Visualization of helium dielectric barrier discharge treatment of green peach aphids on tobacco leaves

Nonthermal nonchemical dielectric barrier discharge treatment of green peach aphids has shown to be an effective method of insect control when the insects are on a synthetic mesh substrate. The efficacy of the treatment, represented as percent mortality, is reduced when the aphids reside on tobacco leaves. The reduction in treatment appears to be the result of streamer formation on the leaves. Although the streamer formation has reduced the treatment for aphids on tobacco leaves under our experimental conditions, control of insects such as lice and fleas that reside on alternative substrates can benefit from dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) treatment. Alternative conditions for the generation of DBD may be possible for insect control on plants.