The HYM Course
Punta Cana Ecological Foundation, Biodiversity Center, Punta Cana, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
September 7-14, 2008.
Details of the 2008 Hym Course:
Course Objectives
Course Significance
Background Information
Participant Acceptance Criteria
Primary Instructors
Translation Assistant
Fees
Application
Deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
The second offering of THE HYM COURSE is approaching. This is an eight-day
workshop to be presented at the Punta Cana Ecological Foundation, Biodiversity Center,
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The main purpose of the course is to provide
participants with knowledge and experience in identifying parasitic Hymenoptera,
stinging wasps (aculeates), and sawflies. This course excludes bees and ants as courses
already exist that deal with those groups. We will also be presenting information on
biology and behavior of these organisms that will be reinforced with formal and informal
field work. Techniques commonly used in collecting (passive and active), rearing,
preserving, and curating will be presented in a hands-on manner to allow attendees to
learn directly by doing.
The main text that will be used is Hymenoptera of the World: An Identification Guide to
Families, edited by Goulet and Huber, 1993 ($40.00). This book provides well-illustrated
keys to all superfamilies, families, and subfamilies in some cases. All recommended texts
that will be available are:
Hymenoptera of the World: An Identification Guide to Families, edited by Goulet and
Huber, 1993 $40.
Annotated Keys to the Genera of Nearctic Chalcidoidea, Gibson, G., Huber, J., and J.
Woolley (eds.). $30
Manual of the New World Genera of the Family Braconidae, Wharton, B., Marsh, P.,
and M. Sharkey (eds.). $20
A PDF of the key portion of the following publication, “Grissell, E. E., and M. E.
Schauff. 1990. A handbook of the families of Nearctic Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera).
Entomological Society of Washington (Washington, D.C.) Handbook 1:1-85.”, is
available at:
http://www.codex.begoniasociety.org/chalcidkey/Chalcidoidkey2.pdf.
The electronic version of this key will be used during the course and supplemented by #2
above.
Other works focusing at lower taxonomic levels may be available for examination (see
course description) at the course.
We plan to have copies of 1–3 above available for purchase prior to the course
through David Wahl at the American Entomological Institute. Please plan to
purchase these in advance of the course so that you will be familiar with them.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
THE HYM COURSE is intended to serve conservation biologists, ecologists, graduate
students, insect identifiers, museum curators, naturalists, and other biologists whose
research, training, or teaching responsibilities require a greater understanding of
hymenopteran taxonomy. It emphasizes family-level taxonomy and identification of 11
superfamilies of Hymenoptera from North and Central America as elements of both
regions can be collected in Dominican Republic. The general information provided is
applicable to the global fauna of stinging wasps and parasitic hymenopterans. Lectures
include information on the biologies of these hymenopterans, host preferences,
relationships, diagnostic features, etc. A field trip and localized sampling will acquaint
participants with collecting and sampling techniques; associated lab work provides
instruction on specimen identification, preparation and labeling. Information on
equipment/supply vendors, literature, and people resources is also presented.
COURSE SIGNIFICANCE:
The field of hymenopteran taxonomy explores the relationships and identification of
wasps, parasitic wasps, and their brethren. Often intertwined in these studies are
investigations of behavior, biology, and host interactions. These wasps play an integral
role in regulating arthropod populations, pollination ecology and enhancing complexity of
ecosystems. This course will enable students to confidently identify families (in some
cases subfamilies or genera, where appropriate) of parasitic Hymenoptera, stinging
wasps, and sawflies 2) an appreciation for the biological diversity of bees, and 3)
sufficient background to learn more about bees and investigate pollination and
conservation problems with greater insight.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
This course is, in part, a continuation of the Parasitic Hymenoptera Workshop (PHW)
that has been held semi-annually for over 20 years. The first offering of PHW was in
1980 and most recently (Workshop XII) in 2002 at the University of Maryland. The
continuation of this course with expanded coverage of the stinging wasps (Aculeata) is
designed both to serve a perceived training need and to fulfill goals implicit in the
completion of the Hymenoptera Assembling the Tree of Life NSF project (Dr. Sharkey is
PI). The Punta Cana Biodiversity Center is centered amid a hotspot of hymenopteran
biodiversity in the Caribbean Basin. Many plant communities and ecotones can be
sampled within a relatively short time by sampling at different elevations or in different
habitats (e.g., coastal vs. montane). We hope to make this an ongoing course, in one form
or another, offered biennially.
PARTICIPANT ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA:
This course is open to all interested individuals. Priority will be given to those individuals
for whom the course will have significant impact on their research, teaching, or otherwise
aid in the accomplishment of duties pertaining to their current work. An entomological
background is not required. The HYM course is presented in English (with Spanish
translation) and limited to 20 participants.
PRIMARY INSTRUCTORS:
Dr. Michael Sharkey
Department of Entomology
University of Kentucky
S-225 Agriculture Science Center North
Lexington, KY 40546-0091
U.S.A.
Dr. Michael Gates
USDA-ARS Systematic Entomology Lab
PO Box 37012
National Museum of Natural History, NHB 168
10th & Constitution Ave.
Washington, DC 20013-7012
U.S.A.
Dr. Matthew Buffington
USDA-ARS Systematic Entomology Lab
PO Box 37012
National Museum of Natural History, NHB 168
10th & Constitution Ave.
Washington, DC 20013-7012
U.S.A.
Dr. James Pitts
Department of Biology
Utah State University
Logan, UT 94322
U.S.A.
Dr. Robert Kula
USDA-ARS Systematic Entomology Lab
PO Box 37012
National Museum of Natural History, NHB 168
10th & Constitution Ave.
Washington, DC 20013-7012
U.S.A.
Dr. Lubomir Masner
Canadian National Collection of Insects
K.W. Neatby Bldg.
960 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C6
CANADA
Dr. David Wahl
American Entomological Institute
3005 SW 56th Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32608
U.S.A.
TRANSLATION ASSISTANT (Spanish/Englis):
Mr. Jeffrey Sossa-Calvo
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History, NHB 168
10th & Constitution Ave.
Washington, DC 20013-7012
U.S.A.
FEES:
Tuition for the 8-day HYM COURSE is $700 to be paid by all participants on being
informed of their acceptance unless they have been granted a waiver or partial waiver.
Tuition covers overhead costs of the workshop and consumable supplies. In addition, all
students (whether or not they have received a waiver of tuition) or their home institutions
must pay the boarding fees of $280 for this period, covering dormitory room and board.
This fee is payable to American Entomological Institute prior to the course, by
international money order, check drawn on a US bank, or wire-to-wire transfer.
Transportation costs between home and Punta Cana (air) or Biodiversity Center (auto)
are to be borne by all participants or their home institutions.
APPLICATION
Application PDF
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: APRIL 21, 2008
SLIDE SHOW
Click here to view a slideshow of photos from this years HymCourse!
Some of the Presentations from the 2006 Hym Course:
Introduction to the Hymenoptera: Matthew Buffington
Introduction to Hymenoptera Morphology: David Wahl
Hymenoptera Biology: Michael Sharkey
Aculeata: Lynn Kimsey
Braconidae: Michael Sharkey
Chalcidoidea: Michael Gates
Chrysidoidea: Lynn Kimsey
Cynipoidea: Matthew Buffington:
Ichneumonoidea: Michael Sharkey
Ichneumonidae: David Wahl
Smaller Subfamilies: Michael Gates
Many other presentations were given using demonstration and discussion.
