Seeing red: A review of the use of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in entomology

Abstract

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a rapid, noninvasive and cheap method of profiling the chemical composition of a broad range of sample types. Over the past two decades, it has been used in numerous entomological applications, ranging from taxonomy and metabolomic profiling to the prediction of insect age and sex. This review provides a perspective on the historical and contemporary applications of NIRS for entomology. Two areas that show particular promise are the detection and identification of insects infesting stored food products, and the rapid, low-cost and non-lethal profiling of cuticular hydrocarbons of individual insects.

Keywords:

• Chemometrics
• integrative taxonomy
• noninvasive assessment
• age grading
• metabolomics

Disclosure statement

All authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Funding information

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.