Bumblebees are now being recruited for the position of pest control techie. A new system uses the bees to help deliver pesticides and fungi directly to plants with pin point accuracy. As opposed to broadcast spraying, the bees deliver product every single day, to every single bloom. A tray filled with a patented mix of natural, beneficial microbes goes in a beehive that farmers already have. When bees head out to work, pollinating crops, they walk through the powder on the way and deliver these spores to flowers. Because the bumblebee uses so little of the patented product the farmer can avoid traditional pesticides and the main issue of spraying, that is runoff. Runoff occurs because the pesticide is mixed with hundreds of gallons of water and then sprayed everywhere. One percent ends up where it’s supposed to be, but 99% ends up on the ground and leaches into the soil. Normally, farmers spray twice a season, potentially missing those trees that are not fully bloomed. The bees deliver their organic pesticide continuously, so more fruit can be harvested. Bee Vectoring Technologies main target is conventional farms, even though they qualify for organic use as well.
