Water Beetle Workshop – 7-9 October 2008 at Wakulla Springs State Park & Lodge

This workshop will cover identification of larvae and adults of common water beetle families of Florida.

Wakulla Springs is located in a rural area about 15 miles south of Tallahassee in northern Florida (this area is not like Miami, Tampa, West Palm Beach or Orlando!)

Workshop fee is $425.00/person
I must receive payment before you’re confirmed as a participant. Make checks or money orders payable to “John H. Epler, Ph.D.”

Workshop fee DOES NOT include lodging, meals, etc.  See below!

Workshop is limited to 18 participants.

PLEASE EMAIL ME FOR A REGISTRATION FORM

Contact me at:

Dr. John H. Epler
461 Tiger Hammock Road
Crawfordville, FL 32327
(850) 926-3700

email: johnepler3ATcomcast.net [ replace AT with @ ]

Participants need to bring:

your own dissecting (stereo) microscope and light source
extension cord(s); pilot strip, etc.
your own forceps, petri dishes/syracuse watch glasses, etc. (i.e, the same equipment you use in your lab)

Bring whatever books or specimens you wish.  (I will, of course, attempt to identify specimens you bring, BUT, please do not bring your whole reference collection and expect me to verify it; this would be a separate action.)

Lodging:

Wakulla Springs State Park & Lodge
550 Wakulla Park Drive
Wakulla Springs, FL 32305
(850) 926-0700 – room reservations and information
http://www.floridastateparks.org/wakullasprings/
http://www.floridastateparks.org/wakullasprings/Lodge.cfm
DEADLINE for room reservations is 16 September 2008

The Lodge has graciously offered a group rate of $85.00/night (plus tax, etc.) and has set aside a block of rooms for this workshop.  I strongly suggest you take advantage of this rate.  It is a very short walk from the Lodge to the Pavilion, where the workshop will be held. Please contact the Lodge yourself for this rate; state that you will be taking part in the water beetle workshop (call (850) 926-0700 for reservations; deadline is 16 September 2008).  There is an excellent restaurant at the Lodge and a snack bar that is open for lunch.  There is no park entry fee if you’re taking part in the workshop or staying at the Lodge.  This park is a certified gem in the Florida State Park system!  Stay here!!  Maybe you’ll see “The Creature From the Black Lagoon” (it was filmed here, along with some of the Tarzan movies)!

There are also plenty of motels/hotels/restaurants up in Tallahassee, about 15-20 miles north of Wakulla Springs.  Some participants at earlier workshops also considered:

Shell Island Fish Camp & Marina
PO Box 115
St. Marks, FL 32355
(850) 925-6226
http://www.shellislandfishcamp.com/
Rustic cabins or cement block motel; about 11 miles drive from the workshop.

Sweet Magnolia Inn
803 Port Leon Drive
St. Marks, FL 32355
(800) 779-5214
http://sweetmagnolia.com
Bed and breakfast; about 11 miles drive from the workshop.

Dining:

There are also restaurants in Wakulla Station (about 4 miles east ), St. Marks (about 11 miles south) and the bustling metropolis of Crawfordville (county seat for Wakulla County, about 10 miles west).  For lunch, don’t forget the snack bar at Wakulla Springs Lodge, in addition to the restaurant.

Weather:

Early Fall in northern Florida can still be warm and humid (workshop room is air conditioned), but it could also be cool and dry.  There is a swimming area at the Springs; bring your bathing suit if you want to swim with the manatees (swimming with alligators is discouraged! :-) )

Tentative Schedule:

I run my workshops in a relaxed freeform manner; the idea is to give individual attention to individuals!  Most of our time will be spent looking at and identifying specimens.  Subjects that will be covered are: basic nomenclature and taxonomy principles; survey of the water beetle families; specimen preparation, including pinning adults; correct literature to use; and, of course, identification!  I will have a large part of my collection available for study; it includes representatives of the most of the water beetles of Florida and many of the taxa of the eastern United States (some western US taxa may also be available for those who wish to see some ...)

There will also be breaks throughout the morning and afternoon; coffee and tea provided.

(Note: this schedule below is to be considered quite loose - we'll probably spend most of our time on dytiscids and hydrophilids ...)

7 October
0800-0900    set up
0900              introduction/slide show/short tour of water beetle families
1200-1330    lunch (on your own)
1330-1700    Dryopidae, Elmidae, Helophoridae, Hydraenidae, Psephenidae, Ptilodactylidae

8 October
0830-1200    Haliplidae, Gyrinidae, Scirtidae
1200-1330    lunch (on your own)
1330-1700    Dytiscidae, Noteridae
9 October
0830-1200    Dytsicidae, Hydrophilidae
1200-1330    lunch (on your own)
1330-1700    Hydrophilidae; concluding remarks

If you'd like a workshop (midges, water beetles or water bugs) done in your neck of the woods, please email me at johnepler3 AT comcast.net
 

return to home