To collect and count insects in soybeans or alfalfa, you need a net. A sweep net is helpful for scouting bean leaf beetles and caterpillars in soybeans, and is necessary for scouting potato leafhoppers in alfalfa. In fact, there is no other way to effectively scout leafhoppers except with a sweep net.

I recommend buying the sweep net from Wards because of its strong handle and heavy wire gauge hoop, and replace the bag with one from BioQuip. The Dacron bag from BioQuip is extremely durable, slides easily through alfalfa during sweeping, is more resistant to abrasion, and will not roll up on the leading edge of the net hoop like the more flimsy net bag from Wards.

Here is how to order:

heavy duty beating net

(net has 36 aluminum handle with plastic grip)

$32.50 each

Wards Natural Science Establishment, Inc.

P.O. Box 92912

Rochester, NY 14692

1-800-962-2660

fax: 1-800-635-8439

heavy duty sweep net bag

(made of rugged sailcloth banded at top with Dacron sail tape)

$10.20 each

BioQuip Products, Inc.

17803 LaSalle Avenue

Gardena, CA 90248

310-324-0620

fax : 310-324-7931