Research Paper
Electrocution Of Mosquitoes In A Piggery By A Novel Electrostatic Window Screen To Minimize Mosquito Transmission Of Japanese Encephalitis Virus
Kakutani K, Matsuda Y, Takikawa Y, Nonomura T, Okada K, Shibao M, Kusakari S, Miyama K, Toyoda H
A novel electrostatic window screen was devised for installation in the windows of a piggery to prevent house mosquitoes (Culex pipiens) from transmitting Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) to the surrounding human population. The apparatus consisted of three parallel stainless steel nets and a direct-current voltage generator. The central net (CN) was linked to the voltage generator to accumulate a negative charge, while the external nets (ENs) on either side of the CN were linked to a grounded line. The negative charge on CN positively polarized ENs through electrostatic induction, forming an electric field between CN and EN. The electrostatic discharge (arc and silent discharges) from the CN was dependent on the distance between the nets (pole distance) and the voltage applied to the CN. Adult mosquitoes were introduced into the electric field between the nets, which were charged with the voltages without triggering an arc discharge in the CN. Once the insects were introduced, they were subjected to an instantaneous and transient electric current by an arc discharge from the CN and violently ejected from the electric field. This electrocution was selective due to the high conductivity of the insect cuticle, and the number of electrocuted insects increased as the applied voltage increased. The proposed system was simple and easy to construct, and its scale could be increased through the use of larger nets corresponding to the size of the windows in specific livestock facilities. This study presents the experimental basis for the practical application of an electrostatic-based pest control method.
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