Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 July 2009
The eggs of Aeneolamia varia saccharina (Dist.) were separated from samples of cane-field soils by means of a rotary sieve, hydrogen peroxide treatment and flotation; this method gave 76% extraction. Absolute population estimates of eggs were obtained from samples of soil (one-eighth of a cane stool) scraped from between the stems of 10 or 25 sugar-cane stools per field, the 25 pooled to give five sample groups. Relative population estimates, which took less time, were obtained from 20-g scoops of soil from between the stems of 25 stools, giving one composite sample. Taylor's power law was used to show that eggs were strongly aggregated in the dry season but less so in the wet season. The numbers of samples or sample groups needed for given levels of error were calculated from the indices of aggregation. Absolute and relative estimates of egg density were generally well correlated. The quicker relative method, suitably replicated and standardised, was considered suitable for extensive and intensive sampling.