Some convinced insects could be used to detect bombs. U of M’s "Bee Alert"

Montana researchers’ vision of honeybees swarming across a field to detect landmines in Afghanistan or roadside bombs in Iraq may get a $5 million boost after Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., included the funding in a Defense Department spending bill.

The researchers believe they are on the verge of perfecting a briefcase-size system that can be carried around and deployed easily, using laser technology to track bees that have been trained to find explosives.

"They’re on par with or better than dogs," said Jerry Bromenshenk, a research professor at the University of Montana, who submitted the funding request. "We’re asking for a chance to show it can work in (various) applications."

By NOELLE STRAUB
Gazette Washington Bureau

Bee Alert: http://beekeeper.dbs.umt.edu/bees/

Full Story: http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/08/04/news/state/25-bees.txt