Optimizing Convolutional Neural Networks for Identifying Invasive
  Pollinator Apis Mellifera and Finding a Ligand drug to Protect California's
  Biodiversity
Arnav Swaroop
In North America, there are many diverse species of native bees crucial for
the environment, who are the primary pollinators of most native floral species.
The Californian agriculture industry imports European honeybees (Apis
Mellifera) primarily for pollinating almonds. Unfortunately, this has resulted
in the unintended consequence of disrupting the native ecosystem and
threatening many native bee species as they are outcompeted for food. Our first
step for protecting the native species is identification with the use of a
Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to differentiate common native bee species
from invasive ones. Removing invasive colonies efficiently without harming
native species is difficult as pesticides cause myriad diseases in native
species. Our approach seeks to prevent the formation of new queens, causing the
colony's collapse. Workers secrete royal jelly, a substance that causes
fertility and longevity; it is fed to future honeybee queens. Targeting the
production of this substance is safe as no native species use it; small organic
molecules (ligands) prevent the proteins Apisimin and MRJP1 from combining and
producing an oligomer used to form the substance. Ideal ligands bind to only
one of these proteins preventing them from joining together: they have a high
affinity for one receptor and a significantly lower affinity for the other. We
optimized the CNN to provide a framework for creating Machine Learning models
that excel at differentiating between subspecies of insects by measuring the
effects of image alteration and class grouping on model performance. The CNN is
able to achieve an accuracy of 82% in differentiating between invasive and
native bee species; 3 ligands have been identified as effective. Our new
approach offers a promising solution to curb the spread of invasive bees within
California through an identification and neutralization method.