A new inexpensive suction apparatus for sampling arthropods in grassland

Abstract

Abstract. We describe a new technique for sampling arthropods from grassland and other vegetation, using a modified petrol‐driven suction apparatus called a‘Blow & Vac’. The new apparatus was tested by comparing its efficiency in extracting arthropods from vegetation with that of a conventional Dietrick, or‘D‐Vac’, suction sampler. Unimpeded air velocity inside the suction tube was approximately 4 times that of the D‐Vac. In field trials on semi‐natural grasslands, the Blow & Vac caught more individuals of most spider and certain beetle species compared to the D‐Vac and approximately equal numbers of Auchenorrhyncha. We conclude that the‘Blow & Vac’has considerable potential for sampling arthropod populations. Its low cost and weight make it a suitable alternative to the conventional D‐Vac apparatus.