Evaluation of Three Drop Traps for Sampling Aster Leafhoppers (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) in Rice

Abstract

Three drop traps were developed and evaluated for sampling the aster leafhopper, Macrosteles fascifrons (Stal), in flooded rice paddies. The emergence trap collected the fewest number of leafhoppers per unit area. The transparent cylinder and plant sampler collected the greatest number of adults and nymphs per unit area, respectively. Use of the emergence trap and transparent cylinder required 5–10 min per sample for collection, identification, and enumeration. Each sample from the plant sampler required 10 min for collection, 24 h for processing in a Berlese funnel, and 5–10 min for identification and enumeration.