Physical Methods for Electrical Trap-and-Kill Fly Traps Using Electrified Insulated Conductors

Yoshinori Matsuda; Teruo Nonomura; Hideyoshi Toyoda

doi:10.3390/insects13030253

Physical Methods for Electrical Trap-and-Kill Fly Traps Using Electrified Insulated Conductors

Insects. 2022 Mar 3;13(3):253. doi: 10.3390/insects13030253.

Authors

Yoshinori Matsuda¹, Teruo Nonomura^{1

2}, Hideyoshi Toyoda³

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Phytoprotection Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, Nara 631-8505, Japan.
² Agricultural Technology and Innovation Research Institute, Kindai University, Nara 631-8505, Japan.
³ Research Association of Electric Field Screen Supporters, Nara 631-8505, Japan.

Abstract

In the present study, we analyzed negative electricity released from insects captured by an electric field (EF)-producing apparatus. Adult houseflies (Musca domestica) were used as the model insect. The EF producer consisted of a negatively charged polyvinyl chloride membrane-insulated iron plate (N-PIP) and a non-insulated grounded iron plate (GIP) paralleled with the N-PIP. An EF was formed in the space between the plates. A housefly placed on the GIP was physically attracted to the N-PIP, and electricity released from the fly was detected as a specific transient electric current at the time of attraction and during subsequent confinement of the fly to the N-PIP. The magnitude of the insect-derived electric current became larger as the voltage applied to the N-PIP increased. We determined the total amount of electric current and confinement time within the apparatus necessary to kill all captured flies. These results demonstrate the insecticidal function and insect-capturing ability of the EF-producing apparatus.

Keywords: attractive force; bioelectrical measurement; electric field producer; electricity release; insecticidal function; lethal effect; physical pest control; repulsive force.