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BugGuide Gathering
Smoky Mountains
University of Tennessee Biological Field Station
August 8-10, 2008
Details...

Photos from the last gathering (Minnesota 2007)

BugGuide Southeast Swarm 2008?

There seems to be plenty of interest in another gathering this year. The time to plan it is now!

There was some talk of an Arizona meetup, but it seems to have lost momentum. If anyone is willing to make it happen, please step up and go for it!

I am willing to help organize something closer to home, so I'm here to suggest a southeastern US meetup. I don't have a strong preference for a particular venue; feel free to make suggestions. Here's mine:

I think Smoky Mountains National Park is a good location with moderate summer temperatures and good biodiversity. It's also a reasonable distance to the southeastern states as well as the eastern midwest. I'm happy camping, but there's also food/accomodations to be had in Gatlinburg. Tacky and touristy, but convenient.

We might need to get permission from the park if anyone is netting/collecting; I'm not sure what the rules are. And, while I've been to the park a few times, I do not know the best "secret" bugging spots like Kurt knew in Minnesota. And perhaps too many BugGuiders have "been there, done that" to make the park a good destination.

Along with other locations, please also discuss when you could go.

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Contributed by Mike Boone on 5 February, 2008 - 4:20pm

It's On!

See this thread for details of the gathering.

… Mike Boone, 24 March, 2008 - 3:13pm

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Another Update

I couldn't get enough folks interested/available to go to Tremont August 22-24. It seems the later we get in August, more folks have plans. So we've been looking elsewhere. "Wisconsin Nancy" has been quite diligent and found us an interesting possibility. There is a University of Tennessee field station near Gatlinburg and just across from Smoky Mountains National Park. This site offers three houses and a lab (only two of the houses are shown...the other is a "bunkhouse" with 7 beds). While they don't appear to be posh accommodations, this site has several benefits:

17 acres of non-park land where we can do some "bugging." (Need to check on collecting rules)
Some seclusion from summer crowds
Wireless internet access
Close proximity to Gatlinburg and park access roads for access to food and field trips into the park (also would make nearby "overflow" lodging possible).
Quite inexpensive, though we'll need to keep the place clean and find our own food, whether we go into town, or cook on location.

This site is available the weekends of August 1-3 and August 8-10. What I need to know is if you can make either date or just one of them. We'd like to know ASAP so we can get the location booked. We will likely pick the date that most people can come (unless availability changes). Folks who need to fly in need good lead time to get decent flight prices, and the longer we wait, the less stuff will be available. The first replies will get the first dibs on their choice of sleeping accommodation. Many thanks, and I hope we can pull this off! Update: So far I have 6 who can come either weekend and 2 who can only make the 8-10.

… Mike Boone, 21 March, 2008 - 7:55am

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BugGuide Southeast Swarm 2008?

Greetings all,
I have just today learned of this attempt to have a gathering in east Tennessee this summer. I hope it happens!
I live in Knoxville and have been involved with the DLIA project in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, primarily with odonate surveys.
I wish I had seen this forum last week - this past Saturday we had an orientation meeting for those interested in helping with DLIA (Discover Life In America, the group working with the Smokies regarding the ATBI: All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory). I would have mentioned the hopes for an August BugGuide Gathering. Of course I can still contact the people in charge and see what they say about it. While it is true that anything collected would have to stay with the Park, it may be possible that permits could be issued as long as the Gathering be done in connection with DLIA.

I would plan to attend if this event does happen here.
David Trently
Avian Pursuits Nature Tours,
Knoxville, TN

… David Trently, 17 March, 2008 - 7:55am

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Update

Hi Everyone, here's an update on the possible BugGuide meetup.

Tremont had another group booked August 15-17, but at the time they had one floor of their dorm still available. Apparently the other group has since increased their numbers and are claiming the entire accommodations. So that weekend is out for us, at least if we want to stay at Tremont. I've been told the only other weekend they have available from May to September is August 22-24. Let me know if you could make that weekend.

Other options include finding a common place to stay (there are lots of cabins and hotels in the area). Or we could let folks stay where they want and agree to meet up in the park. Only a few expressed interest in camping, so everyone staying at a campground probably isn't realistic.

The last possibility is that we could try to plan something at Tremont in 2009 with more favorable dates.

My hat's off to Kurt for pulling this off last year; it's not simple.

… Mike Boone, 11 March, 2008 - 2:14pm

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Update of BugSwarm SE

August 22-24 are good for me. Either at Tremont or in a cabin would be my choices. Hoping enough people will be interested so we don't have to wait for 2009 :(

… Wisconsin Nancy, 11 March, 2008 - 2:51pm

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Update

I haven't heard from the majority of the folks I contacted who said they could come on the original dates. So far I only have 6 who could make the new dates. If you're interested in having the meetup at Tremont August 22-24, I need to know soon.

In the meantime, I'm going to explore other options in the area.

… Mike Boone, 13 March, 2008 - 12:44pm

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Mike, we are interested, but

the 22-24 dates are too late for us. John has already started school. The previous weekend would have been ok, but the new dates are one week too late for us. We're happy with camping. No need for special accomodations for us, though we are happy to stay with the group somewhere as we did in Minnesota if that helps with the arrangements.

… john and jane balaban, 15 March, 2008 - 4:37pm

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Timing

Since Tremont looks to be out (at least as a 2008 option), I'm looking for something earlier in August or even mid/late July. Wisconsin Nancy is working on one idea and I'm doing some research on places in the general area but not the national park. Stay tuned.

… Mike Boone, 15 March, 2008 - 9:22pm

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Permitting on BugSwarm '08

Will NPS issue a permit for what appears to be recreational collecting? Would a single permit cover everyone? I'm new to the permitting thing. Jim

… mtnpathfinder, 6 March, 2008 - 7:30pm

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BugSwarm '08 Documenting and Photographing

Even though collecting is a no go....I'm still hoping there's enough interest in plain old discovering, documenting and photographing to keep the Smokies as our destination for the SE Swarm. Hopefully Mike's contact person at Tremont will get back to him within the week regarding staying at the institute, so we can get a count of attendees and travel plans can get started.

… Wisconsin Nancy, 7 March, 2008 - 11:52pm

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Collecting

No idea on the collection permit limitations. Why don't you call the park or email them and let us know what you find out?

I'm not into collecting myself, but there might also be an opportunity to collect for the All-Leps Smoky Mountain Project.

I hope to have an update about the gathering soon, and I'll post as soon as I do.

… Mike Boone, 7 March, 2008 - 9:08am

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response from GSMNP

GSMNP is OUT. Quoting C. Bloom @ GSMNP:

I'm sorry but federal laws prohibit recreational insect collecting in the national park. Permits are issued for collection for scientific purposes only. You may wish to contact DLIA to see if you may be able to volunteer for one of their research days, but any specimens you collect would have to remain in either DLIAs or the park's possession. You would not be able to keep them for you own collections.

You can reach DLIA by clicking on their "Contact Us" link at
http://www.dlia.org/

… mtnpathfinder, 7 March, 2008 - 11:19am

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Permitting @ GSMNP; GSMNP alternatives

Mike: Done! I took the liberty of emailing Big South Fork National Recreation Area and the nearby Nantahala, Cherokee, and Chattahoochee NFs, too. I think we're whistling Dixie in trying to get a permit to collect in GSMNP for solely recreational purposes. BSF is referred to as "the secret Smokies" or "the quiet Smokies" because of its natural attractiveness plus its absolute lack of commercialization. It's a National Recreation Area, so wildlife protection constraints aren't quite so tight. The NFs would have almost identical environmental circumstances (terrain, altitude, vegetation) as the Smokies. Hopefully this wasn't too presumptious of a list noob. Jim

… mtnpathfinder, 7 March, 2008 - 10:34am

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Bug Swarm SE 2008

For those who are still on the fence for attending: Species new to the scientific community are found nearly every year, especially in the lesser-studied groups, such as the invertebrates. As an example of the large numbers of bugs in the Park, in one week an entomology group collected over 4830 specimens of arthropods, the majority of which represented 16 orders of insects. Lepidoptera included 1433 specimens, represented by over 225 species. They had 28 species of spiders in 10 families. (Microhexura montivaga), Spruce-fir moss spider - is an endangered species found in the Park. The habitat in the higher elevations is similar to Canadian boreal forests. 2,000 miles of streams flow in the Park and support a highly diverse aquatic insect population - more than 500 species. Synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus) are one of 14 species of fireflies that live in the Park, and are the only species in America whose individuals can synchronize their flashing light patterns.

… Wisconsin Nancy, 6 March, 2008 - 12:27am

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Bug Swarm SE 2008 - Gr Smoky Mtns

I hear the number of interested attendees is currently 13. Our goal is at least 20. In an attempt to entice a few more 'definite' participants, did you know: The park is currently involved in a quest to identify and understand all the species of life within the park. Discover Life in America (DLIA) researchers seek knowledge about the components, abundance, and diversity of life - from spiders in the soil to slime molds in the forest canopy. Check out their website to see species already known to inhabit the park:

http://www.dlia.org/atbi/species/Animalia/Arthropoda/index.shtml

Maybe Bug Swarm SE 2008 can help identify a few new inhabitants of the park !

… Wisconsin Nancy, 27 February, 2008 - 11:11pm

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another potential attendee

I'd be interested in participating depending on the date. Thanks,

… mtnpathfinder, 5 March, 2008 - 8:41pm

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Interested

I might be interested in this one, but I'm still kind of holding out for the one in Southern Arizona. I grew up in that area and would like to get back out there again. But, this one has the advantage of being much closer to where I currently live.

… Kenneth Dwain Harrelson, 1 March, 2008 - 6:37am

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This sounds like a great idea

This sounds like a great idea I would be very interested in attending.

… Jason Hansen, 25 February, 2008 - 8:38am

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A possibility

A friend in Knoxville suggested the GSM Institute at Tremont. It looks to be a Wolf Ridge-style place and they're located inside the national park. They have dorm-style rooms, a meeting place, and food service. They also have wi-fi at the meeting place.

I finally had a chance to call them today and as you might expect, their summer schedule was pretty full-up. The woman I spoke with said the weekend of August 15-17 was open, but that's getting later in the year and I know some kids might be back in school by then. She said that the price would be something like $175-$200/person for the weekend for lodging/meals depending on our requirements. This was based on about ~20 people attending.

Since they're inside the national park, people would need a permit from the park service to collect insects, but she said that we wouldn't need a permit to blacklight for photography on their campus.

Let me know if there's any interest and I'll pursue it. If folks like the destination but not the dates, maybe we just camp, or try for 2009 at the institute.

… Mike Boone, 20 February, 2008 - 8:57am

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Sounds good to me

Sounds good to me, and I'd like to attend. The weekend is a little problematic because school is starting back that weekend at the college where I work, and I'd probably have to leave after dinner Saturday, but still it sounds like a good place and I'd like to attend.

… Stephen Cresswell, 25 February, 2008 - 3:56pm

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Bug Swarm 08

Hi Mike,

I think this a great idea. Hopefully we can get well over 20 very quickly to reserve room before it's all booked up. With lodging and meals right there inside the park, it couldn't be more convenient. PLUS, according to the GSM Institute website, it's only 45 minutes from the Knoxville airport.

… Wisconsin Nancy, 20 February, 2008 - 1:24pm

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Contact

Hi Nancy, I need your contact details if you are interested in coming. Use this link. Thanks.

So far I have 13 who can likely come on those dates and 4 more maybes.

… Mike Boone, 27 February, 2008 - 8:38am

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I might come, too.

August is usually a pretty busy month, but I have always wanted to go to the Smokies. I know of someone who works at the park, but I think she is on the Tennessee side...Anyway, I am following this thread with interest.

… Eric R. Eaton, 27 February, 2008 - 11:33am

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I'm also....

interested. I have plenty of vacation time saved up, so I'll watch this thread.

… Preston Scott Justis, 27 February, 2008 - 4:19pm

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Bug Swarm 2008

Any new developments? I wanted to post something to get this back toward the top of the list.....to try to get more people interested :)

… Wisconsin Nancy, 13 February, 2008 - 8:55pm

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No news

Haven't had a chance to work on this lately. Hope to do some more looking this week.

In the meantime, anyone else with time and motivation are welcome to run with the ball.

… Mike Boone, 18 February, 2008 - 7:33pm

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It sounds good

I am very interested. It wouldn't be too far for me to drive to it.

… Beatriz Moisset, 7 February, 2008 - 2:01pm

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I hope to come

I've had some health issues these last couple of months, but would love to attend the 2008 swarm if it comes off. I had a blast in 2007 in the north woods.

I agree that Great Smokies NP is a great place; my only reservation is that is it America's most-visited National Park, with more than twice as many annual visitors as the #2 park, Grand Canyon. It has more then 3x the number of visitors as Yellowstone. Of course many of the Smokies visitors come in the fall, but many come in summer, too.

One thing I've done in the past to avoid the crowds is go to the nearby Cherokee National Forest, which has public campgrounds and nearby hotels, but was practically deserted when I went once in mid-May.

Not quite as central but awfully fun for insects would be one of the big wetland parks like Okefenokee in Georgia.

One final thought is: as someone who works at a college campus, I know colleges are often desperate to fill up dorm rooms in the summer. If we can match a park and a campus, we could all be together sharing dining halls and residences as we did at Wolf Ridge in 2007. (I'd suggest my own college, but the beautiful West Virginia highland areas are about two hours drive from the campus, hardly convenient. Of couse we do have closer parks, but many would find them less spectacular, particularly if they are from this part of the country. And our campus is a two hour drive from a big airport, another disadvantage.) But if we found just the right match-up, a college campus could work out great as a locale. You might even find a naturalist on the faculty who could advise on the best places to go and what to watch for.

… Stephen Cresswell, 9 February, 2008 - 2:33pm

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College dorm rental and entomology search.....

....brought up this:

http://mississippientomologicalmuseum.org.msstate.edu//LepSoc2008/LepSocMeeting2008.html

I don't know if many Bug Guiders would already be going to this in June, or if we could manage to get the same kind of deals on the dorm rooms if we went in late July or early August. And, I don't know anything about the sites mentioned as destinations for field trips. I believe Mike Boone is a moth guy, but from the Smoky Mtns area. Anyone out there from the Mississippi area?

… Wisconsin Nancy, 9 February, 2008 - 3:49pm

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Mississippi

Funny you should mention Mississippi. I am interested in moths but it really grew from an interest in BugGuide, and I've never pursued a membership with any other entomology groups. However, I've recently been introduced to a couple of the folks mentioned on that webpage. I will find out more about it, and whether or not it would be practical to piggyback on their meeting or do it another time. The BugGuide gathering last year was combined with a meeting of the Minnesota Odonata folks, and that worked out well.

BTW, I live in western SC, not the Smokies...I just thought that GSM National Park might be a good "central" location and it's a pretty place. It's about a 4 hour drive for me. I have a couple friends in east TN and I'm looking for a good spot that isn't overrun with tourists, but I'm not set on the location.

… Mike Boone, 9 February, 2008 - 5:57pm

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BugGuide Southeast Swarm 2008?

I think we should consider Smoky Mountains National Park the official Southeast Swarm for 2008....and go from there. I think it's the best way to get this going. Otherwise, it might lose momentum like Arizona. Mike, I think you should pick a date that's best for you and throw it out there. (And by all means pick a month when your bugs of greatest interest are at their peak). Then we can all reply whether or not the chose weekend is good for us....and hopefully enough of us will agree to make it a go. I'd be more than willing to start a hotel search online.

… Wisconsin Nancy, 5 February, 2008 - 9:34pm

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