SAMPLING APHIDOPHAGOUS COCCINELLIDAE IN GRAIN-SORGHUM

Five sampling methods were used for sampling lady beetles in grain sor ghum fields in the Texas High Plains. Removal sampling provided accura te estimates of absolute population for adult coccinellids but not for larvae. Sweep net sampling was not correlated with absolute populatio n for adults or larvae. Timed counts of coccinellids were correlated w ith absolute population for adults, but results for larvae were inconc lusive. A regression model was developed to convert relative estimates of adult populations obtained by limed counts to estimates of absolut e population. The model accounted for 80% of the variability in the re lationship between the relative density estimated by timed counts and absolute density estimated by removal sampling.