Sampling Soybean Insects by Various D-Vac, Sweep, and Ground Cloth Methods

Variations of D-Vac, sweep, and ground cloth methods were compared as sampling tools for estimating density of populations of insects in soybeans. Insects sampled included the Mexican bean beetle, Epilachna varivestis Mulsant; the green cloverworm, Plathypena scabra (F.); the soybean looper, Pseudoplusia includens (Walker); the corn earworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie); the velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hubner; the bean leaf beetle, Cerotoma trifurcata (Forster); and certain geocorids and nabids. Ground cloth methods were the most efficient based on numbers collected, coefficients of variability, and time requirements. Sweeping across and through 2 rows was adequate for most species and more efficient than sweeping along 1 row. Variations of the D-Vac method were generally ineffective for the insects sampled in this study.