Earlier detection of four major moth pests helps growers stay ahead in 2026

The updated PATS-C model detects Tomato leafminer, Tomato looper, Duponchelia, and Banana moth earlier and more accurately, allowing growers to act before caterpillar damage develops.

• Updated real-time model detects key moth pests earlier and with higher accuracy
• Standardized data from hundreds of growers drives continuous model improvement
• Earlier detection supports smarter interventions as crop protection rules tighten in 2026

DELFT (NL), December 9, 2025 - Starting in 2026, PATS-C users will work with an updated detection model that identifies and distinguishes key moth pests earlier and more accurately. This gives growers rapid insight into the first signs of pest pressure, enabling timely and targeted interventions before caterpillar damage develops.

Collective data collection. This improvement is the result of years of intensive data collection by PATS-C, combined with valuable feedback from dozens of engaged users. The model was trained on more than half a million insect flights and over 12,000 minutes of visual data, collected across eight crops including tomato, bell pepper, and gerbera. By reporting false positives, users help refine model accuracy continuously. With standardized data from hundreds of companies worldwide, every user benefits as the model improves.

For all growers. The new model supports growers who deal with the following pests:

• Tomato looper moth (Chrysodeixis chalcites)
• Tomato leafminer (Tuta absoluta)
• European pepper moth (Duponchelia fovealis)
• Banana moth (Opogona sacchari)

Accurate identification of these pests is crucial for containing problems at an early stage across vegetable and fruit crops, as well as flowers and ornamentals. With PATS-C already active in more than twenty countries, this development has a global impact on daily crop protection practices.

Why does this matter? As of January 1st 2026, restrictions on crop protection products will tighten further, reducing chemical options and flexibility. Early detection and continuous monitoring therefore become even more critical for keeping pest pressure under control. New users will start directly with the updated model and existing users will move over gradually, with full migration completed by the start of January.

Predicting caterpillar outbreaks. The improved detection also enables more accurate predictions of key life cycle stages. PATS-Vinder predicts the first caterpillars up to seven days in advance, allowing growers to plan labor, resources, and interventions at exactly the right moment. This level of forecasting is possible because PATS-C tracks moth activity every night - something traditional monitoring tools cannot do. Early generations often go unnoticed in traps, leading to larger problems later in the season.

Through the uniform way of monitoring across hundreds of companies, national and regional patterns also become visible:

“A significant moment occurred on the first real hot night of 2025, when large numbers of Tomato loopers entered nearly all monitored greenhouses across the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. This enabled us to send highly targeted warnings to vegetable growers. The response was remarkable: both users and non-users immediately recognised the first signs of increased pressure and were able to act accordingly.” 
- Bram Tijmons, PATS