Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics / Zoological Museum Amsterdam

SECTION ENTOMOLOGY

 

 

ARTHROPODS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

 

Introduction

Many species of various groups of arthropods cause great economic damage in agriculture, horticulture and / or forestry. Control measures against these pests have shifted from the application of insecticides towards biological control measures such as the use of parasitoids, pathogens and predators, or the use of sex pheromones. These control measures dictate specific identification of the damaging species and as a result the demands for expertise on reliable identification of the pest species is growing fast. As the number of experts is limited, user friendly computer information and identification systems for pest species are in great demand.

The project 'Arthropods of Economic Importance' aims to provide the non-specialists tools for the species recognition of various groups of economically important insects and mites. For this purpose, a series of CD-ROMs is produced. Each CD-ROM is an identification guide and information source on a certain taxonomic group, and may be used by all applied entomologists working in agriculture, forestry and horticulture, as well as in plant-protection and quarantine.

The CD-ROM's are compiled using 'Linnaeus II', a software package for biodiversity documentation and species identification, developed by the Expert Centre for Taxonomic Identification (ETI) (Amsterdam).

 

ETI's Linnaeus II software

'Linnaeus II' offers different types of identification systems, depending on the nature of the characters that are used for identification in each group of arthropods. The Picture Key guides the user through sets of pictures of different characters states. Identification is done by comparing these pictures and choosing for the characters corresponding with those in the specimen that has to be identified. Each choice leads to a subsequent set of characters among which a choice has to be made until identification has been completed.

IdentifyIt is a multiple-entry identification system based on a matrix defining each species as a series of character states. Identification is done by entering a 'search pattern' that describes the specimen as a combination of character states. IdentifyIt then compares the search pattern to the species in the file and gives the percentage match for each species as well as 'the next best character' to add to the search pattern in order to complete the identification. Both identification systems are easier to use, and more effective, than traditional dichotomous keys.

The information section of the CD-ROM will provide greater insight into the pest species, as it makes recent knowledge on their taxonomy and biology easily accessible by compiling data from numerous publications which are often only available in specialised libraries. Hyper-linked texts in an interactive glossary will provide a means to look up the definitions of specific terms or special methods. This way, data entered in the information and identification system will open up taxonomic keys to inexperienced users or students.

 

Contents of the CD-ROM's

Each CD-ROM will contain the following sections:

  • illustrated information-cards on all species of economic importance and related non-pest species, containing all recent knowledge on their taxonomy, biology, distribution etc.
  • illustrated information-cards on the higher taxa.
  • identification key (either a multiple-entry matrix-type key, or a picture-key). hyper-linked glossary for all technical terms.

 

Published in the series are

  • 'Eurasian Tortricidae' by Lynn Meijerman and Sandrine A. Ulenberg
  • 'Interactive Tutorial for the Preparation of Genitalia in Microlepidoptera' by Lynn Meijerman and Kevin R. Tuck
  • 'Diaspididae of the World' by Gillian W. Watson

Titles to follow in this series are

  • 'Agromizidae of the World' by Martin Dempewolf
  • 'Tephritidae of South east Asia' by Ian White
  • 'Thripidae of the World' by Gerald Moritz
  • 'Tortricidae of the World' by Lynn Meijerman

Weblinks to information on titles

 

Opportunities for cooperation

  • You may publish your existing database in the series.
  • You may write a project proposal for your specific pest problem in order to participate in the ' Regional Digital Keys for Identification of Arthropod Pests' programme. The ZMA/UVA consortium can assist with preparing the proposal and/or the attempt to get external funding. Also read 'Opportunities for funding'.

    Regional Digital Keys for Identification of Arthropod Pests

    The University of Amsterdam, the Expert Center for Taxonomic Identification, Amsterdam and partners in the developing countries are collaborating in the development of Regional Keys, using BioNET-INTERNATIONAL's networks as a mechanism. The high quality, global digital keys from the 'Arthropods of Economic Importance' provide the information for more focussed national and regional keys, to which specific local information is added.

    This Regional Keys' programme is a contribution to the efforts of the scientific community to overcome the worldwide taxonomic impediment by combining accessible digital keys with training programs, capacity building and reference collections.

 

Contact us

For more information on 'Arthropods of Economic Importance' and/or the Regional Keys' Programme please contact: