Arthropods from the canopy of inundated and terra firme forests near Manaus, Brazil, with critical considerations on the pyrethrum‐fogging technique*

Abstract

Samples of arthropods in canopies of selected trees were collected by pyrethrum-fogging during the early part of the 1977 dry season from three types of neotropical forest: várzea and igapó forest which are inundated seasonally by white-water and black-water rivers respectively, and terra firme forest which is not subject to inundation. Sampling areas were within 30 km of Manaus, Brazil. Number and biomass of arthropods sampled was highest in terra firme, intermediate in igapó and lowest in várzea. Ants were dominant on all sites and a high percentage of their species were found only in one type of forest. It is considered that many taxa are incompletely sampled with the fogging technique. Further statements on the canopy fauna of Central Amazonian forest types should be based on fogging data gathered from all seasons and compared with material sampled with other methods at the same time and locality.