title: Development and evaluation of a new method for sampling and monitoring the symphylid population in pineapple.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Symphylids (Hanseniella sp.) are polyphagous soilborne parasites. Today, symphylid populations on pineapple are monitored by observing root symptoms and the presence of symphylids at the bottom of basal leaves. The authors developed a reliable method with a bait and trap device to monitor symphylid populations in pineapple or fallow crops. The spatial distribution of the symphylid populations was evaluated using the variance/mean ratios and spatial analyses based on Moran's and Geary's indices. The method has been tested to monitor symphylid populations at different developmental stages of pineapple.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adding potato baits to the soil samples increased the trapping efficiency of symphylids when compared with 'soil only' and 'bait only' methods. The handling of the samples is also facilitated by the new device. Results showed that the vertical distribution of symphylids may be uniform deeply inside the soil profile under pineapple, up to 50 cm. Results showed that symphylid populations are highly aggregated, showing a spot area about 4-6 m wide for their development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new method allows better and easier evaluation of symphylid populations. It may be very useful in the evaluation of new IPM methods to control symphylids under pineapple.
authors.affiliation: CIRAD, PERSYST, Pôle de Recherche Agroenvironnementale de la Martinique, Petit-Morne, BP214, 97285 Le Lamentin, Martinique. alain.soler@cirad.fr
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soler
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gaude
authors.forename: Paul-Alex
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Marie-Alphonsine
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vinatier
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dole
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Govindin
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Queneherve
mesh_terms: D031230:Ananas / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology*; D000818:Animals; D001181:Arthropods / Q000254:growth & development*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D061066:Plant Pathology; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil