title: Modification and Application of a Leaf Blower-vac for Field Sampling of Arthropods.
abstract: Rice fields host a large diversity of arthropods, but investigating their population dynamics and interactions is challenging. Here we describe the modification and application of a leaf blower-vac for suction sampling of arthropod populations in rice. When used in combination with an enclosure, application of this sampling device provides absolute estimates of the populations of arthropods as numbers per standardized sampling area. The sampling efficiency depends critically on the sampling duration. In a mature rice crop, a two-minute sampling in an enclosure of 0.13 m(2) yields more than 90% of the arthropod population. The device also allows sampling of arthropods dwelling on the water surface or the soil in rice paddies, but it is not suitable for sampling fast flying insects, such as predatory Odonata or larger hymenopterous parasitoids. The modified blower-vac is simple to construct, and cheaper and easier to handle than traditional suction sampling devices, such as D-vac. The low cost makes the modified blower-vac also accessible to researchers in developing countries.
authors: Centre for Crop Systems Analysis, Wageningen University; yi.zou.1@hotmail.com.
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Zou
authors: Centre for Crop Systems Analysis, Wageningen University.
authors: Mario D
authors: MD
authors: van Telgen
authors: Institute of Entomology, Jiangxi Agricultural University.
authors: Junhui
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: Institute of Entomology, Jiangxi Agricultural University; hjxiao@jxau.edu.cn.
authors: Haijun
authors: H
authors: Xiao
authors: Department of Science, Open University.
authors: Joop
authors: J
authors: de Kraker
authors: Farming Systems Ecology, Wageningen University.
authors: Felix J J A
authors: FJ
authors: Bianchi
authors: Centre for Crop Systems Analysis, Wageningen University.
authors: Wopke
authors: W
authors: van der Werf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001181:Arthropods / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D007313:Insecta; D012275:Oryza / Q000254:growth & development*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012987:Soil
chemical_list: D012987:Soil