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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Southern Insect Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #194041
Title: MULTI-STATE EVALUATION OF BUG SAMPLING METHODS IN BLOOMING COTTON

Author
item BAGWELL, RALPH - LSU AG CENTER
item MUSSER, F - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
item CATCHOT, A - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
item ROBBINS, J - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
item BURRIS, E - LSU AG CENTER
item COOK, D - LSU AG CENTER
item LORENZ, G - UNIV OF ARKANSAS
item STUDEBAKER, G - UNIV OF ARKANSAS
item GREENE, J - UNIV OF ARKANSAS
item Gore, Jeffrey
item STEWART, S - UNIV OF TENNESSEE

Submitted to: Extension Publications
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2006
Publication Date: 10/1/2006
Citation: Bagwell, R., Musser, F., Catchot, A., Robbins, J., Burris, E., Cook, D., Lorenz, G., Studebaker, G., Greene, J., Gore, J., Stewart, S. 2006. Multi-state evaluation of bug sampling methods in blooming cotton. Extension Publications.

Interpretive Summary: Several different sampling methods for detection of tarnished plant bug densities were tested in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Sweep net and drop cloth sampling methods were about equally efficient but have different biases. Although sweep nets catch many more adults, more nymphs are found on drop cloths. Sweep nets had a stronger correlation with other sampling methods than drop cloths. Dirty blooms were the most efficient indirect sampling method tested and generally generated a recommendation consistent with the other sampling methods. The occurrence of dirty blooms, however, may respond slowly to changes in plant bug numbers (i.e., may be more indicative of previous pest densities than current infestation levels). Dirty squares also provided valuable information about insect densities.

Technical Abstract: Several different sampling methods for detection of tarnished plant bug densities were tested in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Sweep net and drop cloth sampling methods were about equally efficient but have different biases. Although sweep nets catch many more adults, more nymphs are found on drop cloths. Sweep nets had a stronger correlation with other sampling methods than drop cloths. Dirty blooms were the most efficient indirect sampling method tested and generally generated a recommendation consistent with the other sampling methods. The occurrence of dirty blooms, however, may respond slowly to changes in plant bug numbers (i.e., may be more indicative of previous pest densities than current infestation levels). Dirty squares also provided valuable information about insect densities.