A group of Australian scientists at the University of Queensland is hoping that the study of aggressive behavior in bees will lead to the improvement in missile technology.

The scientists will then look inside the bees' brains to try to find the neurones that control this behavior.

Eliza Middleton University of Queensland, said, "So we want to do it with aggressive bees, so that the trajectory that we have is direct, and we can see just how it is that they're visualising the target possibly, and how they're following it to attack it."

The research has previously been funded by NASA, and now has funding from the US Defense Department, and its practical potential is diverse.

It could be used for aerial coastal surveillance, weather monitoring and minerals exploration.

The Queensland government is also backing the project, hoping it will eventually help to build tracking aircraft.

But it's likely to be at least another four years in the beehive before that's possible.