Perspectives on Terahertz Honey Bee Sensing

This study investigates environmental monitoring of European honey bees (Apis mellifera) through a combination of dielectric measurements, scattering analyses, imaging, and simulations. The dielectric properties of heterogeneous honey bee body parts are characterized across 1–500 GHz and used to develop a digital twin of the honey bee for THz-based analyses.

Honey bee mockups fabricated from polyamide 12 (PA12) and epoxy resin are validated as substitutes for real bees through comparative scattering investigations. The study further explores radar cross-section (RCS), spectral properties, and high-resolution THz imaging using resonant tunneling diodes (RTDs) at 250 GHz and THz time-domain spectroscopy above 250 GHz. Simulations at 300 GHz assess dosimetric aspects and the feasibility of non-invasive, continuous monitoring based on the heterogeneous honey bee model.