Insect species recorded in sugarcane fields of Khon Kaen Province, Thailand, over three seasons in 2012

Study Extent

Khon Kaen III sugarcane variety in Muang District sugarcane fields (16°18.85'N, 102°49.644’E, 16°18.698'N, 102°49.303’E, 16°13.989'N, 102°48.56’E, 16°13.5'N, 102°48.335'E; geographic coordinate system: WGS84).

Sampling

We collected insect species within the plots with black light-blue light traps (20 W light bulbs) covered with 100 × 100 cm of thin white cloth (Fig. 2). Using a net, we captured all of the insects attracted to the lights. The sampling effort required of this procedure was quite tractable. Sugarcane grows rapidly and is able to develop from seedling to mature phases in a few months, reaching a final height of > 3 m. Sweeping and beating to collect insects in the cane fields through the seasons required unacceptably high levels of effort. The light trap sampling system is very straightforward compared with direct collection procedures, such as sweeping and beating. The light traps were located 2 m distant from the plot edges, and 1 m above ground level. The lights shone from 18:00 through 19:30 on each sampling day. Insect collection was only performed under very uniform conditions by avoiding days with rain or wind; the temperature in this part of Thailand varies very little throughout the year. Only rainfall irrigates sugarcane in this area with cane planted in the dry season (October–December), and harvested the following year in the November–February. We made one insect collection in each plot during each of three phases of sugarcane growth: tillering (March, 3 months old), stalk elongation (June, 6 months old), and harvesting (October, 10 months old). Thus, our collections spanned the typical regional cycle of the sugarcane planting, and included seasonal changes that are likely to have influenced the composition of insect communities. All of the insects were counted and identified in the laboratory.

Quality Control

All species were identified by the authors and divided into respective functional feeding groups based on Triplehorn et al. (2005) and by comparison with specimens of the insect museum at Khon Kaen University. If we could not obtain sufficient reference information for proper identification, we determined the function of each specimen using relevant morphotypes such as the snout.

Method steps

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All species were identified by the authors and divided into respective functional feeding groups based on Triplehorn et al. (2005) and by comparison with specimens of the insect museum at Khon Kaen University. If we could not obtain sufficient reference information for proper identification, we determined the function of each specimen using relevant morphotypes such as the snout.

1. NA

Khon Kaen III sugarcane variety in Muang District sugarcane fields (16°18.85'N, 102°49.644’E, 16°18.698'N, 102°49.303’E, 16°13.989'N, 102°48.56’E, 16°13.5'N, 102°48.335'E; geographic coordinate system: WGS84)