WORMBASE - A DATA MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION-SYSTEM FOR FORECASTING SPODOPTERA-EXEMPTA (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE) IN EASTERN AFRICA

Forecasting and information services on nutgrass armyworm, Spodoptera exempta (Walker), have been in operation in East Africa since 1969. Us ing current season and historical data from moth traps, together with outbreak and meteorological data, the probability of outbreaks in admi nistrative areas can be predicted for the following week. WormBase, a database and information system, was developed to provide improvements in access to the data, data interpretation and synthesis, presentatio n of forecasts and information, forecast evaluation, and training of f orecasters. The development and function of WormBase, written in dBASE IV for use on IBM-compatible PCs, is described. The database manageme nt section of the system provides facilities for entering, browsing, p lotting, and printing data. The forecasting tools section provides a r ange of programs that assist with specific tasks routinely undertaken by forecasters, including forecast production and verification. WormBa se is currently in use in Kenya and Tanzania.