2017 INVERTEBRATES IN EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION CONFERENCE
July 25 - July 29 • Tucson, Arizona

Hosted by


The Terrestrial Invertebrate Taxon Advisory Group

2017 Preliminary Program
Subject to Change
Tuesday,
July 25
9:00am - 1:00pm
 TITAG Meeting
1:00pm - 5:30pm
 Registration
5:30pm - 9:00pm
Key Note Address
 2017's IECC Keynote Speaker will be none other than renowned wildlife photographer, citizen scientist and all around insect-lover Clay Bolt!

Clay’s images have been featured in National Geographic, Outdoor Photographer and BBC Wildlife, among many others. He is an associate fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers and president of the North American Nature Photography Association. One of Clay’s most familiar accomplishments is his co-founding of the “Meet Your Neighbors” photography project, a worldwide effort to engage people with wildlife in their own backyards.

As a passionate advocate for the smaller majority, Clay has been instrumental in shedding light on the uncertain future of the rusty-patched bumble bee, Bombus affinis. Beautifully documented by Clay and his team for the film “A Ghost in the Making: Searching for the Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee”, this long effort led to the bee’s listing as endangered under the Endangered Species Act earlier this year.

Clay will speak to us about his journey to find the bee and raise awareness for its plight, and the many obstacles to preserve it for generations to come.


Thank you to our Gold Level Sponsors:


           

Wednesday,
July 26
6:30am - 8:30am
 Registration
1:30pm - 4:30pm
 Registration
FIELD TRIPS - Pre-registration required
7:00am - 4:00pm

Hot Chili Peppers and Hot Bugs 2017 (24 participants) Led by Jim Melli, San Diego Natural History Museum

We will explore the beautiful Pajarito Wilderness just north of the border. The proximity to the border and variety of habitats ranging from Madrean woodlands, desert grasslands, streams, ponds, and rocky hillsides bristling with ocotillo and agave insure that something groovy will show up. Critters, more common in Mexico, sometimes steal across the border into this area. If we’re lucky, we may encounter a brown vine snake or other Mexican specialties. For sure we will find some cool bugs. Let’s get there before they build the wall! Full day trip. Responsible collecting allowed

7:15am - 1:45pm

Pass the Peppersauce, Please! (24 participants) Led by Howard Byrne, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Back by popular demand! Peppersauce Canyon in the Santa Catalina Mountain range is a great place to escape the warmer reaches of the lower desert. It's nestled in at around 4,700 feet in elevation; just enough to take the edge off a hot day. This ephemeral riparian area is lined by Sycamore, Walnut and Ash trees. The surrounding hills are 'peppered' with oaks, grasses and yucca. Arthropod species are as varied as other more southerly sky islands, and it's also a notable birding location. It's a beautiful spot for a half-day field trip, and we'll be back to the resort by early afternoon. Plenty of cow-pies to dig through for that perfect beetle you’ve been looking for! Conscientious collecting is allowed. You bring the nets; we’ll bring the van keys!

7:30am - 4:00pm

Taste of Tucson (12 Participents) Led by Catherine Bartlett and Sergio Avila, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Tucson is a newly minted UNESCO World City of Gastronomy and a hotspot for bug biodiversity. Quite simply, The Old Pueblo has the best grub(s)! This field trip will celebrate local flora, fauna, and flavors. It’ll begin with a guided tour of the world famous Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Participants will experience a zoo, botanical garden, art gallery and aquarium- in one place! As the temp warms up, the field trip will seek some shade- and some spice. The next stop will be lunch* at a local restaurant to experience authentic flavors of the southwest. After your Sonoran hotdog digests, we’ll find a few nectaring sites and watering holes to explore. Tucson recently experienced an explosion in the craft beer industry, and we’ll hit a few favorites to help us refuel as we make our way north back to the resort. The tour will end back at El Conquistador with a nocturnal toast brought to you by…bats!

*Entrance to the Desert Museum is included, lunch and drinks are not.

AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS
1:30pm - 4:30pm
 Make Your Own Habitat for Invertebrates! (25 participants)
Leaders: Nicky Williams & Tony Ruiz, Reynolds Advanced Materials

This workshop will include an assessment of easy-to-use 2-part liquid silicone rubbers, liquid plastics and self-hardening epoxy putties all of which can be used to fabricate new, or enhance existing invertebrate habitats. Techniques for processing materials properly and efficiently will be covered to help you effectively create naturalistic environments with an authentic appearance. Session will include demonstrations by presenters as well as practical hands-on experience.
AFTERNOON ROUNDTABLES
1:30pm - 3:00pm
 Ants in Your Pants! (20 participants)
Leader: Ray Mendez, Work as Play

Have an itch for an ant display that does it all? Come join Ray Mendez in an exploration of fun species to partner with in the telling of stories. Explore the most commonly kept ants in zoo/museum displays and learn about the difficulty levels for each. The topics will range from the creation of large immersive exhibits to small tabletop homes and easy to care for environments. Explore tools for looking at your charges in a variety of ways. Bring questions and concepts for all to explore.
EVENING EVENTS
5:00pm - 6:00pm
 Poster Session
7:00pm - 11:00pm
 Evening Blacklighting Adventure - Location TBD

Thank you to our Silver Level Sponsors:
     

     
Thursday,
July 27
7:00am - 8:00am
 Registration - Registration may close during paper sessions and lunch.
9:00am - 4:30pm
 Registration, Vendors and Exhibits
9:00am - 4:30pm
 Silent Auction
PAPER SESSIONS
8:00am
 Welcome and Announcements
8:10am - 10:10am
 Lepidoptera Conservation

Ester Chang - San Diego Zoo
The boom and bust butterfly - Reintroduction of the quino checkerspot butterfly, Euphydryas editha quino

Zak Gezon - Disney's Animal Kingdom (SHORT)
Citizen Science data lends insight into how butterfly communities could be affected by climate change.

Cale Nordmeyer - Minnesota Zoo
Skipper triage in the face of uncertainty

9:00am - 9:10am
 Short Break!
9:10am - 10:10am

Jaret Daniels - University of Florida/ Florida Museum of Natural History
Disney Reverse the Decline Grant Initiatives

Erin Sullivan - Woodland Park Zoo
Silverspot butterfly PHVA

Jamie Sincage & Amanda J. Ardente, DVM, PhD - Disney's Animal Kingdom/University of Florida (SHORT)
Development of an artificial diet to support conservation efforts of the Attala hairstreak butterfly (Eumaeus atala)

Zak Gezon - Disney's Animal Kingdom
Bringing it all together: a butterfly conservation program that includes habitat restoration, butterfly releases, citizen science, and partnerships with zoos, universities, and local communities.

10:10am - 10:30am
 Announcements and Break -- Please visit the Exhibit Hall
10:30am - 12:15pm
 Butterfly conservation breakout session
 Facilitators: Erin Sullivan (Woodland Park Zoo) and Paige Howorth (San Diego Zoo)

The Butterfly Conservation Breakout Session is organized to promote the discussion of butterfly conservation and to expand on the topics presented in the preceding paper session. All are welcome to join!
LUNCH
12:15pm-1:30pm
 COMPLIMENTARY lunch provided for conference participants
AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS
1:30pm - 4:30pm
 Getting Started with Citizen Science: How to Build a Butterfly Monitoring Network (20 participants)
Led by Doug Taron, Chicago Academy of Sciences

Learn the ins and outs of setting up a citizen science program based on using Pollard transect surveys to monitor butterflies. We will discuss how the surveys work, do hands-on demonstrations of using Google Earth to map survey routes, using Volgistics to manage volunteers, and using PollardBase to manage route and survey data. After a brief discussion of published examples of how the data have been used, we will move outside and conduct a survey. Please bring your laptop if you have it with you.
1:30pm - 4:30pm
 Make Your Own Habitat for Invertebrates! (25 participants) 
Leaders: Nicky Williams & Tony Ruiz, Reynolds Advanced Materials

This workshop will include an assessment of easy-to-use 2-part liquid silicone rubbers, liquid plastics and self-hardening epoxy putties all of which can be used to fabricate new, or enhance existing invertebrate habitats. Techniques for processing materials properly and efficiently will be covered to help you effectively create naturalistic environments with an authentic appearance. Session will include demonstrations by presenters as well as practical hands-on experience.
1:30pm - 3:30pm
 What's Your Media Message? (20 participants)
Leader - Gwen Pearson - Purdue University

Want to talk to a reporter, and make sure they get the right message? Have something cool happening, and want to get media interested? We'll discuss simple things you can do to make your stories more marketable, powerful, and memorable. And, we'll practice preparing for an interview on a topic of your choice, so you leave with something in hand!

FIELD TRIP
1:30pm - 10:00pm
 Beetles, Moths and More (24 participants)
Leader - Jim Melli - San Diego Natural History Museum

This is black lighting for the folks who want to get to bed before the wee hours. We will set up some of Bio-Quip’s black-lights in the lower Madera Canyon parking lot and see what comes in. The Madrean woodland habitat is perfect for some of Arizona’s most spectacular beetles and moths. If the monsoon is friendly, the result of our black-lighting could be epic. Scorpions, spiders and other arthropods will show up in our flashlights. On our way to the canyon, we will do stop and go sampling of the lower desert habitats for diurnal and crepuscular critters.

EVENING EVENT
7:00pm - 10:00pm
 Insect Trivia and Game Night

Thank you to our Luncheon Level Sponsors:
                     
Friday,
July 28
7:00am - 8:00am
 Registration - Registration may close during paper sessions and lunch.
9:00am - 4:30pm
 Registration, Vendors and Exhibits
9:00am - 4:30pm
 Silent Auction
PAPER SESSIONS
8:00am
 Welcome and Announcements
8:10am - 9:50am
 It Takes a Village Colony: Public Engagement and Education

Dr. Andrine A. Shufran - Oklahoma State University Insect Adventure
Banished Beetle Project: ABB Education in Oklahoma

Erika Crosby - Houston Zoo
Effectiveness of Pollinator Signage at the Houston Zoo

Kevin Burls- Nevada Bugs and Butterflies
Grassroots research and citizen science in Nevada

Ron Wagler - The University of Texas at El Paso
Heterophrynus batesii Captive Breeding Techniques for Science Educators: Utilizing Amblypygids to Teach Students about the Ongoing Sixth Mass Extinction

Stephanie A. Dole, Ph.D. - Beetlelady, LLC
Adapting Bug Science Programs to Serve Special Needs Childlren

9:50am - 10:10am
 Announcements and Break -- Please visit the Exhibit Hall and Posters!
10:10am - 11:30am
 Leeches, Skeeters and Sextons: Conservation of the Non-Panda

Nate Nelson - Sedgwick County Zoo
A Survey of North American Medicinal Leeches in Kansas

Chris Hartley - The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House
Project Pollinator: A Community Garden Initiative

Lawrence Reeves - University of Florida
Mosquitoes in conservation: BioBlitzing vertebrate diversity through blood meal-derived DNA

Lou Perrotti and Bob Merz - Roger Williams Park Zoo and St. Louis Zoo
A Comparison of Two Efforts to Reestablish the American Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) to Uniquely Different Locations

11:30am - 12:15pm
 USDA Roundtable
LUNCH
12:15pm-1:30pm
 COMPLIMENTARY lunch provided for conference participants
AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS
1:30pm - 4:30pm
 Maggot Farming for Dummies (20 participants)
 Led by Trevor Henderson, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

Our workshop is an extension of the Omaha zoo's previous presentation on black soldier flies. The overall purpose of the workshop is to give a hands-on demonstration on how to build and maintain a soldier fly colony for the purposes of using as feeders, displaying in an exhibit, and composting food waste. Specifically, participants will learn to build a soldier fly larva compost bucket using the designs and techniques we've developed over the past few years as well as an adult fly lekking and breeding cage.
1:30pm - 4:30pm
 Pollinators Unite, The Workshop: Pollinators Impaled. (20 participants)
Led by Zak Gezon, Jamie Sincage, Joseph Soltis, Disney's Animal Kingdom

Educational programming is changing at a rapid pace across the nation with various ground-breaking initiatives. Inclusion and knowledge of these trends strengthens any educational institutions programming, thus, attracting visitors and improving overall visitor experiences. Participants will learn theories such as learning styles, the basics of common core, 5E inquiry-based education techniques and how to write curriculum -based lessons plans. Participants will also have the opportunity to develop their own lesson plans, including hands-on curriculum-based activities, with one-on-one instruction and group discussion.
EDUCATIONAL BREAKOUT SESSION
1:30pm - 3:00pm
 Facilitator: Catherine Bartlett - Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

An overlap between arthropods and education is inevitable in zoo, museum, and collegiate settings. We all love bugs but spreading the appreciation and conservation message naturally comes with challenges. Participants will engage in discussions and share their own experiences. Don’t reinvent the wheel- just learn from others!

ROUNDTABLE
3:00pm - 4:00pm
 Invertebrates and Animal Welfare
Facilitators: Paige Howorth, San Diego Zoo and Erin Sullivan, Woodland Park Zoo

EVENING EVENT
7:00pm - 11:00pm
 Blacklighting, Location TBD

Thank you to our Bronze Level, Roundtable and Beverage Sponsors:


       
Saturday,
July 29
7:00am - 8:00am
 Registration - Registration may close during paper sessions and lunch.
9:00am - 12:30pm
 Vendors and Exhibits
9:00am - 12:30pm
 Silent Auction
PAPER SESSIONS
8:00am
 Welcome and Announcements
8:10am - 10:30am
Invertebrate Husbandry and Natural History

Dylan Cebulske - St. Louis Zoo
Exhibition and Husbandry of Coral and Other Marine Invertebrates on a Small Scale: An Example from the Saint Louis Zoo

Nate Nelson - Sedgwick County Zoo
Prairie Wetas!: Husbandry and Reproduction of the Robust Camel Cricket, Udeopsylla robusta.

Tayler Schwartz - Disney's Animal Kingdom (short)
Sunburst diving beetle (Thermonectus marmoratus) husbandry and rearing techniques

Steven Barney - BeetleSource
Goliathus: Breeding Giants

9:20am - 9:30am
 Short Break!
9:30am - 10:30am

Ryan Garrett - Scofield Leafcutter Lab, University of Oregon
New Captive Nest behaviors of Atta leafcutter ants: odd jobs on the fungus farm

Jamie Sincage - Disney's Animal Kingdom (short)
Grubstrate: Assessing Substrates and Husbandry Techniques for Chalcosoma atlas

Kayla Garcia - St. Louis Zoo
Life history, captive care, and exhibition of a fluorescent Polydesmid millipede (Auturus evides)

Martin Feather - Fairchild Tropical Garden (short)
Food amongst the flowers-reasons for plant diversity in butterfly exhibits

10:30am - 10:40am
 Announcements and Break -- Please visit the Exhibit Hall!
HUSBANDRY BREAKOUT SESSION
10:40am - 12:10pm

The Husbandry Break Out session is organized to promote the discussion of husbandry in our industry, and to expand on the topics presented in the preceding paper session. All are welcome to join! -- Facilitator Erin Sullivan (Woodland Park Zoo)n!

WORKSHOPS
1:30pm - 4:30pm
 Hands-on With Bugs (20 participants)
Led by Ginny Mitchell, Iowa State University

Participants will engage in an Insect Zoo program with maggot art. We will discuss the different ways to work with children of all ages. Using the information collected, their own experiences and knowledge, participants will present on an animal of their choice as if presenting to a child.
1:30pm - 4:30pm
 Artist and the Naturalist (10 participants)
Led by Jim Melli - San Diego Natural History Museum

Naturalists throughout the ages have made sketches in their notebooks to record observations that words could not convey. Many were not good artists, but their sketches gave the world important information about new and exotic things. In this workshop participants will learn to observe and record their observations as drawings. Participants do not need to be artists, but would have to look closely at specimen and record as accurately as they can, details of what they are looking at. We will supply a small sketchbook, pencil and sharpener, eraser and magnifying glass. We will have some dead and living bugs to draw. People can bring their own bug to draw if they wish. Hopefully, participants will carry these skills of observation back to the lab or out in the field.
ROUNDTABLE
1:30pm - 2:30pm

Pollinators Unite, The Roundtable: Pollinators Counted.
Facilitated by Dr. Joseph Soltis, Dr. Zak Gezon and Jamie Sincage - Disney's Animal Kingdom

Utilizing the Pollinator List serve we created last year and iNaturalist we can create a Pollinator Blitz that could run all year long and offer some great opportunities for Citizen Science. We also will look at taking this project global and seeing about utilizing this in Africa to help the Elephant and Bees project move to the next stage. So get ready to pull up a chair, meet some great people and help spread the gospel of pollination.

BANQUET
6:00pm
 Final Silent Auction bids, Cash Bar and Banquet
9:00pm
 Dancing until...?
We are pleased to announce that the following institutions are offering free admission during the week of the conference. Just show your conference ID badge to receive admission:

Reid Park Zoo, Butterfly Wonderland, Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Tohono Chul