Conventional sampling plan for Proba fraudulenta (Hemiptera: Miridae) in artichoke (Asterales: Asteraceae) fields

Artichoke ( Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus ) is an herbaceous perennial vegetable widely cultivated for food and pharmaceutical uses. Recently, feeding by the sap-sucking insect Proba fraudulenta (Hemiptera: Miridae) on leaves and inflorescences of artichoke leading to economic damage has been observed for the first time in Brazil. The establishment of sampling plans is a key step in the development of integrated pest management programs. Thus, in this study, a conventional sampling plan was developed for the estimation of densities of P. fraudulenta in artichoke fields. The best sampling unit and technique, the probability distribution that best describes the population, required number of samples, and sampling time and cost were determined for this emerging pest. Insect density was highest at the middle third of the plant canopy, and the direct counting method was the best technique for sampling P. fraudulenta in artichoke. The population distribution of P. fraudulenta was best described by the negative binomial distribution (80% of the fields), and a common aggregation parameter (K = 1.4215) was estimated for both vegetative and reproductive stages. The resulting conventional sampling plan consisted of 26 samples per field reaching a precision level of 20 %, with time required for sampling ranging 5–20 minutes. Thus, the proposed sampling plan is practical and accurate for estimating densities of P. fraudulenta populations. Overall, the results from this study can contribute to decision-making for the management of P. fraudulenta in artichoke. • First conventional sampling plan for Proba fraudulenta in artichoke fields • Direct counting was the most accurate technique for mirid assessment • Highest insect density found at middle third of plant canopy in both growth stages • Negative binomial distribution fitted 80 % of the evaluated fields • Twenty-six samples ensure 20 % precision for pest density estimation