The Geographic lnformation System as an Entomological Tool

Abstract

Entomology, or the study of insects, has long been concerned with the problems and solutions of pest control. The studies of the biology of insects and the environments they inhabit have yielded much fruit. However, one area that has been notably lacking is an analysis of the spatial variability of the pests. Part of this deficiency can be attributed to the lack of proper tools for the job. This has been remedied with the advent of the Geographic lnformation System (GIS), which allows the user to manipulate spatial data with relative ease and lack of complication. But problems still remain. Today's GIS has not attained an adequate level of user-friendliness to at low a researcher with Iimited computer experience to manipulate data with ease. Primarily for this reason, the GIS has not yet gained wide acceptance within the entomological community. Therefore this project has concerned itself with two primary objectives: Showing that a GIS system can be used as an integral part of a pest management system and standardizing several procedures so as to make them easier to use.