A Method and Contrivance for Sampling Pea Aphid Populations1

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Abstract
A method of sampling pea-aphid (Macrosiphum pisi) populations by means of which 2 or more persons could sample the same area and obtain equivalent results was developed. It consisted of plucking the top 6 inches of the plants at random in an area, shaking the aphids from the plant tips, and counting the aphids. A sampling can which consisted of a funnel covered with coarse screen mounted below a gas chamber was used to separate the aphids from plant parts. The plant tips and aphids were placed in the gas chamber containing fumes of methyl-iso-butyl ketone and left for 5 min.; the fumes caused the aphids to drop from the plant parts. The can containing the plant tips and aphids was given 50 shakes thus causing the aphids to fall through the screen and be caught in a 4-ounce Sealrite carton at the bottom of the funnel. The aphids were counted in the laboratory later. One person, without previous experience, could take 40 samples by this method and count the aphids in about 8 hrs.

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