Influence of electric fields on flying insects

The paper describes experiments on blowflies and fruitflies in electrostatic fields. At a high enough field strength, yet not so high as to cause flashover, the insect becomes paralysed; however, if the field is quickly removed the insect eventually regains control and can fly away apparently unharmed. This occurs whether the insect is originally in contact with one of the electrodes or in flight between the electrodes. It is suggested that the nervous system is affected by conduction currents resulting from corona discharges due to local field enhancement at irreugularities on the insects´ bodies.