SAFIT - Events

Southwest Association of Freshwater Invertebrate Taxonomists

Workshops, Meetings and Events

Workshop on Chironomid Larval and Pupal Taxonomy

UC Davis Campus
Briggs Hall
Room 122
9-11 September, 2009

Instructor: Dr. Peter Cranston, Professor of Entomology.

The workshop will provide comprehensive training in the taxonomy of larval and pupal Chironomidae to SAFIT level 2. The course instructor is recognized as one of the worlds leading experts in the systematics and biology of the Chironomidae. Dr. Cranston is also a pioneer in the use of computer based taxonomic software. Attendees will receive a complete introduction to the biology, taxonomy, and biogeography of the chironomidae as well training in the proper preparation of specimens for study. In addition the workshop will train attendees in the use of Lucid software based taxonomic tools. Attendees must bring a laptop computer. You will be instructed on how to download the free Lucid software package from the Lucid internet site and will be provided at the workshop the Lucid interactive key to the immature Chironomidae prepared by Dr. Cranston for this course.

Cost to attend: Safit members $200.00
Non members $300.00

To ensure your place in this workshop payment is due 31 August 2009. Seating is limited. Seats are first come first serve. Send checks and enrollment form to:

Kim Kratz
SAFIT Secretary
17114 Tualatin Street
Lake Oswego, Oregon 97035

Please make checks payable to SAFIT. Receipts will be provided at the workshop. No refunds will be given.

Workshop Schedule

Day 1. Wednesday 9 September 8.00 am to 4.30 pm. Briggs 122.

8:00-8:30. Introductions followed by a discussion of attendees backgrounds and expectations from course.

8:30-9:45. Lecture on biology of Chironomidae – life-history, ecologically, nuisance issues, autecology of significant taxa, fly-fishing, and biogeography.

9:45 – 10:10. Break.

10:10 – 11:50. Introduction to the use of the Lucid interactive key, using a variety of existing and on-line guides. Use of glossary features (illustration and text).

11:50-1:15. Lunch.

1:15 – 4:30. Demonstration and practice of proper slide mounting techniques and Introduction and instruction on using the features of the Lucid subfamily larvae key.

Day 2. Thursday 10th September 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Briggs 122.

8:00. First additional slide mounting practice. Next introduction to the use of the Lucid software in the determination of the smaller subfamilies of chironomidae exploring characters used via text and images. Finally, Tanypodinae larval identification using character subsets and the ‘start chart feature’ – valuable for palaeochironomid study.

11:50-1:15. Lunch.

1:15. First, Chironominae and Orthocladiinae larval identification using voucher specimens with guidance on character selection for optimal speed of identification. Next identify specimens brought by attendees and examine UC Davis voucher slides, followed by a discussion of ‘weird’ larvae brought by attendees and finally a brief introduction to pupal identification for all attendees.

Day 3. Friday 11th September 8:00 am to 2:30 pm. Briggs 122.

8:00-11:50. An introduction to identification of pupal Chironomidae using dichotomous and Lucid keys. This key is incomplete but will be used for guidance in morphology using an illustrated glossary. Slide preparation of pupal specimens.

11:50-1:15. Lunch.

1:15- 2:30. Post lunch wrap-up with discussion session and identification of mystery slides.

Enrollment Form

For information and enrollment please contact:

Joe Slusark
E-mail: slusark@csuchico.edu

Kim Kratz
E-mail: kimkratz@comcast.net

Bugfest

SAFIT is planning on a bugfest get together. The purpose of Bugfest is for folks to bring in their problem specimens or difficult taxa for others to help with the identification. This will enable us to identify things together and make certain that we are all seeing the same characters. This not only will foster collaboration but will help us strengthen each other and SAFIT as a group. If you are interested in this opportunity to hob knob with your fellow wizards, please contact Joe Slusark (jslusark@csuchico.edu, 530.898.4792) or Christopher Rogers (crogers@ecoanalysts.com, 530.756.4481). If we get enough folks interested, we will select a date and a venue. Ideally we will hold the bugfest at an entomological museum where there will be plenty of material for examination and comparison, as well as libraries.