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BugGuide Gathering 2018 - Massanutten Resort

Mark your calendars for the BugGuide Gathering July 27 - 29, 2018.

The event will take place at the Massanutten 4 Seasons Resort located in McGaheysville Virginia.

Housing and meals are made available to us nearby through the summer conference rates at James Madison University, Harrisonburg Virginia
The University agrees to provide air conditioned lodging accommodations for double and single occupancy for a maximum of 50 persons in Grace Street Apartments.

Arriving the day of Friday 7/27/18 through the night of Saturday 7/28/18, and departing Sunday 7/29/18.

A/C HOUSING* (Per person/per night)
SINGLE OCCUPANCY $42.00
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY $30.00
Linen service available for $8.00
housing and linen subject to 5.3% state tax

MEALS tickets available for purchase, cafeteria style on campus
MON - SUN
Breakfast $7.60
Lunch $9.47
Dinner $9.78
meals subject to 7% local meals tax and 5.3% state tax

Saturday night catered meal in the Festival Allegheny Room on campus - $15.72 (tax included)
Saturday boxed lunch - $9.55 (tax included)

I am working with the coordinator of the Nature Center at the Massanutten Resort to determine suitable locations for installing bug lights. I have two Mercury Vapor bug lights and generators. Please remember to bring your UV safety eyewear while photographing at the high intensity lights. Please indicate in the comments for the coordinator section upon registration if you plan to bring and install additional bug lights. There are several trails along the ridge that originate within the resort, but the George Washington Forest is situated adjacent to the property and offers hundreds of square miles to explore. The US Forest Service has granted access for us to enter the federal land. They have requested that anyone who wishes to explore the area beyond the boundaries of the resort to carry a copy of the letter that grants us access. We have also been given permission to collect insects that are not found on the Virginia Endangered and Threatened Species (TES OAR) List. A copy of each of these documents, access rights and official TES OAR List, will be included in the welcome package upon check-in to the Grace Street Apartments. I can also e-mail a copy if requested prior to the event - that request can be made in the comments to the coordinator section or feel free to send me a personal e-mail request.

Here is a link to registration:
https://www.ent.iastate.edu/bg2018

If you are interested in activities available at the resort such as golf, water park, or adventure park, the nature coordinator recommended that you purchase tickets early to assure availability of the resort's facility. July is the peak of the summer season at the resort. Those tickets can be purchased through the Massanutten Resort website here: https://www.massresort.com/

Link to a map of the Harrisonburg and Massanutten area. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/JMU+Convocation+Center,+University+Boulevard,+Harrisonburg,+VA/Massanutten,+VA/@38.3847217,-78.8602603,12z/data=!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b492e922becedf:0xe7a7b62d67feeee5!2m2!1d-78.8687645!2d38.4318774!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b48b1717db1fdb:0x81b45cb6bad92b11!2m2!1d-78.7378004!2d38.4095701

Contributed by Marcia Morris on 2 December, 2017 - 7:19am
Last updated 12 April, 2018 - 11:45am

Maybe I hit the wrong button,

Maybe I hit the wrong button, it didn't work or because it's old and not accepting comments?
Fox-spider found after 27 years. Just wanted to share with bugguide.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/31/huge-spider-assumed-extinct-in-britain-discovered-on-mod-site-aoe

… Penny, 2 November, 2020 - 1:18am

I was looking for a place to

I was looking for a place to discuss spiders. But I couldn't find it here, other than under specific spiders, so I'll just share what I learned today about a spider that hasn't been seen for 27 years.
The Fox-spider has been seen!
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/31/huge-spider-assumed-extinct-in-britain-discovered-on-mod-site-aoe
I realize this isn't the spot for the discussion but wanted to share. Delete if you must!

Penny

… Penny, 1 November, 2020 - 5:45pm

To talk about spiders...

...you'll want to post to the Arachnological Forum.

… Ken Wolgemuth, 1 November, 2020 - 11:40pm

Great

Sounds good, Marcia. You can count me in.

… Robert Lord Zimlich, 19 December, 2017 - 1:06pm

Lord Z,

Have you registered?

… Nancy Kent, 14 June, 2018 - 10:45am

Take a vote?

Are you signing on to take charge of planning this event? How many commitments would you need to make this a viable venture? How about the scheduling of workshops with "experts" ?
I can put that weekend on my calendar.

… Cletus Lee, 4 December, 2017 - 10:29am

I will coordinate/plan

I live here, so I am happy to coordinate/plan. I am "trolling" the Biology Department of JMU for any professionals who are interested in participating in the event. We had about 20 folks who attended the last gathering in Virginia, but I am willing to hoist my bug sheets for any number of committed enthusiasts. I would hope that other participants would commit to installing lights, as well.

… Marcia Morris, 4 December, 2017 - 10:37am

Sorting Hat

I vote that you can wear the Sorting Hat and trust that you will sort it all out. I live in Houston TX and can only give moral support.

My son lives in Fishersville and I participated in a Bike Virginia event in that part of the valley in 2004.

I would also suggest Natural Chimneys as a camping venue

… Cletus Lee, 4 December, 2017 - 10:48am

I would love to attend but

Whether I could would depend on the date the gathering was held

… Schnerre, 3 December, 2017 - 7:51pm

I would definitely attend a VA gathering

Plenty of great options to choose from in the Shenandoah Valley area.

… Curt Harden, 3 December, 2017 - 6:58pm

Most of the previous gatherings....

Have been at sites that have been very affordable. Not sure if your intention is to actually stay at the resort....that might be a hard sell for most folks as it looks pricey.

… Wisconsin Oecanthinancy, 3 December, 2017 - 4:33pm

Places to stay

It might be possible to work through the Biology Dept/Entomology to secure dormitory housing at JMU. This would allow about a 30 drive to the heart of Massanutten Mountain.

… Cletus Lee, 3 December, 2017 - 4:50pm

JMU

Their semester is coming to a close, I will make some calls tomorrow regarding this idea. Also, there are various hotels in the Harrisonburg area, as well as KOA sites. I would like a secure area, open 24 hours for setting up some bug lights, so naturally, I thought of the resort for safety. I have the event coordinator's phone number and will place a call to her, as well. There may be attendees who have time-shares to this resort and would welcome the opportunity to use the resort's wonderful facilities. Lots to do on that site, water park, horseback riding, hiking, golfing, ice skating, to name a few.

… Marcia Morris, 3 December, 2017 - 4:59pm

That would be great....

We stayed in dorm rooms for the Iowa gathering, and that worked out very well.

… Wisconsin Oecanthinancy, 3 December, 2017 - 5:08pm

Massanutten Mountain

Isolated from both the BlueRidge and the Appalachian Mountains by the Shendandoah Valley, Massanutten Mountain offers a unique ecology.

If it happens, I'll do my best to be there. It would be my first.

… Cletus Lee, 3 December, 2017 - 2:52pm

We're usually happy to go anywhere

Just let us know when :)
Keep trying to figure out how to have one here in Chicago Wilderness, but can't seem to get the right connections. :(

… john and jane balaban, 2 December, 2017 - 9:09pm

ANY gathering is better than none (as has happened...

...the past 2 years).

I've compiled a map of the gatherings/bug swarms from previous years -- as the first two no longer automatically show in the calendar column. Hopefully putting 'gathering' in the search field will bring up this map. Even though I'd like to see what bugs participants can find somewhere in the Rockies for a gathering....if you can get something planned in VA and get enough interest -- I say go for it.

… Wisconsin Oecanthinancy, 2 December, 2017 - 7:03pm

Colorado eventually

I was at the one in the Smokies, and the one in Arizona. I just don't have any money for travel anymore. We will organize one in Colorado in the next couple years, aiming to cover as many elevational biomes as possible.

… Eric R. Eaton, 10 December, 2017 - 9:48am

future gatherings (and question for everybody)

Beautiful map, Nancy.

Eric, Nancy, (and everybody), Seems like New England and California would both be good picks down the road in addition to the Rockies. Maine, Hawaii, and Alaska, of course, also. But those seem a little more expensive to get to. :)

… Kevin Hall, 15 January, 2018 - 4:31pm

nice map!

Thanks for this compilation.

… Marcia Morris, 2 December, 2017 - 7:35pm

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