Sampling Methods in Soybean Entomology

Insects as a group occupy a middle ground in the biosphere between bacteria and viruses at one extreme, amphibians and mammals at the other. The size and gen­ eral nature of insects present special problems to the student of entomology. For example, many commercially available instruments are geared to measure in grams, while the forces commonly encountered in studying insects are in the mil­ ligram range. Therefore, techniques developed in the study of insects or in those fields concerned with the control of insect pests are often unique. Methods for measuring things are common to all sciences. Advances sometimes depend more on how something was done than on what was measured; indeed a given field often progresses from one technique to another as new methods are discovered, developed, and modified. Just as often, some of these techniques fmd their way into the classroom when the problems involved have been suffici­ ently ironed out to permit students to master the manipulations in a few labo­ ratory periods. Many specialized techniques are confined to one specific research laboratory. Although methods may be considered commonplace where they are used, in another context even the simplest procedures may save considerable time. It is the purpose of this series (1) to report new developments in methodology, (2) to reveal sources of groups who have dealt with and solved particular entomological problems, and (3) to describe experiments which might be applicable for use in biology laboratory courses.

Table of Contents:
Section I Concepts and Techniques.- 1 Soybean Growth and Assessment of Damage by Arthropods.- 2 General Sampling Methods for Above-Ground Populations of Soybean Arthropods.- 3 Introduction to Sampling Theory.- 4 Sequential Sampling Plans for Soybean Arthropods.- 5 Sequential Estimation of Soybean Arthropod Population Densities.- Section II Lepidopterous Defoliators.- 6 Sampling Velvetbean Caterpillar on Soybean.- 7 Sampling Soybean Looper on Soybean.- 8 Sampling Green Cloverworm on Soybean.- Section III Coleopterous Defoliators.- 9 Sampling Mexican Bean Beetle on Soybean.- 10 Sampling Bean Leaf Beetles on Soybean.- Section IV Other Foliage Feeders.- 11 Sampling Aphids in Soybean Fields.- 12 Sampling Leafhoppers on Soybean.- 13 Sampling Phytophagous Thrips on Soybean.- 14 Sampling Whiteflies on Soybean.- 15 Sampling Mites on Soybean.- Section V Underground Feeders.- 16 Sampling Phytophagous Underground Soybean Arthropods.- Section VI Stem and Axil Feeders.- 17 Sampling Coleopterous Stem Borers in Soybean.- 18 Sampling Epinotia aporema on Soybean.- 19 Sampling Threecomered Alfalfa Hopper on Soybean.- 20 Sampling Stem Flies in Soybean.- Section VII Pod Feeders.- 21 Sampling Heliothis spp. on Soybean.- 22 Sampling Lepidopterous Pod Borers on Soybean.- 23 Sampling Phytophagous Pentatomidae on Soybean.- Section VIII Natural Control Agents.- 24 Sampling Parasitoids of Soybean Insect Pests.- 25 Sampling Predaceous Hemiptera on Soybean.- 26 Sampling Ground Predators in Soybean Fields.- 27 Sampling Spiders in Soybean Fields.- 28 Sampling Pathogens of Soybean Insect Pests.