EPT Workshop

Introduction to Taxonomy and Pollution Ecology of Aquatic Insects

AB Tech, Asheville, NC
July 15-17, 2008

Benthic macroinvertebrate larvae (aquatic insects) play key roles in many regulatory water quality programs in North Carolina. Not only are these insects used to detect water pollution problems, but are also used to determine if streams are perennial features, and are proposed for use in stream restoration projects as success criteria. Despite the value of this group of organisms in North Carolina's regulatory programs, very little is known about these bugs. This workshop will introduce the participants to the basic ecology and taxonomy of aquatic insects. We will spend most of the time learning family level identification of mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies (or EPT); however, other groups also will be discussed.

This workshop is sponsored by NCSU Water Quality Group, NC Cooperative Extension, and AB Tech

Bug Class

General Agenda

Day 1 - 1:00pm - 4:00..........Introductions and Workshop Overview

Day 2 - 8:00am - 12:00..........Field Collections, reference condition
1:00pm - 4:00............Laboratory Exercises

Day 3 - 8:00am - 12:00..........Field Collections, stressed condition
1:00pm - 4:00.........Laboratory Exercises

Registration Fee

The registration fee of $475 includes break service, lunch on days 2 and 3, workshop materials, and transportation to the field sites. A limited number of scholarships will be available upon request for educators and university students. Please send an email to Dave Penrose to request a scholarship - see contact information at the bottom of this page.

Workshops are limited to 15 people so sign up early!

Click here to register online!

What to Bring

Each person will be asked to collect specimens from streams; therefore, each person must have their own hip waders and collecting gear (i.e. sweep nets). You will have the opportunity to build reference collections. In preparation for the workshop, several reference materials are recommended - see below.

Reference Material

Merritt K.W. and K.W. Cummins. An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America. Kendall/Hunt Publishing

Brigham, A.R., W.R. Brigham and A. Gnilka. Aquatic Insects and Oligochates of North and South Carolina. Midwest Aquatic Enterpr.

Where to Stay

Asheville, NC:

Biltmore Howard Johnson Inn, Asheville, NC (828) 274-2300
Holiday Inn Express Biltmore (828) 274-0101
Baymont Inn (828) 274-2022
Sleep Inn Biltmore (828) 277-1800
Plaza Motel (828) 274-2050
Double Tree Biltmore (828) 274-1800

Directions to AB Tech

Workshop Location: Room 214, Sycamore Bldg., AB Tech, Asheville, NC. http://www.abtech.edu/maps/asheville.asp

Contact Information

For questions about registration, call Bonnie Kurth at 919-515-8239 or Cathy Smith at 919-515-6780 or email bonnie_kurth@ncsu.edu. For scholarship request or questions about course content, please contact Dave Penrose.

Dave Penrose
NCSU Water Quality Group
Campus Box 7637
Raleigh, NC 27695-7637
(919) 515-8244; (919)515-7448 fax
Email: dave_penrose@ncsu.edu
http://www.ncsu.edu/waterquality/

NC State University Stream Restoration Program

Stream Restoration Program

Other Resources