Exploring the Similarities Between Drones and Butterflies

The Monarch butterfly, known for its impressive migration of 2,500 miles across Mexico, the United States, and Canada, is now classified as endangered due to illegal logging in Mexico and excessive herbicides in the central US states. Climate change also poses a threat to the butterfly’s migration and eco-tourism in the region. The journey takes five months of the butterfly’s nine-month lifespan, and only those born around August, known as the Methuselah generation, undertake this journey. These butterflies act as important pollinators and assist in crop growth.

To help preserve the butterflies, the Oyamel forests in Mexico have been designated a Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and permanent monitoring for tree health is necessary. Drones can fly over and identify trees of failing health, which can be eliminated before they affect the rest of the tree population. A fleet of conservation drones, especially the Mavic 3 Multispectral, is being used by drone operators Cielito Drone and scientists from the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo to identify affected trees fast using 3D maps assembled by DJI Terra.

The Mavic 3 Multispectral has four cameras that can capture 45 megapixels worth of green, red, red-edge, and near-infrared light wavelengths. The drone also has terrain-follow capabilities, allowing it to keep a consistent height from the ground as it assembles its images. This technology can also be deployed by farmers to identify crop damage and target pesticide use, minimizing total use and offering more hope to the Monarch butterfly.

The team also uses a Matrice 300 RTK with Zenmuse L1 optic to very precisely measure the trees and biomass at sites where the butterflies arrive. Together, a survey that used to take six days can now be achieved in one day with higher levels of detail. DJI has other enterprise offerings, such as the Mavic 3 Thermal, and it’s always worth checking out our guide to the best camera drones.