Abstract
The vertical beat sheet (VBS) is a method for sampling insect populations in soybean fields. VBS prototypes were constructed from galvanized metal flashing (91.4 cm [36 in.] wide) crimped to provide a vertical beating surface (86.2 cm [34 in.] tall) and a trough 10.15 cm (4 in.) wide. For sampling, the trough is positioned at the base of row-planted soybean plants and arthropods are removed along 91.4 cm (36 in.) of row by shaking and beating the foliage against the vertically positioned surface. Dislodged arthropods slide into the trough where they can be counted in the field or poured into a container to be counted elsewhere. The entire sampling process can be accomplished without kneeling down between the rows. Preliminary data and analytical results comparing collection efficiency of the VBS to the ground cloth in late-season, R3–5 row-planted soybean fields indicate that these methods are comparable for sampling certain arthropods.
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