insectDisease: programmatic access to the Ecological Database of the World's Insect Pathogens

Curated databases of species interactions are instrumental to exploring and understanding the spatial distribution their biotic interactions. In process conducting such projects, data development curation efforts may give rise a product with utility beyond scope original work, but which becomes inaccessible over time. Data describing insect host–pathogen fairly rare, should thus be preserved curated appropriate metadata. Here, we introduce insectDisease R package, mechanism for curating, updating distributing from Ecological Database World's Insect Pathogens, database associations, including attempted inoculations infection outcomes hosts pathogens (bacteria, fungi, nematodes, protozoans viruses). This dataset has been utilized several projects since its inception, without well-defined, permanent repository, existence access have limited word-of-mouth connections. The current effort presented here aims provide means preserve, augment disseminate in documented versioned format. project is an example type that will necessary maintain valuable after funding disappears.