The efficiency and accuracy of sampling western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis [Pergande]) from “Granny Smith” apple blossom clusters were analyzed during 1986–1987 to develop a sampling plan for research purposes. The accuracy of the “shake” method was compared with an “extraction” process of each of three blossom cluster types: pink, open, and petalless (petal fall). Thrip extractions from combined clusters revealed that a 9-s and 6-s “shake” removed 84 and 74%, of the thrips, respectively, but a 3-s “shake” removed 53%, and was more variable. Open blossom clusters always had higher thrips densities than either pink or petal fall clusters, regardless of the bloom state. The effects of cardinal position within trees were not consistent over time. Clusters from the top of the canopy had more thrips than lower canopy clusters, and apical clusters had more thrips than basal clusters during peak bloom. Variance component analyses indicated that thrips counts from clusters within tree were more variable than counts among trees, even when cluster types were analyzed separately. Two sets of indices (Iwao’s regression of mean crowding on mean density and Taylor’s regression of log variance on log mean density) for each cluster type indicated aggregated spatial patterns. Precision level sampling plans were developed using Iwao’s regression coefficients.