STUDIES 0N THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS OF Oracella acuta AND SAMPLING TECHNIOUES

The distribution of the Loblolly Pine Mealybug Oracella acuta(Lobdell)exhibited an aggregation pattern in Pinus elliottii pine plantations.In the samecrown level,the population density of Oracella acuta did not differ significantlyamong the eastern, southern,western and northern shoots.The populationdensity was highly significantly different among the three crown layers,namely,high layer>mid-layer>low iayer.Different sampling methods were compared,the intersecting diagonal method was found to be the best and the Z-shapedmethod the next best.One hundred and flfty trees per ha were sampled.