title: Effect of surface material on electrostatic charging of houseflies (Musca domestica L).
abstract: Houseflies (Musca domestica L) accumulated electrostatic charges when walking over clean, uncharged dielectric surfaces. The charges elicited on a walking housefly by a range of materials were quantified, allowing a triboelectric series to be determined relative to M domestica. This ranged from surfaces that charged individuals positively, e.g. Correx (corrugated polypropylene) [.1 (+/- 4.2)pC], to those that applied a negative charge, e.g. clear cast acrylic [-14.9 (+/- 2.9)pC]. Maximum positive and negative charges accumulated by individual M domestica were +73 and -27 pC. Replicate measurements on the same fly and surface showed little variation. Variation between individuals was not related to sex and was not consistent between surfaces. Different materials charged M domestica significantly differently and individual flies had significantly different charging properties. Variation in temperature between 21.3 degrees C and 24.7 degrees C and humidity between 24% and 41% RH significantly affected charge accumulated by M domestica on some surfaces, although further experimentation is needed to confirm this. The implications of this work are discussed in relation to insect trap design and pollination biology.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biodiversity and Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences Building, Bassett Crescent East, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hampshire SO16 7PX, UK. dfm@soton.ac.uk
authors.forename: Daniel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: McGonigle
authors.forename: Chris W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000080:Acetals / Q000494:pharmacology; D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005260:Female; D005426:Flight, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D005898:Glass; D006793:Houseflies / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006813:Humidity; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000494:pharmacology; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D055672:Static Electricity; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000187:drug effects; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000080:Acetals; D000180:Acrylic Resins; D011126:Polypropylenes; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate