Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods)

Volume 26 No. 2, Fall 2007


 

News and Notes


General information and editorial notes

News and Notes:

Bio-Blitz 2007

BSC Curation Blitz

Head of Biological Survey to retire

Summary of the Scientific Committee meeting

Hugh Danks retires as Head of the BSC

New Head of the BSC appointed

New electronic mailing list

Departing Editor's remarks

Project Update: Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands

The Quiz Page

An overview and update of the Microgastrinae holdings in the CNC, Ottawa

Selected future conferences

Quips and Quotes

List of Requests for Material or Information

 

 

Biological Survey of Canada Curation Blitz 1: Working out the Bugs in Saskatoon

After the collecting and field work is finished; unit trays, collecting vials, and drawers fill up with fascinating specimens. Unfortunately individual researchers, or even groups of researchers at any given institution, do not have the time or expertise to identify all of them. Unsorted material builds up in all collections, not getting the attention it deserves. A wealth of faunistic information sits untapped in unsorted material in collections across Canada. We can all help make these data more accessible.

Join other curious entomologists for the first Biological Survey of Canada Curation Blitz in Saskatoon during the joint annual meeting of the Entomological Society of Canada and the Entomological Society of Saskatchewan meeting on Monday evening (1 October 2007) from 7-9 PM.

There are two major collections in Saskatoon, at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and at the University of Saskatoon. Doors will be open and entomologists will be encouraged to sit down and sort to family, to genus, and to species where possible. The goal is to sort unidentified specimens and increase the level of curation for these two collections. Additionally, those of us interested in faunistics of Canadian arthropods will have a better idea of the material available in these collections. Thirdly, we should be able to connect specialists and specimens, so that the use and improvement of these collections are ongoing. Finally, and as important as the above, we will all be able to learn from experts in a variety of taxa.

Watch the notice board at the ESC meeting or the Biological Survey web site for more details.

For more information contact:
Dave McCorquodale
<david_mccorquodale@cbu.ca>
or
Bob Randell
<randellrl@shaw.ca>

 

 

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