Conventional Sampling Plan for Scouting Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Eggs on Tomato Fruits

The small tomato borer, Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenee), is an important pest of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in South and Central America. This pest is a potential threat for many tomato-producing areas and was listed in 2014 as an A1 quarantine pest by the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization. Soon after hatching, the neonate N. elegantalis larvae penetrate the fruits where they feed until pupation. Therefore, effective N. elegantalis management relies on the timely scouting of egg densities to allow decision-making prior to penetration of neonates into fruits. This study aimed to develop a conventional sampling plan for scouting N. elegantalis eggs on tomato plants. The most representative and precise sampling unit was the most basal fruit cluster for plants bearing up to three clusters (S1 plants). For plants with more than three fruit clusters (S2 plants), the most representative and precise sampling unit was the combination of the second and third fruit clusters. Among the four variables evaluated (eggs/fruit, egg masses/fruit, percentage fruit with eggs, and percentage clusters with eggs), the percentage of clusters with eggs was the most economical for N. elegantalis sampling based on the number of samples and cost required. For this variable, the number of samples determined at the 25% error level was 42 and 36 samples for S1 and S2 plants, respectively. The sampling plan developed for scouting N. elegantalis is fast, reflects pest infestation in tomato fields, and costs less than US$1.50 per field scouted.