A Former Farmer Invents A Drone That Spreads Predatory Insects Over Crops
A Former Farmer Invents A Drone That Spreads Predatory Insects Over Crops
When it comes to controlling insect pest populations within large-scale crops, drones are becoming more and more popular. The use of drones as a biological form of insect pest control is still in its infancy, and many countries have not yet approved of this form of insect pest control. Despite the lack of legal framework concerning the use of drone technology to fight insect pests, one former strawberry farmer from Australia has taken drone-related insect pest control into his own hands. Nathan Roy, has not only invented a drone that spreads predatory insects over crops, but he has also been using this technology with great success.
According to Roy, his drone technology will eventually become the only way of spreading beneficial insects across the natural environment. Instead of using his drones to dispense insecticides, Roy has programmed his drones to release predatory insects that, in theory, will eradicate insect pests from crops. Over the course of eighteen months Roy has tested his drone device on various regions of farmland. The drone is an eight bladed helicopter that features a device for spreading predatory insects. According to Roy, operating the drone takes practice, and he still does not have all of the kinks worked out yet.
Roy has devoted most of his time to finding the perfect altitude for releasing predatory insects over crops. If the predatory insects are released at an altitude that is too high, the insects will not reach the desired target. If the drone is too low to the ground when the predatory insects are released, then the target crop becomes saturated with too many predatory insects. Roy is still determining which time of day and which climatic conditions are most optimal for the release of the predatory insects. Despite a few lingering questions, Roy has used his drone with success on a few different farms located in Australia. Roy believes that his drone technology is the future of insect pest control in large-scale crops.
Do you believe that using drones to release predatory insects onto regions of farmland may pose threats to the public?