Atreya Manaswi
Orlando Science High School
Orlando, Florida
Eco-Friendly & Low-Cost Honey Bee Treatment with BeetleGuardAI
Atreya developed BeetleGuardAI, an AI-driven, eco-friendly, low-cost solution for pests in honey bee hives.
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Atreya Manaswi, 19, of Orlando, developed BeetleGuardAI, an eco-friendly, low-cost pest management system, for his Regeneron Science Talent Search animal sciences project. Honey bees are crucial to biodiversity and are important in pollinating crops. However, these insects have been dying at alarming rates. One cause is small hive beetle (SHB) infestations.
In his project, which spanned five years, Atreya made and tested a low-cost beer-based oil blend to attract and bait SHBs. He then created the BeetleGuardAI system. It uses a 3D-printed, sensor-equipped trap loaded with the beer-based bait. A machine learning model uses the sensor data to predict future hive infestations. Using the tool’s app interface, beekeepers can make tailored pest control plans. Atreya’s traps captured over 99% of SHBs, while the AI model predicted future infestations with 94% reliability.
Atreya, child of Sonia Oberoi and Abhijit Manaswi, attends Orlando Science High School. He founded and leads the school’s Red Cross club and also founded the International Youth STEM Society, a nonprofit that provides equitable access to STEM and research in underserved schools and communities.
Beyond the Project
Atreya is the author of a children’s picture book called “The Bee Story.” He does readings in local libraries and schools to raise awareness about honey bees and the climate crisis.
FUN FACTS: Atreya holds a second-degree black belt in taekwondo, which he has been practicing for nine years. He is also an acoustic guitarist and actor.
