ABSTRACT

This paper presents the first evidence for the potential of non-thermal atmospheric plasma to control agriculturally important insects. Direct plasma exposure was effective in the control of neonates of the tobacco budworm on plastic surfaces, with 85% mortality in a 5 sec exposure. However, the treatment was significantly less effective when the insects were on artificial diet or cotton leaves, suggesting that additional studies are needed to fully understand the interaction between the insects and plasma. However, the atmospheric plasma under these standard conditions was highly effective in the control of aphids and thrips on plants. A 40 sec exposure of green peach aphids on tobacco leaves produced greater than 90% mortality. These studies showed that the plasma effect was selective, and mortality was not the result of changes in the leaf. Mortality of Western flower thrips on snap beans was greater than 95% in 5 sec. These studies suggest that atmospheric plasma may be used as a non-chemical and non-transgenic method of insect control in a variety of possible practical applications.