FAQ
What is PestWeb?
PestWeb is an insect pest monitoring and web-based mapping program that provides a regional view over space and time of pest incidence and movement making it a valuable tool for managing key insects pests in horticultural crops. PestWeb (adaptable to other regions/pests) offers farmers a tool to strategically target pests thus reducing pesticide usage, increasing profitability and securing sustainable farming communities.
PestWeb was initiated by Tuckombil Landcare Inc farmers in 2004 with funding from the National Landcare Programme and the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority. It was developed collaboratively by local farmers in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, Industry & Investment NSW entomology team at Alstonville Centre for Tropical Horticulture and NSW North Coast TAFE Wollongbar agricultural staff.
How did the PestWeb project get started?
After sustaining heavy crop losses from insect damage during the 2002/2003 season, the macadamia, avocado, custard apple and bushfood farmer members of Tuckombil Landcare decided to set up a program to coordinate pest monitoring and information sharing.
The farmers were encouraged by TAFE teachers and Industry & Investment NSW entomologists to develop a program that would standardise and coordinate pest monitoring procedures as well as develop a tool for sharing pest monitoring results.
How does the PestWeb program work?
Insect populations are monitored by farmer members on a weekly basis during the season using pheromone traps and visual monitoring techniques. Farmers upload monitoring results to an online database and analysis tool that graphically displays the distribution of insect pests over a period of time.
Monitoring protocols are based on farmer's practical experience and knowledge of the local landscape in collaboration with local entomologists, IPM specialists and TAFE staff. Farmers choose relevant pest species to monitor, further their understanding of pest life cycles/habitat and share local information about incidence of pests.
What are the uses and benefits of a PestWeb program?
The use and collaborative development of a PestWeb program has benefits to farmers and other land managers, conservationists, and natural resources conservation agencies.
For farmers and land managers, PestWeb is a tool to:
- track the movement and distribution of pests on farm,
- track the movement and distribution of pests in the local region,
- help farmers make pest-management decisions,
- communicate with other farmers about control strategies,
- keep functional records of insect monitoring and management data,
- allow pro-active IPM strategies to be put in place which can lead to cost saving as well as protection of the environment,
- communicate with IPM specialists (DPI entomologists, researchers and agricultural industry professionals) about issues or problems related to pest management.
For extension/research staff PestWeb is a tool to:
- approach farmers,
- communicate and exchange ideas with farmers,
- learn about pest issues,
- identify research topics,
- collect data on pest incidence and movement.
For project sponsors and natural resource management agencies, the development of PestWeb offers ways to:
- increase farmers voluntary conservation efforts,
- foster a systems approach to conservation,
- improve credibility in the community,
- enhance collaboration and communication among local groups and government departments,
- support locally led conservation and extension activities.
How is data collected from PestWeb valuable to research?
A project such as PestWeb is a unique opportunity to continuously collect data on selected insects over a larger area and over a longer period of time than could be achieved by a small group of researchers. This information will give researchers and farmers a better understanding about the ecology of the insects and their movements across different years and seasons.
Ultimately the data can be used to make better predictions about certain insect pests as well as beneficial insects.
