Short Communication: Modification of a leaf-washing apparatus for the recovery of mites

Boller's funnel and sieve apparatus for extracting phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from leaves was modified. The modification consisted of including a reservoir dish enabling the placing of the whole sample of leaves into the apparatus, attaching a collecting chamber, simplification of the fixing of the fine lower sieve and adding an upper fine sieve. This modification enables the rapid processing of samples of up to 150 leaves.