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AGRICULTURE, AGROCHEMICAL, FEED PRODUCTION, AGROECOLOGY

CAPSULE-BASED APPLICATION OF ENTOMOPHAGES USING UAVS: AN APPROACH TO BIOLOGICAL PLANT PROTECTION

Alua Rysbekova 1 , Zibash Beknazarova 1 , Rinat Fazylbekov 1 , Marat Boltayev 2 , Alexey Nikonorov 2

1 LLP “Kazakh Research Institute of Plant Protection and Quarantine named after Zh. Zhiembayev”; 2 LLP "Kazakh Research Institute of Plant Protection and Quarantine named after Zh. Zhiembayev"

doi.org/10.37884/3-2025/15 pp. 165-176 Admitted 11.07.2025 Published 30.09.2025

Abstract

Modern agriculture is undergoing a transition toward sustainable technologies, which involve reducing the use of chemical pesticides. Biological control using entomophages offers an eco-friendly alternative; however, its widespread implementation is limited by the labor intensity of manual distribution and the inaccessibility of certain agricultural areas. This paper presents the development of the BioDrop hardware–software system—an attachable device for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that enables precise distribution of entomophages in biodegradable PLA capsules. The methodology of rapid prototyping (3D modeling, FDM printing), control system architecture based on Raspberry Pi → ESP32 with GPS/GLONASS navigation and an Android application, as well as laboratory and field tests, are described. A 100% emergence rate of Trichogramma spp. imagos was achieved at +30 °C within 6 hours, with a capsule drop deviation of less than 1 m in wind conditions up to 8 m/s at a height of 3 m. The production cost of one capsule was 36 KZT. The results confirm the effectiveness of automated entomophage distribution under field conditions.

Thus, the developed BioDrop hardware–software system has demonstrated high efficiency and practical applicability for automated entomophage deployment in agricultural fields. The use of PLA capsules, accurate navigation, and stable device performance under varying weather conditions confirm its potential as a sustainable and economically viable alternative to chemical plant protection methods. The obtained results—100% emergence rate of Trichogramma spp., minimal drop deviation, and low capsule cost—highlight the promise of this technology for large-scale integration into biological farming systems.

Keywords: entomophages, biological plant protection, unmanned aerial vehicles, PLA capsules, precision application, hardware–software system

entomophages biological plant protection unmanned aerial vehicles PLA capsules precision application hardware–software system biological control device software BioDrop

01 Introduction

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02 References

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Citation Links

[1]2025. CAPSULE-BASED APPLICATION OF ENTOMOPHAGES USING UAVS: AN APPROACH TO BIOLOGICAL PLANT PROTECTION. Izdenister natigeler. 3 (107) (Sep. 2025), 165–176. DOI:https://doi.org/10.37884/3-2025/15.
(1)CAPSULE-BASED APPLICATION OF ENTOMOPHAGES USING UAVS: AN APPROACH TO BIOLOGICAL PLANT PROTECTION. Izdenister natigeler 2025, No. 3 (107), 165-176. https://doi.org/10.37884/3-2025/15.
CAPSULE-BASED APPLICATION OF ENTOMOPHAGES USING UAVS: AN APPROACH TO BIOLOGICAL PLANT PROTECTION. (2025). Izdenister Natigeler, 3 (107), 165-176. https://doi.org/10.37884/3-2025/15
CAPSULE-BASED APPLICATION OF ENTOMOPHAGES USING UAVS: AN APPROACH TO BIOLOGICAL PLANT PROTECTION. Izdenister natigeler, [S. l.], n. 3 (107), p. 165–176, 2025. DOI: 10.37884/3-2025/15. Disponível em: https://natsus.kaznaru.edu.kz/index.php/research/article/view/982. Acesso em: 15 sep. 2026.
“CAPSULE-BASED APPLICATION OF ENTOMOPHAGES USING UAVS: AN APPROACH TO BIOLOGICAL PLANT PROTECTION”. 2025. Izdenister Natigeler, no. 3 (107) (September): 165-76. https://doi.org/10.37884/3-2025/15.
“CAPSULE-BASED APPLICATION OF ENTOMOPHAGES USING UAVS: AN APPROACH TO BIOLOGICAL PLANT PROTECTION” (2025) Izdenister natigeler, (3 (107), pp. 165–176. doi:10.37884/3-2025/15.
[1]“CAPSULE-BASED APPLICATION OF ENTOMOPHAGES USING UAVS: AN APPROACH TO BIOLOGICAL PLANT PROTECTION”, Izdenister natigeler, no. 3 (107), pp. 165–176, Sep. 2025, doi: 10.37884/3-2025/15.
“CAPSULE-BASED APPLICATION OF ENTOMOPHAGES USING UAVS: AN APPROACH TO BIOLOGICAL PLANT PROTECTION”. Izdenister Natigeler, no. 3 (107), Sept. 2025, pp. 165-76, https://doi.org/10.37884/3-2025/15.
“CAPSULE-BASED APPLICATION OF ENTOMOPHAGES USING UAVS: AN APPROACH TO BIOLOGICAL PLANT PROTECTION”. Izdenister natigeler, no. 3 (107) (September 30, 2025): 165–176. Accessed September 15, 2026. https://natsus.kaznaru.edu.kz/index.php/research/article/view/982.
1.CAPSULE-BASED APPLICATION OF ENTOMOPHAGES USING UAVS: AN APPROACH TO BIOLOGICAL PLANT PROTECTION. Izdenister natigeler [Internet]. 2025 Sep. 30 [cited 2026 Sep. 15];(3 (107):165-76. Available from: https://natsus.kaznaru.edu.kz/index.php/research/article/view/982
1.CAPSULE-BASED APPLICATION OF ENTOMOPHAGES USING UAVS: AN APPROACH TO BIOLOGICAL PLANT PROTECTION. Izdenister natigeler. 2025;(3 (107):165-176. doi:10.37884/3-2025/15