An Australian honey bee with a small RFID chip.
Scientists with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) are studying bee behavior and the impact of pesticides on bee colonies around the world by rolling out an unusual program that involves attaching
small sensors to tens of thousands of bees:
The sensors are tiny radio frequency identification (RFID) tags measuring 2.5 x 2.5 millimetres and weighing 5.4 milligrams.
To attach one of these devices to a bee, the insect is briefly refrigerated in order to slow down its metabolism. Then the tag is secured to the bee's back with an adhesive. Dr de Souza said the tag weighs about one-third of the bee's body weight. He said the tag causes a slight change in the way a bee flies and results in it only being able to carry two-thirds of its normal payload of water, pollen and nectar.
The sensors work much like an e-tag on a car. A reader fitted inside the hive is able to register as many as 50 tags simultaneous. The information is then transmitted back to the researchers.
In Australia and Brazil, 15,000 bees have already been tagged. They are hoping to expand the program globally:
The program, which began in Tasmania 18 months ago, is now also being used in Brazil. Dr de Souza said he has had many inquiries from other parts of the world and hopes to extend the project soon to Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina and the United Kingdom. Bees in the radioactive area of Chernobyl, in Ukraine, will also be part of the study.
Learn more about the technology and goals behind this innovative program in the following short videos: