Developing sampling plans for the invasive Megacopta cribraria in soybeans

Since its discovery in the United States, the invasive plataspid Megacopta cribraria (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) has infested soybean fields in often alarming numbers in parts of the Southeast. For correct decision making, growers and scouts need to use effective sampling procedures and use adequate numbers of samples per field. To optimize sampling plans, sweep net, beat cloth and whole plant sampling was conducted in soybean fields in South Carolina in 2012 and 2013. Across all fields, densities averaged 20.1 adults and 16.6 nymphs per 20 sweeps, 16.0 adults and 12.4 nymphs per 1.83m of row. Coefficients of Taylor’s power law were used to generate sampling plans for population estimates and for decision making using sequential sampling plans. These results may be used by researchers, county extension agents, consultants and farm managers to both facilitate sampling and improve reliability of M. cribraria estimates for research purposes and for pest management.