Pine beetles cause considerable damage in some forests in central and eastern Europe. In Austria, drones are being used to replant trees after they have been eaten by these invasive insects.
Barely the size of a grain of rice, these bark beetles belonging to the beetle family devour the bark and trunks of pine trees. Native to North America, pine beetles arrived in Europe in the 20th century, where they are considered an invasive species.
To combat damage to trees, drones sow seeds in Tyrol region of Austria to allow forest to regenerate. Since pines are the favorite trees of these invasive insects, scientists and forest rangers are now focusing on other species, such as birch.
Their seeds are coated with clay minerals to make them heavier, and thus allow them to target precisely the desired areas. Drones are particularly practical in very steep areas, and provide support for employees of the Lienz district, who are manually planting several million trees this year alone.
We will have to wait until next year to measure the success of the operation in Tyrol. If the results are promising, the use of these seed-sowing drones could be extended to Austria’s neighboring countries, which also suffer from damage caused by pine beetles.
