Parabug
Salinas-based drone biocontrol company; patent-pending insect release technology; UC extension-backed research on drone-released lacewings for aphid control
Founded in 2016, Parabug has built a California and Idaho equipment rental practice covering row crops grown in the region. From a Salinas base, the crew covers California and Idaho growers inside the California region. Commercial drone applicators in California need FAA Part 137 plus an aerial category endorsement on a state pesticide applicator license issued by CDPR (CalEPA).
Operations are based in the California region.
Services offered
Equipment used
Certifications & compliance
States served (2)
Aerial pesticide licensing in states served
Every state requires a pesticide applicator license with the aerial category endorsement on top of FAA Part 137. The agencies that issue these licenses in Parabug's service area:
- California — Any commercial drone spray over California fields needs CDPR Unmanned Pest Control Aircraft Pilot Certificate, issued by CDPR (CalEPA).
- Idaho — aerial pesticide work runs through Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) under Category AA: Aerial Applicators.
Full agency, exam and renewal-cycle details by state are catalogued on the state pesticide licensing reference.
Verify and resources
Primary-source references for verifying credentials and looking up state-specific rules in Parabug's service area.
Frequently asked questions
Verifying Parabug runs through three independent checks: Part 107 via the FAA Airmen Inquiry, Part 137 via the issuing FAA Flight Standards office, and the state aerial-category pesticide applicator license via the receiving state's department of agriculture. In California the state credential is issued by CDPR (CalEPA); you can ask the operator for the applicator license number and verify it with the agency directly. Pair that with a current chemical-drift COI and the Section 44807 exemption number for due diligence.
Typical drone spraying rates of $12 to $22 per acre in the region is application-only — the chemical itself, surfactants and adjuvants are usually farmer-supplied. The rate covers calibration, RTK GPS flight planning, the labor to fly the field, mixing and loading from the supplied product, and the FIFRA Part 170 application record (date, time, product, EPA reg number, rate, weather, field ID). Watch for travel surcharges past a stated radius, weekend or emergency-turnaround premiums, terrain or obstruction add-ons, and any minimum-acreage floor on small fields. Confirm in writing.
Request a quote from Parabug
Tell Parabug about your fields. They reply within 24 hours, often faster during spray season. Free, no obligation, and you can also ask for 2 more quotes from verified operators in California to compare.
- Goes directly to Parabug, not a call center.
- 3 quotes max if you broaden, never more. We never sell your info.