A field guide for the identification of insects pests, beneficials, diseases and disorders of bunching vegetables in Australia.
By Sandra McDougall, Andrew Watson, Len Tesoriero, Valerie Draper, Tony Napier and Gerard Kelly. NSW Department of Primary Industries.
The Lucid Mobile interface has been refreshed to modernize the design and better fit with the styling of the latest Android and iOS operating systems.
The first two apps released under the new design are Bunching Vegetables and Aquarium and Pond Plants of the World v3.
This interactive Lucid key provides diagnostics for all the species of spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) previously recorded in Australia, based mostly on literature records. Several species collected in Australia, but not yet recorded in the literature, are also included (manuscript in prep). In addition, a few select exotic species from south east Asia of concern to Australia’s biosecurity have also been included.
Author: Jennifer J Beard, Queensland Museum (http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/)
This Lucid based identification and information system includes 177 species of thrips that have been taken alive on the British Isles at least once. It provides a means of identifying species, together with an introduction to what is known of the biology and distribution of each species.
Developed by Laurence Mound (Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO), Dom Collins (The Hunterian University of Glasgow) and Anne Hastings (Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO)
A new Lucid v3.6 update is now available. It adds additional features and corrects several minor bugs. Changes include:
Lucid JavaScript (Browser) Player
Lucid Builder
Click here to download the latest update
To purchase Lucid click here.
More information will be available on these key once released.
This new app covering 1,270 species of Acacia and three other related genera, was released on Wattle Day (1st September); wattle (or specifically the golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha Benth.) is Australia’s National floral emblem.
The identification and naming of wattles was greatly simplified in 2001 with the publication on CD of an electronic (Lucid) identification key called WATTLE; subsequently updated, this key was made available on the web in 2014. Now available as an app, it is the culmination of many years’ research by a team of Australian botanists, headed by Bruce Maslin.
This Wattle app contains copious feature state drawings and notes and fact sheets, including over 8,000 images of wattles displayed in an updated Lucid Mobile Fact Sheet design. Released on Wattle Day (1st September), a Media Release provides further information about this app and links to download sites – http://identic.com.au/blog/wattle-acacias-of-australia-media-release/
The Identification Technology Program (ITP) that supports the biosecurity organisation (APHIS) of the US Department of Agriculture has recently released a new Identification and Information tool – Exotic Bee ID.
Like other countries, the USA has experienced a decline in some bee populations, due to habitat loss, pesticides, parasites and pathogens, as well as the introduction of non-native bee species. Exotic Bee ID has been designed to help those working at ports, state departments and extension services who monitor and intercept non-native bees in the US. It will also be of interest to non-experts with an interest in learning features important in bee identification.
This initial release is the first of three phases: future releases will include keys, fact sheets, and images for additional bee families and genera. This phase includes:
Exotic Bee ID can be accessed at: http://idtools.org/id/bees/exotic/
This key, also from the ITP team, is a major revision and update to the 2007 second edition. The worldwide trade in plants for use in aquaria and ponds is of considerable quarantine concern, particularly since many aquatic plants have the ability to disperse widely and become dominant in waterways, displacing native species. APPW e3 aims to cover all genera of aquatic plants cultivated commercially in nurseries and private collections around the world. Initially intended for officials at U.S. ports of entry and state departments of agriculture, this key is also useful to other biosecurity agencies and aquatic plant nursery managers, to help them become aware of invasive aquatic species in their stocks or among new acquisitions.
APPWe3 includes:
This key can be accessed at https://idtools.org/id/appw/.
Watch for the APPW e3 Lucid Mobile app version, due to be published later this year.
The USDA APHIS ITP team recently announced a new searchable interface for pest identification support. Built in cooperation with North Carolina State University’s Center for Integrated Pest Management, Search ID Aids can be used to quickly find useful web-based identification and screening resources.
ITP maintains an ongoing collection of ID Aids: high-quality web-based tools and apps that support identification of plant pests of concern to PPQ. Each ID Aid is thoroughly reviewed and evaluated to ensure it has value and is from a reputable source. This collection currently includes over 3,800 vetted ID Aids that are image galleries, fact sheets, screening aids, keys of all types, molecular tools, and more, and they cover all plant pest groups. Since we’re continually adding ID Aids, we also have a contact page where we welcome suggestions for pests to cover.
With Search ID Aids both experts and novices can find suitable identification resources. Search by either scientific or common pest name, and then instantly filter your results.
Find Search ID Aids at https://idtools.net/idaids/.
This key is an interactive diagnostic tool to help identify the medical important species of China, which comprises 33 species, forming a multivariate matrix of 76 morphological characters and more than 410 images to support identification of adult female mosquito species.
Thripidae Genera from China. An identification and information system for 98 genera of the Thysanoptera family, Thripidae that are thought to occur in China.
Authors: Shimeng Zhang, Laurence Mound and Anne Hastings
Android Edition
iOS edition now available.