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A new inexpensive suction apparatus for sampling arthropods in grassland
Author(s) -
STEWART ALAN J. A.,
WRIGHT ANN F.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
ecological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.865
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2311
pISSN - 0307-6946
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2311.1995.tb00434.x
Subject(s) - biology , grassland , suction , sampling (signal processing) , ecology , zoology , computer science , engineering , mechanical engineering , filter (signal processing) , computer vision
.1 We describe a new technique for sampling arthropods from grassland and other vegetation, using a modified petrol‐driven suction apparatus called a‘Blow & Vac’. 2 The new apparatus was tested by comparing its efficiency in extracting arthropods from vegetation with that of a conventional Dietrick, or‘D‐Vac’, suction sampler. 3 Unimpeded air velocity inside the suction tube was approximately 4 times that of the D‐Vac. 4 In field trials on semi‐natural grasslands, the Blow & Vac caught more individuals of most spider and certain beetle species compared to the D‐Vac and approximately equal numbers of Auchenorrhyncha. 5 We conclude that the‘Blow & Vac’has considerable potential for sampling arthropod populations. Its low cost and weight make it a suitable alternative to the conventional D‐Vac apparatus.