While flying insects such as moths are of "great interest," hopping and swimming candidates are acceptable, as well. The cyborg-insect must also be able to remain still at a target area for indefinite time periods or until it received a prompt from its handler. Among the gear it would carry would be a gas sensor, a microphone and a video camera.

The spokeswoman acknowledged there are many challenges to the project, such as how to control the insect's locomotion and how to power the device that would be used. "We have to find a way to scavenge power from the insect to run the device," she said.

"Certainly, it's not something we've done before." The insect's own heat and power-generating motions could render a battery superfluous. These thermal and mechanical electrical energy-conversion methods, "coupled to the integrated insect platforms," are expected as outcomes of the program, the proposal states.

DARPA also stated it would hold a workshop for those interested in submitting proposals to the HI-MEMS program on March 24 in the Arlington, Va., area.