The PestLens web system:A brief tour

How PestLens Works

While the PestLens web system is currently only accessible to USDA personnel, the weekly PestLens e-mail notification is available to anyone upon request.

Weekly E-mail Notification

The home page features the current week’s PestLens articles.

PestLens Web System Home Page

When the user clicks on an article title, the frame expands to display the full article as it appears in the notification.

Viewing Articles on the Home Page

Users can search or browse an archive of all PestLens articles or view all articles in a notification by selecting the notification date.

Search Page

The full text and cited sources of PestLens articles that include the pest name that was searched can be viewed by clicking on the article titles.

Search Results (Example)

Commenting

Users provide their expertise and insights by commenting on PestLens articles. Note: The comments in the screenshot above were created for demonstration purposes only.

To create a path between information, decision making, and safeguarding actions, designated action groups are tasked with deciding what actions,if any, should be taken in response to each PestLens article. Action group leaders record their groups’ decisions and update action status, when necessary, in the PestLens web system. Action groups can be added or removed as needed.

Note: The decisions/actions in this screenshot were entered for demonstration purposes only.

Safeguarding Decisions/Actions

Users can submit information for potential inclusion in the weekly notification. An automated e-mail including the submitted information is sent to the PestLense-mail account for review by the PestLens staff.

Contribute Page

• The Staff page includes information about each PestLens staff member.

• The Reports tab provides a way for users to generate reports displaying various types of information (e.g., number of PestLens articles reported during a specified date range, etc.).

• The About tab includes a list of sources PestLens analysts regularly monitor, as well as some information about pest prioritization and action groups.

• The User Account page includes the logged in user’s basic account information.

Other Features