AI technology aids in discovering chemicals that deter honey bees from pesticides.

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have created a machine learning method to identify chemical compounds that can effectively repel honey bees from crops treated with pesticides. This advancement addresses the critical issue of declining honey bee populations, partly due to pesticide exposure. Led by Anandasankar Ray, a professor specializing in insect olfactory behavior, the interdisciplinary team focused on the complexity of the honey bee's olfactory system, which has over 200 receptors for various volatile compounds. Finding repellent scents has been challenging, but Ray's team aimed to use scent as a deterrent safely.