Regents Extend Beetle-Detection Research Grant
Northern Arizona University's bark beetle project receives a 12-month, no-cost extension to test detection equipment in state forests.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Botany
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The Arizona Board of Regents voted Thursday, November 5, 2026, to approve a 12-month no-cost extension of a Northern Arizona University research grant. The project uses sensitive microphones and imaging software to detect bark beetles beneath tree bark before infestations become visible.
Why it matters
Bark beetles disrupt trees' ability to move water and nutrients, and infestations can spread before warning signs are recognized. Earlier detection could help forest managers respond sooner across Arizona's forests.
The grant was extended by 12 months at no cost, with a custom 16-channel microphone array recording beetle activity since late August 2026. Two peer-reviewed papers describe the detection improvements, but the project has not yet been tested in the field and no added funding was provided.
The players
Arizona Board of Regents
The governing body overseeing Arizona's public universities, which approved the grant extension for the Northern Arizona University project.
Northern Arizona University
A public research university in Flagstaff, Arizona, that leads the bark beetle detection project.
Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management
The state agency responsible for managing Arizona's forests, which is working with researchers to prepare for field testing.
The details
A handheld device with precision microphones picks up sounds made by beetles inside a tree, and software converts those sounds into a three-dimensional map displayed over a live camera image. The research team has recorded the chirping of live bark beetles, and the project was originally approved in fiscal 2023 through the Regents' Research Grants program.
Timeline
Fiscal 2023: Project originally approved through the Regents' Research Grants program.
Late August 2026: Student-built microphone array began recording.
Thursday, November 5, 2026: Regents voted to extend the research grant.
Summer 2027: Planned field testing in Arizona forests with state forestry officials.
Roadmap
The project was first approved in fiscal 2023 through the Regents' Research Grants program and has now been extended without new funding. Its progress from lab recordings toward summer 2027 forest trials marks the step from proof of concept toward field use.
Earlier detection of bark beetle infestations could help forest managers act before tree losses spread, protecting timber, recreation areas and water sources. The same sound-mapping technology may later be adapted to find water pipe leaks or identify noise sources from trains and industrial equipment.
The takeaway
Early detection is the key to limiting bark beetle damage, and this project aims to spot infestations inside trees before visible signs appear. Forest managers should watch for the field trials planned for summer 2027.
What happens next
Field testing of the beetle-detection equipment is planned for summer 2027 in Arizona forests with the state forestry department.
Further reading
Explore more Botany coverage to see how researchers study plant health and forest threats.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Havasu News.
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