Biological protection of corn using Trichogramma

As part of our efforts to adopt a more sustainable approach to agriculture, this year we implemented the application of a natural enemy of the corn borer – the tiny parasitic wasp Trichogramma – using an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone). We carried out this biological protection in cooperation with Biocont Laboratory, which supplied capsules with wasp eggs.

Video 1. Application of Trichogramma voci using the DJI Matrice 300 RTK drone.

Trichogramma is a genus of miniature parasitic wasps that lay their eggs directly inside the eggs of butterflies – including the corn borer ( Ostrinia nubilalis ), one of the most important pests of corn. The pest's eggs are destroyed in this way before the caterpillars hatch, which would otherwise cause extensive damage to the ears and stems of the plants.

These wasps are completely harmless to humans, animals and the plants themselves. They therefore represent a gentle and environmentally acceptable alternative to chemical insecticides. For the application, we used capsules with developing Trichogramma individuals, which are made of biodegradable material. After a few days, the wasps are naturally released into the surrounding environment. The capsules were deployed using a DJI Matrice 300 RTK unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a Skyinnov T-DROP applicator.

fig. 1 Detail of the Skyinnov T-DROP applicator with Trichogramma wasp capsules.

The application rate of 80 capsules per hectare did not pose any major problems for the unmanned vehicle. Despite the smaller plots of land – which is one of the main reasons why the drone was chosen instead of the commonly used Z-37 Čmelák aircraft – approximately 70 hectares were treated in one afternoon. However, we estimate the real operational performance of this solution to be in the lower hundreds of hectares per day.

The second round of application will take place in approximately 14 days. We believe that biological protection of corn will enjoy growing interest in the future and will become a competitive alternative to chemical methods even without the need for subsidy support.