Jan 20, 2026
3 min read
Insects amaze us with their extraordinary abilities: agility, endurance, and natural stealth.Now, a team of Chinese researchers has taken a new step by combining biology and technology to develop an insect UV controller that can remotely control the behavior of living bees.This innovation, at the intersection of science and science fiction, opens up new perspectives on biorobots and raises major ethical questions.
A tool hotter than a bee
The Beijing Institute of Technology, led by Professor Zhao Jieliang, has developed a small system that weighs only 74 milligrams - lighter than a nectar bag carried by a worker bee during flight.This device, which is attached to the insect's back, acts directly on its brain using three small needles, which provide a precise electrical sensation.In response, bees obey specific flight commands, moving in indicated directions with remarkable efficiency, 90% of the time.
This technical feat surpasses previous achievements, including a large controller developed in Singapore that can control beetles and cockroaches, but its weight makes the insects too tiring.With the rapid shortening of the system, the Chinese team allows long and precise use, increasing the possibilities of specific applications.
From Insect to Machine: A Marriage of the Natural and the Technological
The concept of biobots is based on a simple but powerful idea: harness the extraordinary qualities of insects – their mobility, intelligence, ability to adapt – while giving them external, precise and immediate control.These "robotic bees" are therefore more than just machines: they are living organisms integrated into electronic systems, combining the advantages of life with the advantages of technology.
The device is based on an ultra-thin and flexible polymer membrane, the thickness of which is comparable to an insect's wing, capable of small electronic circuits.This innovation will prevent disruption of the natural flight and preserve the agility of the bees, which was a major obstacle in previous attempts.
Promising... and worrying applications
Scientists see many uses for these insect controls.Often, their role is as scouts in relief work: after an earthquake or an industrial disaster, by exploring dangerous or hard-to-reach places, these bees can find survivors or detect threats without being exposed to people.Their stealth is valuable for surveillance in the military or counter-terrorism.
However, this possibility also raises ethical questions.Mind control of living beings raises questions about animal welfare, but also about the dangers of research everywhere.A world where every insect can be a tiny spy presents science fiction situations where privacy is at great risk.
Between nature and science fiction: The parallel with cordyceps
To better understand the scope of this technology, it's interesting to compare it to the natural phenomenon that inspired the science: the parasitic cordyceps fungus.This fungus is capable of controlling the nervous system of some insects, changing their behavior, “zombifying” them.The technology developed by the Beijing team replicates this control, but by replacing the living parasitic organism with an electronic interface.
This parallel highlights how blurred the line between natural and artificial has become today.Biology inspires technology, and technology is now influencing biology to the point of creating new types of hybrid organisms.
Technical problems still need to be overcome
Despite its progress, the system is still not perfect.It requires a power supply, which represents additional weight and limits the operating time.Additionally, in some insects such as cockroaches, electrical pulse control can only be maintained for a limited number of times before the animals become fatigued.
These technical limitations are among the many challenges researchers will have to overcome to make this technology truly operational in the field.The hope is to further reduce the power sources and improve the durability of neural control.
Towards a new era of biological robotics?
By combining the natural intelligence of insects with a sophisticated control interface, this research paves the way for a revolution in the way we design robotics.Far from being noisy, noisy machines, these living cyborgs can accomplish complex tasks with unmatched efficiency, wisdom, and adaptability.
The success of these mind-controlled bees also prompts broader thinking in life technology.What are the permissible limits of modification and manipulation of living beings?How can we ensure that these advances benefit society without creating new behaviors or security risks?
At the beginning of this new frontier, science continues to push the boundaries of what is possible.But every innovation also requires increased vigilance so that progress does not rhyme with drift.The cyborg bee poses this difficult question to us, between wonder and caution.
