Tracking insects with reliable and easy-to-use software

At the start of the company Noldus Information Technology, lies the research of Lucas Noldus who, as a PhD student, studied the behavior of the parasitoid wasp. Coding via an ethogram and using pen and paper was the feeding ground to develop software tools to easier and quicker obtain reliable behavioral data.

With the growing possibilities of computers and by adding cameras and video images, smarter software was developed to automatically track animals in a lab environment. That was when EthoVision saw the light. Nowadays, EthoVision XT is the market-leading scalable video tracking platform that offers flexibility, versatility, and highly accurate data. Over 2000 labs use EthoVision XT and it is validated in thousands of publications. With EthoVision XT, you can automatically track and analyze animal movement and behavior; from small animals like insects, to bigger animals, like mice, rats, and chickens, pigs, or even aquatic animals like fish and crabs. The video tracking software makes it very easy to access mobility and velocity, for example, but it is also very efficient in assessing path shape, interaction between individual insects, learning and memory, and much more. Data selection and analysis tools, including track visualization and heat maps, allow you to perform in-depth analysis.

For almost 30 years, Noldus provides researchers all over the world with complete setups, including software, recording cameras, and dedicated computers – with systems suitable for indoor and outdoor observations. Above that, we take care of customized training courses, offer consultancy services and technical support.

During the seminar, you will experience the EthoVision XT software and I will answer any of your questions on how to observe and track your species of choice.