Upgrade of the Whitefly Attracting and Exterminating Device 'Pikatoru'

Daiwa Computer Co., Ltd. (Osaka Head Office: Takatsuki City, Osaka Prefecture / Tokyo Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Kenji Nakamura, hereinafter referred to as "Daiwa Computer") announced that its subsidiary, Roots Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture, hereinafter referred to as "Roots"), which handles agricultural business, has upgraded the functionality of "Pikatoru," a device that attracts, captures, and exterminates whiteflies (※1) using LEDs. This update will be introduced to "Pikatoru" orders received from August 2026 onwards.

"Pikatoru" is a next-generation solution that can effectively address the whitefly problem, which causes significant damage in greenhouses and facility horticulture and is difficult to manage with conventional pesticide spraying or physical capture alone, while minimizing environmental impact.

This upgrade includes the implementation of an "automatic notification function for net replacement timing" for consumables, utilizing IoT, and the launch of a new "user site" to visualize the operational status of "Pikatoru." By eliminating periods without pest control, it maximizes pest control effectiveness and strongly supports sustainable agricultural management by reducing the use of chemical pesticides and costs, and protecting the health of producers.

Background: Challenges of Pesticides in the Agricultural Field

In recent years, soaring prices of fertilizers and pesticides have been putting a strain on management, making cost reduction an urgent issue. Furthermore, excessive pesticide spraying not only increases health risks for producers but is also required to be reduced from an environmental impact perspective. However, conventional pest extermination devices have made it difficult to manage the replacement of consumables, and in many cases, pests have occurred without the operators realizing the effectiveness had worn off, leading to an increase in the number of chemical pesticide applications. Daiwa Computer has solved this problem with digital technology and developed a system that enables reduced pesticide use without undue burden.

Main Features of the Upgrade

1 "Zero Blank Period in Pest Control" through Net Replacement Notification

By automatically notifying the manager's smartphone or PC of the optimal replacement time for the consumable nets, we achieve zero periods without pest control.

2 Reduction in Pesticide Spraying Frequency

By preventing the invasion and occurrence of pests due to lack of pest control, the need for sudden pesticide spraying is reduced, suppressing rising pesticide costs.

3 Consideration for Health and Environment

By maintaining high pest control effectiveness at all times through optimal net replacement, dependence on chemical pesticides is reduced, thereby lowering the physical burden and health risks for producers from spraying work.

4 Accumulation of Net Replacement Records Possible

Net replacement records, photos, and memos can be accumulated on the user site, preventing the personalization of replacement frequency. Furthermore, since replacement history is stored as data, it can be utilized for next year's pest control plans and records for GAP (Good Agricultural Practice) certification.

Future Vision: Realization of Sustainable Agriculture

With this update, "Pikatoru" has evolved from a mere extermination device into a "Sustainable Device" that protects management and the environment. Daiwa Computer will continue to contribute to the "Green Food System Strategy" (※2), which aims for low environmental impact through the power of technology, and contribute to a future of agriculture where both producers and consumers can feel secure.

(※1)

Whiteflies are insects with a white, semi-like appearance, approximately 1-3mm in length. They occur in a wide variety of agricultural crops, with species such as the greenhouse whitefly and the tobacco whitefly being well-known pests. They are characterized by their strong reproductive capacity and their ability to acquire resistance to pesticides accordingly. They are important pests that cause serious damage to crops by causing black sooty mold on plants due to their excrement and by transmitting viral diseases.

(※2)

The "Green Food System Strategy" is a national strategy aiming for zero CO2 emissions in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, reduction of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, and expansion of organic farming by 2050. It aims to achieve both environmental load reduction and productivity improvement through innovation.

<Reference Materials>

Product Overview

Product Name: Pikatoru ( "Pikatoru" is a registered trademark of Daiwa Computer)

Patent: Whitefly Attracting Device (Patent Application Pending)

Suggested Retail Price (excluding tax): Open price *Price revision planned for orders from August 2026 onwards

Sales Channel: Partnered Sales Agents

Main Specifications:

・Dimensions: Width 180 x Depth 300 x Height 1100mm

・Weight: 6.0kg

・Capture Method: LED attraction + fan attraction

・Installation Environment: Greenhouses, general facility horticulture

<LED>

・Power Supply: AC100V-240V

・Power Consumption: 12W (when LED is lit)

<Fan>

・Power Supply: AC100V

・Power Consumption: 15W

Exhibition Information

"Pikatoru" will be exhibited at the booth of Sakata Seed Corporation during the "Greenhouse Horticulture & Plant Factory Expo (GPEC)" to be held at Tokyo Big Sight for three days from Wednesday, July 15 to Friday, July 17, 2026.