T-drop: assessment of the 1st season of trichogramma spraying by drone

In the spring of 2022, Skyinnov launched a new drone-based system for dispersing trichogramma wasp pupae. The T-drop disperser is the result of several months of research, prototyping, testing, and collaboration between technical teams, drone pilots, and agricultural professionals. The 2022 corn earworm control season provided an opportunity to put the new T-drop dispenser to the test under intensive conditions involving drone-based trichogramma egg dispersal throughout France and in five other countries. The T-drop dispenser developed by the Skyinnov teams has thus confirmed the excellent performance and reliability observed during our tests. Summary.

First results after 1 season of using the T-drop

of covered surfaces

+ 19000 ha

of balls dropped

+ 1000 K

flight hours

+ 800 h

, aerial release of trichogramma wasps using drones

In a recent article, we presented the recent article the issues related to the natural protection of corn crops against the European corn borer, a small caterpillar that causes havoc. For several years, research has identified a natural predator of the moth: the Trichogramma. It is a small wasp that comes to lay eggs in the larvae of the caterpillar and thus destroy the moth to feed and develop.

After several years of testing, a protocol was put in place to protect corn crops. First by manual application of Trichogramma in the fields and now by aerial treatment. This consists in the dropping of trichogramma beads via a drone specifically adapted to this task. Skyinnov, specialized in the development of professional drone equipment, has designed a complete release system consisting of a tank (5 or 8 liters), a motorization and an electronic box to pilot and control the motor.

The T-drop in action
, flying over the cornfields

Aerial spraying by drone brings considerable advantages to agricultural professionals. It is non-intrusive to crops, 5 times faster than manual treatment of plots and requires little logistical resources to deploy. The drone is the best way to date to treat corn plots against the borer, by dropping trichogramma.

The performance of our t-drop spreader ensures high yields. On average, drone-based trichogramma release allows for the treatment of approximately 100 hectares per day, at a rate of 100 pupae per hectare, thanks to a flight speed of about 40 km/h.