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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Effective trapping methods for assessing invertebrates in vineyards

L. J. Thomson A B C , P. J. Neville B and A. A. Hoffmann B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Cooperative Research Centre for Viticulture, PO Box 154, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.

B Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic. 3083, Australia.

C Author for correspondence. Email: L.Thomson@latrobe.edu.au

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 44(9) 947-953 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA03219
Submitted: 31 October 2003  Accepted: 12 March 2004   Published: 22 October 2004

Abstract

There is increasing interest in developing environmental management systems to ensure that agricultural industries are sustainable; invertebrate indicators provide one potential tool for monitoring sustainable production. As a first step in developing invertebrate indicators for viticulture, we compare the efficiency of 3 common trapping methods in assessing populations of relevant orders of invertebrates. Yellow sticky traps were more effective in trapping Hymenoptera, Thysanoptera, Hemiptera, Diptera, Araneae and Coleoptera; transparent sticky traps were best for Lepidoptera and Neuroptera; and pitfall traps for Collembola and the family Formicidae. Numbers collected differed among months and December was the best month, overall, for trapping. Preliminary guidelines are developed for assessing key orders. While several methods are required for assessing invertebrate biodiversity, most orders can be sampled with a single method, particularly the yellow sticky trap. Our results indicate that changes in numbers of beneficial orders, due to changes in management practices, can be detected. Power analyses suggest a relatively small number of yellow sticky traps would be sufficient to detect changes of around 30%, or greater.


Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Australia’s grapegrowers and winemakers, through their investment body the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation, with matching funds from the Federal Government. Infrastructure support for this research was provided by the Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research funded by the Australian Research Council. We also thank Ryan Johnstone and Jack and June Church at Warramate vineyard, for access to the vineyard.


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