Selective Arcing Electrostatically Eradicates Rice Weevils in Rice Grains

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Rice stored in warehouses is frequently attacked by rice weevils, which must therefore be controlled. We developed an electrostatic method as an alternative to pesticides. An arc discharge exposer (ADE) kills insects entering an electric field. The apparatus has pairs of identical metal plates, one of which is linked to a voltage generator for negative charging, the other is grounded. A −7 kV electric field forms between the two plates. When an insect enters the electric field it is arced by the charged plate and killed. We combined this method with a technique that lures insects hiding in rice grains. When a vessel containing rice and insects was rotated and then returned to the initial position, the weevils climbed up the vessel walls and entered the ADE. Dead insects were collected to minimize rice contamination. This method efficiently killed pests in stored rice. ABSTRACT: We developed an arc discharge exposer (ADE) that kills rice weevils nesting in dried rice. The ADE features multiple identical metal plates, half of these are linked to a voltage generator and the others are grounded. The plates were arrayed in parallel and an electric field formed between them. Any insect entering the field was arced from the negatively charged plate and killed. The ADE was placed on a vessel containing pest-infested rice grains; the insects were lured out of the grains by mechanically vibrating the vessel. When rice grains move, insects tend to climb upward, thus, the weevils were effectively removed. Our electrostatic apparatus is easy to construct and could be used to control pests in stored rice.