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03/06/2008: "Cyborg insect spies"

Scientists are creating real-life "flies-on-the-walls" by fitting insects with special implants that enable them to be used as spies.

The creatures are being installed with special electrodes, batteries and even video cameras that enable them to be remote-controlled and used for surveillance.

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is currently experimenting by inserting tiny brain probes into insects such as moths and beetles whilst they are still in the pupa stage.

As the creature develops, the implants are naturally incorporated into their body enabling them to send back information to a central computer.

[ Yeah, Big Brother sucks, and is a byproduct of people not admitting the need for social consensus, but we ran this article just because it's cool. Cyborg insect spies. Repeat after me... ]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/03/06/scirobot106.xml&CMP=ILC-mostviewedbox