Are you ready for bug bombs? No, we’re not talking about the insecticide foggers that kill every bug in an enclosed room. These bug bombs are actually made of bugs, but they aren’t just any bugs—they’re bugs with voracious appetites for specific unwanted weeds. The future of biocontrol weed management may involve aerial attacks that drop “bombs” filled with hordes of flea beetles or other beneficial insects on the vegetation below.
The idea was presented in a slide show by West Virginia University entomologist Yong-Lak Park at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America held in Austin, Texas. It depicted unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, armed with biocontrol payloads that can bombard crops, fields and other open areas with hungry bugs ready to turn weeds on the ground into their own private buffets.
Bug Bomb Pros and Cons
The concept of biocontrol isn’t new. Introducing bugs to kill other bugs is a common and effective method of pest control. Targeting weeds seems like a natural next step. Utilizing an aerial version of biocontrol has both pros and cons. Letting bugs do all the dirty work means that no toxic herbicides are released into the atmosphere to contaminate water sources and poison vegetation eaten by humans and wildlife. The massive armies of tiny soldiers pose no real threat to the environment. However, finding and breeding the right insects is expensive. They must be tested to ensure that they only eat the targeted weed and not surrounding plants. If the bugs develop a taste for food crops, they’ll become part of the problem. Getting the right permits poses another dilemma. Instituting a successful bug bomb drone program could take millions of dollars and many years. Much work remains to be done, but with growing concern over the environment and health issues, it’s likely that bug bombs will eventually be coming to skies near you.
ABC Weed Control Methods Are Currently Drone-Free
At ABC Home & Commercial Services, we don’t have any bug drone attacks planned, but if you need help with weeds or pest control, we can get the job done from the ground. In fact, we’ve been getting pests and weeds under control since 1949 without shooting a single bug from the sky. Contact us today to schedule service.