Sequential and Binomial Sampling Plans to Estimate Thrips tabaci Population Density on Onion

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Entomology
• Pest Management

Background:

• Thrips tabaci is a significant global onion pest, causing 10-60% economic losses.
• Efficient population sampling is crucial for effective control and damage prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate binomial and sequential sampling plans for rapid and reliable estimation of Thrips tabaci density in onions.

Main Methods:

• Characterized spatial distribution of Thrips tabaci using Taylor's power law.
• Developed binomial and sequential sampling plans at precision levels of 0.10, 0.15, and 0.25.
• Validated sampling plans using bootstrap simulations on 10 independent datasets.

Main Results:

• Both binomial and sequential sampling plans reduced sampling time by approximately 80% compared to conventional methods.
• Sequential sampling demonstrated satisfactory precision in all repetitions.
• Binomial sampling achieved the fixed precision level in 80% of cases.

Conclusions:

• Developed binomial and sequential sampling plans offer precise and time-efficient estimation of Thrips tabaci populations.
• These methods are valuable tools for implementing integrated pest management strategies against onion thrips.