cause:
• activation of the insect attracting light;
• activation of the motorized fan such that insects attracted by the insect attracting light are drawn into the intake and airflow conduit by the airflow and trapped against the movable insect collecting mesh when in the first position;
• acquisition of images by the at least one digital camera;
• and
• activation of the movable cleaning blade when the movable insect collecting mesh is in the second position.