A SAMPLING PLAN FOR EGG BATCHES OF CHILO SPP (LEPIDOPTERA, PYRALIDAE)ON MAIZE

The spatial distribution of egg batches of Chilo spp. on maize, Zea ma ys, was described using Taylor's power law and the slope, b, was found to be 1.036. This value was not statistically different from 1 and th e distribution of egg batches was therefore judged to be random. Using this information, optimal sample sizes were calculated for both direc t and binomial sampling plans. A presence-absence sequential sampling regime based on an economic threshold of 15% of plants with egg batche s is presented. A minimum of 40 plants should be inspected within 2-3 weeks of planting.