Entomology Field Camp - Summer 2011

As is the custom at many scientific meetings, our junior scientists and staff gather for a group
portrait. From left to right, our esteemed colleagues are: Dr. Rebecca Baldwin, Eli Gomez, Tessa
Owens, Andrea Darmanjian, Josiah Diuguid, Brianna Hanson, Zoe Hernandez, Max Asseng,
Katherine Feigl, Daniel Alborn, Harold Pan, Alexander Johnson, Joshua Arola, Forrest Collins,
Courtney Stanford, Deonte Darmanjian, Whyatt Warnock, Savannah Banner, Matthew Alborn,
Kelly Opalko, Joshua Light, Bryan Dollinger, Wendy Helmey-Hartman, and Crystal Atkinson.
Not pictured: Devin Reynolds, Daniel Quinlan, and Dale Halbritter.

Our theme this year was The Black Bear Murder Mystery, a forensic emtomology exercise.

The crime took place in the Natural Area Teaching Laboratory on the University of Florida campus. Notice the "bear coat" and the plastic container with the entomological evidence.

Liver was placed in the container to attract flies which laid eggs from which maggots emerged.

Maggots were collected by teams of campers to help determine when the crime took place.

Dr. Jason Byrd, one of the nation's leading forensic entomologists,
spoke to campers early in the week.

In addition, campers went on field trips to learn insect collecting techniques.

These techniques would be used by each camper to create an insect collection that he or she would then take home.

A field trip to the Santa Fe River exposed the campers to the wonders of aquatic entomology.

Campers periodically returned to the crime scene for more entomological evidence.

A field trip to O'Leano State Park found the campers crossing the suspension bridge over the upper Santa Fe River.

Campers take a break from the heat at the natural bridge
where the Santa Fe River disappears underground.

The campers continued returning to the crime scene, each hoping that additional entomological evidence, that appeared over time, would provide the clue that gave their team the solution to the forensic puzzle.

Enquiring scientific minds require sustenance. Insects provide high levels of protein and heathly fat, so campers snacked on fried mealworms.

A field trip to Silver River State Park exposed campers to life in 19th Century Florida, and the problems settlers experienced with insects in their daily lives.

The park's museum has exhibits of the area's natural and social history, from pre-human to the early 20th Century.

One of the highlights of the field trip to Silver River State Park was the trip down
the river itself. Teams of campers took turns on a boat ride with experienced
naturalists who explained the river's ecology.

Entomology graduate students Daniel Fitzpatrick and Chris Holderman (in lab coat)
not only explained the use of DNA in forensic investigations, but allowed campers to
perform DNA testing in the laboratory.

A trip to the UF Honey Bee Laboratory exposed campers to the management of honey bees. Here, Jeanette Klopchin pulls out a frame of bees.

Hey, Mom! Look! (How many kids got to do this at their summer camp?)

Friday afternoon: Entomology Field Camp is over.
It's time to say goodbye to new friends.

Return to the August 2011 issue.