The effectiveness of using Trichogramma by agricultural drones

Abstract

Active ingredients of pesticides and their breakdownproducts accumulate in the soil, water bodies, and atmosphere,causing toxic effects on non-target organisms anddestroying natural ecosystems.Constant use of the same chemicals leads to the developmentof resistance in pest populations, which requiresan increase in application rates or a switch to more toxiccompounds, creating the so-called «pesticide spiral».Chemical insecticides often have a wide spectrum ofaction and destroy not only pests, but also their naturalenemies (predators and parasites), as well as pollinators, disrupting the natural mechanisms of pest population regulationin agrocenoses. Residual amounts of pesticidesin agricultural products pose a direct threat to consumerhealth.The biological method of protecting cultivated plantsfrom pests and diseases is based on the use of parasiticinsects (entomophages), mites (acariphages), nematodes,birds, mammals to reduce the number of harmful organisms(against pests of agricultural crops), and biologicalpreparations based on the products of the vital activity ofmicroorganisms (against pests and diseases of agriculturalcrops). Currently, this direction is very relevant, becausethe demand for organic products is constantly growing inthe world. This method of combating pests and diseases isdifferent in that it is safe for the environment and humans,and has a number of advantages compared to the use ofchemicals.The development and widespread implementation ofbiological methods of plant protection is gaining strategicimportance. One of the most effective and researchedareas of biological control is the use of entomophages –insects that are natural enemies of pests. Among them, theegg-eating insects of the genus Trichogramma deservespecial attention.