Sample size to evaluate the population density of bugs in soybean field

The objective was to estimate the sample size to evaluate the population density of bugs species, varying collection methods, altitude and soybean cultivars. There were used 100 soybean fields, distributed in nine districts of the central region of Rio Grande do Sul on three growing seasons (2010/2011, 2011/2012, 2012/2013). In each field, 30 equidistant points were marked at 20 meters. Bugs (adults and nymphs) of Dichelops sp., Piezodorus guildinii and Euchistus heros species were collected at each point using beat cloth and sweep net, totaling 6,000 collections. For each field, collection method and bug speciesit was estimated average population density, and sample size by resampling. The sample size (number of points) to estimate the population density of bugs vary with the species, altitude, soybean cultivar and the collection method. Using the beat cloth method to collect bugs in soybean, for an estimate error equal to two bugs and population density at class of 1.5 to 2.0 bugs m(-2), the number of sampling points are 13, 77 and 15, respectively, for Dichelops sp., P. guildinii and E. heros.