Clark Labs and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Enter Into Cooperative Agreement to Construct Risk Maps for Gypsy Moth Infestation and Develop New GIS-Based Pest Detection Strategies
2/1/05

Clark Labs and the USDA have recently entered into a Cooperative Agreement to construct maps of potential gypsy moth establishment and damage in uninfested areas of the United States. The current gypsy moth management program strongly relies on survey data acquired from their 350,000 pheromone-based traps that are deployed annually. The main risk factor considered in the trap distribution formula is the proximity of humans and suitable gypsy moth hosts. Although this survey program has been successful in detecting introduction of the gypsy moth in uninfested areas, there remains an opportunity to locate traps more effectively by incorporating other identified risk factors, such as climatic conditions, host plant quality and the degree of human activity. Using the predictive spatial modeling techniques found in the IDRISI Kilimanjaro GIS and Image Processing system, a risk-based model of current gypsy moth distribution in the United States will be constructed along with scenarios of future dispersal, allowing APHIS to optimize their gypsy moth program resources. The development of a GIS strategy will also potentially assist in the surveys of other invasive species.

The gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, was accidentally introduced to North America by an amateur entomologist in either 1868 or 1869 and has spread across much of the Northeastern United States and Midwest. The defoliation caused by outbreaks of the gypsy moth leads to significant ecological and economic damage and the loss of forest resources. In addition, the large number of caterpillars associated with an outbreak is a general nuisance to people living in the area.

For further information, please contact Clark Labs, Worcester, MA. Tel: 508-793-7526.