Insect collection on hemp plants (Cannabis Sativa): Methods and classification

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) is a new commodity that growers are exploring for production given the recent legalization of the crop following the passage of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018. There remains uncertainty regarding the extent of insect occurrence and pest pressure on the commodity. In this infographic we present methodologies for effective collection of insects on hemp grown in high tunnels and fields. For accuracy with insect collection and identification, it is important to have effective method(s) for capture. For collecting insects on hemp, we utilized the “sweet net” and “beat into alcohol” methods. The sweep method involves the use of an insect net made of a fine mesh material to gently collect flying and other insects by a sweeping motion, in between vegetation. The “beat into alcohol method” is a modification of the standard beat cloth collection method, whereby insects are dislodged from plant foliage by shaking the vegetation from high, medium and low areas, directly into a container that measures 14 x 6 inches into a 70% ethanol solution. Once insects are collected using one or both methods they are transported to the laboratory for sorting, counting and identification. Samples are stored at -20 deg F in the lab. These insect collections will form part of an insect survey on hemp grown in fields and high tunnels in Alabama.