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Drone used to drop beneficials on strawberry crop

A helicopter-style drone is being used in the war against mites that suck the goodness out of growing crops.



Aerobugs, a business run by former strawberry grower Nathan Roy, has taken off after Mr Roy invented and patented a system to air drop predatory mites into the fields.

The predatory mites attack the chemically resistant two-spotted mites, which can decimate strawberry crops, before self-destructing.

Mr Roy sources the predatory mites from the Bugs for Bugs insectary at Donnybrook, north of Brisbane.

He then sets the drone up and mixes the insects, pours them into a spreader system he has made, then takes off and spreads them all over the fields.

"We can get across a nice square block in about seven to 12 minutes, depending on what we're releasing," Mr Roy said.

Read more at ABC Rural
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