Wind speed must be below 6 mph. Use 15 to 18 inch dia. Leafhoppers are sensitive to vibrations and movement, and quickly drop down into the duff when disturbed. Therefore, dropseed plants must be approached quickly, but quietly. If you are in a large patch of prairie dropseed, additional sweeps may be made with each long forward step through the patch.
Technique is important.
Wind speed may vary from 0 to 20 mph. Vacuum the surface and down into the duff of prairie dropseed plants. Under ideal weather conditions, the vacuum method is only slightly more effective than the sweep net at finding red-tailed leafhoppers. Specimens should be released after handling, exception for two vouchers per site. If no pasque flowers are on site, the closest population with a slope aspect similar to the site in question may be used.