Tropidacris collaris is a grasshopper. Adults, which can reach more than 15 of length, are strong flyers and actually they resemble small birds or bats. Most of the time T. collaris is found in treetops and tree trunks. No sampling technique has been proposed as far as I know. I am thinking on trying some known sampling technique tha has been applied for other insects or developing a specific one. Any suggestions? Could flight interception traps work (adapted for size)?
The approach to sampling actually depends on the research question that you are attempting to answer. It this is a question of population size, then a modified sampling approach that is used for bats and birds (net interception) could be undertaken. If this is about insect behaviour associated with the environment then transect sampling/canopy sampling could be undertaken but you would need to design a new method
Thanks Julian Hill for your input. The objective is to monitor population density. However, this is very difficult to accomplish because these insects are hard to see in the treetops, hard to reach, and are very mobile. I am almost sure I should use an abundance index (relative measure of abundance). I keep thinking on developing some sort of "mist net" based on the same principle as those used for bird and bats. Thanks!!
One thing we played with was time lapse cameras/lighting (IR and occasionally UV depending on reflectance spectra from the insect) in conjunction with netting for night flying insects....reckon you will need to mist net if daytime flying as you will not get the resolution
Tropidacris collaris is a large grasshopper. To collect such insects audio trap collection, using acoustic monitoring can be applied. However, the article of David J. Flaspohler {A technique for sampling flying insects- published in J. Field Ornithol., 69(2): 201-208} might be helpful.
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