SAMPLING OF HELIOTHIS-ZEA (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE) AND ORIUS-INSIDIOSUS (HEMIPTERA, ANTHOCORIDAE) IN GRAIN-SORGHUM PANICLES BY A MODIFICATION OF THE BEAT-BUCKET METHOD

A modification of the beat-bucket sample method was evaluated for Heliothis zea (Boddie) and Orius insidiosus (Say) in grain sorghum panicles. Grain sorghum panicles were cut and twirled inside a 19-liter plastic bucket rather than beating the panicles against the bucket wall. Based on absolute density estimates, the modified beat-bucket method recovered > 50.0% of the H. zea larvae and O. insidiosus adults and 35.0% of the O. insidiosus nymphs in the grain sorghum panicles. The method provided reliable estimates of population trends of H. zea larvae and O. insidiosus nymphs and adults. The method was calibrated for H. zea larvae. Relative density estimates (y) may be converted to absolute density estimates (x) by the formula x = y/b (b, slope of regression line).