Security - Explosives Detection

At Inscentinel we have trained our honeybees to a wide variety of explosive compounds and mixtures including Semtex, PE4, TNT, C4, DMNB and Gunpowder. Recently we have also experienced success in training bees to detect hydrogen peroxide which cannot be detected by sniffer dogs.

Training of Bees to Hydrogen Peroxide - In a study funded by the Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB), our honeybees quickly learned to detect 50% aqueous hydrogen peroxide.

Limits of Detection of Bees for TNT - In 2005 Inscentinel obtained results indicating that honeybees could detect low parts per trillion concentrations of TNT, a limit of detection lower than commercial ion scanners and at least as good as sniffer dogs.

Car Bomb Detection Demonstration - In 2004 Inscentinel was commissioned to test the effectiveness of honeybees in detecting car bombs. The study was carried out at a US military installation in Arizona using local honeybees trained onsite, and showed that bees can be used effectively to detect car bombs from a vehicle line-up.

Inscentinel's managing director, Stephen James, using our system to detect TNT in a US military field trial in Arizona.