Beneficial insects like predatory beetles, wasps, mites, and lacewings act as guardian insects. Important control mechanisms, patrolling crops and keeping pest populations in check without the need for excessive chemical interventions.
These insects are pretty much all round amazing. They’ve been part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) solutions for a while now, but things just got a whole lot more interesting.
Traditionally, these clever critters are released by hand from tubes or other containers that house them. They crawl out and disperse from these containers and each beneficial insect has a general search radius - how far it will move in search of food, in essence hunting for its prey.
So distribution of these insects is really important. Using scouting results and looking at hotspot areas can work well, and this is a great approach. However, this can be time consuming on both the data collection side (where are these pests?) as well as the actual placement of beneficial insect containers. There are labour costs involved, and of course the opportunity cost of human capital engaged in time-consuming insect releases on foot where human resources could be used elsewhere on-farm.
Introducing SkyBugs
A new Insect release method for farmers - dropping beneficial bugs over orchards as part of an advanced IPM strategy.
Currently available in South Africa, and powered by Aerobotics and fieldBUGS.
This DroneTech solution looks promising with fantastic initial results and sterling client reviews so far, at least for those ahead of the curve and taking advantage.
Farmers already taking advantage of this method of insect release are reaping the rewards, particularly for the control of Mealybug, where biological pest control can be administered quickly and easily and in the fraction of the time it usually takes a team to disperse the beneficials by hand.
The SkyBugs method ensures accurate release of beneficial insects on designated blocks, and with really quick turnaround times for the farmer.
- AGMO Drone Services (certified SkyBugs insect release drone partner)
Beneficial insects currently available for SkyBugs releases:
Perminutus
Anagyrus
Lacewing
Focus crops currently include:
Citrus
Avocado
Macadamia
Mango
Wine Grapes
Table Grapes
Stone fruit
Blueberries
For enquiries, visit the SkyBugs page.
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Have a good week!
Ken