Native Bee Identification, Ecology, Research and Monitoring
Course Dates: April 11-15 , 2011
Course Location: National Conservation Training Center,
Shepherdstown, WV (<http://training.fws.gov/>http://training.fws.gov/)
Course Leaders: Rob Jean, Alana Taylor, Sam Droege
Course Length: 5 days/36 hours
Course Description:
The primary goal of this course is to provide participants the tools
necessary to identify bees to species. To do that instructor ratios
will be kept at 1 instructor to 8 participants. We will assume that
students ALREADY have access to microscopes at their lab or home,
will have read up on the basic literature on bee genera we have
provided, and will have already PRACTICED keying out bees to the
genus level. We will emphasize learning to use online guides, how to
identify tricky characters within groups such as Osmia, Lasioglossum,
Andrena, Nomada and will be showing these characters to the class on
projecting microscopes. A large collection of Eastern North American
bees will be available for your use; surplus specimens will be
available free for your personal collection.
In conjunction with learning identification skills there will be
lectures on bee natural history, monitoring, and research
techniques. We will be going out in the field throughout the week to
set traps and net bees so that participants can see the entire
spectrum of field to microscope work. We encourage participants to
be bring a net, pins, and collection boxes and we will provide you
with traps and processing equipment. You are also encouraged to
bring your own specimens with you and we can help with
identification, as time permits. You will need to bring a laptop,
but microscopes and lights will be provided.
Who Should Attend: Federal, state, county and municipal agencies,
private consulting firms, citizen volunteers, neighborhood
associations, environmental organizations, and teachers, performing
native pollinator assessments or monitoring programs; with a desire
to improve their identification skills.
How to apply: To register, email Sam Droege
([email protected]). First come, first serve
Cost: Tuition is waived for the first 5 FWS employees to register;
for the remainder tuition is $250 U.S. Food is available at the
training center and lodging is available in nearby Shepherdstown and
the surrounding area.
Questions: Please contact Sam Droege, [email protected], USGS
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Note: You will not find this in the NCTC course catalog as is it
considered a special event rather than a USFWS course. Signing up is
made only by contacting Sam Droege and payments will be made to the
Polistes Foundation at the time of the course.
Sam Droege [email protected]
w 301-497-5840 h 301-390-7759 fax 301-497-5624
USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
BARC-EAST, BLDG 308, RM 124 10300 Balt. Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705
<Http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/>Http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov
