Insect Physical Control: Electric Field-Based Pest Management Approach

Abstract

The Special Issue ‘Insect physical control: electric field-based pest management approach’ was launched to showcase valuable new research on pest control using applied electrostatic engineering. Some phenomena generated in static and dynamic electric fields can be used to build new devices to capture or kill target insects using an attractive force or a force striking insects entering an electric field. This research field is new, and there are few researchers currently working within it. Consequently, this editorial introduces the history and general principles of electric field generation. I then discuss future directions for this field.

Comparing Traditional and Contemporary Approaches to Integrated Pest Management in Major Field Crops

“…Physical and mechanical controls encompass a range of techniques involving the use of tools, devices, and barriers to create an inhospitable environment for insect pests, preventing them from accessing their resources (Toyoda, 2020). This approach includes various tactics such as handpicking, the use of screens and barriers, trapping devices, and the employment of hand and bag nets.…”