Integrating airborne imagery and GIS technology to map and compare citrus blackfly infestations occurring in different years

Abstract

Major citrus blackfly (Al-eurocanthus woglumi) outbreaks occur periodically in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of Texas, causing a reduction in citrus (Citrus sp.) tree yields. This research reports on the integration of airborne color-infrared (ACIR) imagery and geographic information system (GIS) technology for mapping citrus blackfly outbreaks appearing in this area in separate years. For this study, the 1993 and 2002 citrus blackfly infestations were mapped and compared. Outbreaks did not appear at the same sites for 1993 and 2002. In 1993, infestations occurred in the southern part of Hidalgo and Cameron counties compared with outbreaks primarily appearing in the western portion of Hidalgo County in 2002. For both years, Hidalgo County was affected more than the other citrus producing counties in the LRGV. This study demonstrated airborne remote sensing imagery integrated with GIS technology could be used to develop maps for comparing citrus blackfly infestations appearing in separate years.