Electrostatic measurement of dischargeable electricity and bioelectric potentials produced by muscular movements in flies

• Published in: Journal of electrostatics 2014-02, Vol.72 (1), p.1-5
• Main Authors: Nonomura, Teruo, Matsuda, Yoshinori, Kakutani, Koji, Kimbara, Junji, Osamura, Kazumi, Kusakari, Shin-ichi, Toyoda, Hideyoshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioelectric potential; Drosophila melanogaster; Electric discharges; Electric field; Electric potential; Electricity; Electrostatics; Flies; Megaselia spiracularis; Movements; Scatella stagnalis; Voltage
• ISSN: 0304-3886; 1873-5738
• DOI: 10.1016/j.elstat.2013.10.012

A simple electrostatic apparatus was devised to measure dischargeable electricity and bioelectric potentials produced by flies. The apparatus involved two insulated electrodes, ICW(−) and ICW(+), oppositely charged with equal voltages supplied by two voltage-generators. In the electric field, the flies became net positive by instantaneously discharging their electricity and were attracted to negative surface charges on ICW(−). The tail-lifting movement by the attracted insect was an action creating electric potentials that could cause discharge of ICW(−). The discharge transiently appeared in response to individual movements and was larger when the tail was lifted at higher angles. •We developed a simple electrostatic apparatus to capture flies.•Attraction of flies was stable enough to consecutively trace the muscular movements.•We measured dischargeable electricity and bioelectric potentials produced by flies.•A tail-lifting movement by the insect was an action creating electric potentials.•The discharge was larger at higher elevation angles of the lifted tail tip.