Apparatus and method for insect infestation detection

A method of detecting insect infestation in a test tree trunk, comprising:

• mounting a microstrip patch antenna on a surface of the test tree trunk;
• transmitting a microwave signal from the microstrip patch antenna;
• measuring, by a measurement device, a microwave reflection response of the test tree trunk to the microwave signal;
• storing, by a storage medium, the measured microwave reflection response of the test tree trunk, one or more microwave reflection responses of one or more reference tree trunks, a program for comparing microwave reflection responses, and a program for identifying an insect infestation condition of the test tree trunk;
• and
• reading, by a processing circuitry, the stored microwave reflection responses;
• comparing, by the processing circuitry, the measured microwave reflection response of the test tree trunk to the microwave reflection responses of one or more reference tree trunks;
• and
• identifying, by the processing circuitry, the insect infestation condition of the test tree trunk.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform a method for:

• reading stored microwave reflection responses;
• comparing a measured microwave reflection response of a test tree trunk to micro e reflection responses of one or more reference tree trunks;
• and
• identifying an insect infestation condition of the test tree trunk.