Vergelegen Wine Estate in South Africa is using an unconventional method to protect its 130 hectares of vineyards from pests and to reduce the use of chemical insecticides. Under this method, predatory wasps are used as a natural solution for pest control.
According to Matt Davis, head of mapping operations at the company Aerobotics, drones carry out the task by flying about 30 metres above the vineyards. During the flight, as the motor turns, a plastic film unrolls and the wasp pupae are released into nature through this film.
Each flight covers an area of 20 hectares and releases 500 Anagyrus, a parasitic wasp species native to South Africa. The target of these wasps is mealybugs, which damage vine leaves. After the pupae are released onto the ground, adult wasps emerge. Female wasps lay their eggs directly on the harmful pests. The larvae that hatch from the eggs feed by consuming the pests from the inside, thereby creating a natural balance in the vineyards.
While providing environmentally friendly pest control without the use of chemicals, this method also helps keep the vineyards healthy.
