EFFECTS OF ARTIFICIALLY PRODUCED ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRICAL FIELDS UPON THE ACTIVITY OF SOME ADULT DIPTERA

This paper describes some effects of experimental electrical fields on the amount of movement of Drosophila and Calliphora. Activity in Drosophila was temporarily reduced by sudden exposure to a potential gradient as low as 10 to 62.5 v/cm and of constant polarity. The period of reduced activity was prolonged by reversing the field polarity at 5-minute intervals. A more transient reduction of activity was observed in Calliphora; however, a much stronger field was necessary to produce the effect. The results do not support the idea that prestorm increases in insect activity are related to potential gradient disturbances. The possibility of effects of insect size on the response to an electrical field is discussed.