The objective of this study was to develop a reliable visual sampling methodology and a sequential sampling program for the rice stink bug (RSB), Oebalus pugnax (F.). Three different visual sampling methods were compared to the standard method, the sweep net. Commercial rice fields in the Texas Rice Belt were sampled during 2003 and 2004 and a total of 1036 visual samples were compared to an equal number of sweep net samples (10 sweeps per sample). Fields were sampled at different stages of panicle development and had different RSB population levels. Analysis of covariance revealed that sweep net sampling could be replaced by visual sampling using the “sweep stick”. Taylor’s equation was used to determine the variance-mean relationship for the sweep net and the sweep stick, which showed that the RSB has a clumped or aggregated distribution pattern in Texas rice fields. Using the spatial pattern and current damage thresholds sequential sampling plans were developed for the sweep stick and the sweep net. Validation of the sequential sampling plans will be conducted during the 2005 growing season.