Foreword - CCS HAU, Hisar

Describing the sampling site would include information such as a GPS reading, a unique
number, distances from visual cues (e.g. 20 metres from roadside), number or nearest number
of plant in a row (e.g. tenth tree in third row from the northeastern corner), or any distinguishing
topographical features (e.g. edge of a ravine, in a ditch).
What data to record in the field
The most important tool you will have with you in the field will be your notebook and
notes. In your notes you would record any information that could otherwise be forgotten,
such as the dates of surveying, the weather at the time, the site details, the names and
contact details of the local people involved.
Notebooks with carbon paper duplicate pages can be very useful when recording
information to accompany a specimen taken. In this way, the details are written once only
but you then have a permanent record in your notebook and a copy to be kept with the
specimen.
Designing a form
The simplest way to record data is to design a form that allows for recording all the
information that you intend to collect.
A simple way to save a lot of time is to work out ahead of the survey how the data will be
stored and to design your form so that it is easy to transfer the information to the storage
system. When designing a form, you could include the following :
observer’s name
field site number or name
sampling site number or name
targeted pest names—common and scientific
time and date
brief description of weather conditions
locations, such as by GPS readings, of sampling sites
description of habitat (e.g. aspect, vegetation, soil type)
scale/population density categories that could be ticked
symptoms of the pest or host
pest life stage or state (e.g. larvae, pupae, adults for insects; anamorph/teleomorph state
for fungi; seedling, budding, senescent, first flush for plants)
caste of colonial insects surveyed, such as of termites, ants and some wasps
behavioural notes on possible vectors (e.g. ‘insect ovipositing on fruit’ or ‘insect restingon
plant leaf ’) area or length of plot or transect assessed
cross-reference to pest example in a pest photo library
colour of identifying features, such as of flowers
any quarantine measures applied at the field site, such as hygiene measures
treatments applied to site
additional comments
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