Collection methods and identification of parasitic wasps, with special emphasis on Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera)

Description

Parasitic wasps are one of the most diverse groups of insects. They are of tremendous importance in regulating insect populations and are increasingly used in biological control worldwide. Chalcidoidea is the second largest superfamily of parasitic wasps after Ichneumonoidea, with over 3,000 genera and 22,000 species already described. Their diversity is still very poorly known (up to 500,000 species may exist) and their identification often proves difficult even for the expert. The Training course aims to introduce the trainees into the fascinating world of chalcids, provide information about specific and appropriate methods of collecting, mounting and imaging, as well as present and explain the most important morphological characters used for their identification. Important: the course contents can be adapted to trainees’ specific requirements (e.g. emphasis on certain groups of parasitoids, etc).

MODULE 1: Theoretical session-introducing the parasitic wasps, with special emphasis on Chalcidoidea: presentation of parasitic wasps’ superfamilies and chalcid wasps’ families

MODULE 2: Field work-collecting methods for parasitic wasps: entomological net, yellow pan traps, Malaise traps, etc.

MODULE 3: Lab work-sample processing methods; identification of parasitoid wasps superfamilies and chalcid wasps families; imaging specimens of parasitic wasps.

Trainers

Dr. Habil. Mircea-Dan Mitroiu, Associate Professor, Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, Romania. 20 years of experience in the taxonomy of parasitic wasps:

https://sites.google.com/site/pterotaxa/home

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mircea-Dan-Mitroiu

Dates of Training period

19-23 September 2022

Duration

1 week, 5 working days, 40 hours

Location

Iași, Romania

Course’s language

English

Target audience

Graduating and post-graduate students, curators, researchers, agronomists, forestry experts and everyone interested in the topic

New Fee due to sponsorship

400 €. It includes tuition, lab materials, field trips

Registration deadline

12 August 2022

Mode of trainees’ assessment

Continuous assessment during practical work

Participant quota (min and max number of trainees)

Min 1 trainees – Max 4 trainees

Types of training/ Implementation method

  1. Theoretical modules/Face to Face
  2. Field work/Face to Face
  3. Lab work/Face to Face

Training Course learning outcomes

  1. Theoretical knowledge on parasitic wasps’ morphology, systematics and biology
  2. Practical skills for collecting parasitic wasps
  3. Practical skills for properly preserving, mounting and labelling specimens and samples
  4. Practical skills for identifying major groups of parasitic wasps (super families of Hymenoptera and families of Chalcidoidea; going to genus / species level if requested)
  5. Practical skills for imaging specimens (acquiring and processing)

Certifications provided

  1. Certificate of Attendance by CETAF DEST with ECVET Units (European Credit system for Vocational Education and Training)
  2. Certificate by CETAF DEST according to Europass Certificate Supplement (certifying analytically the knowledge, skills and competences gained)

What trainees need to bring

  1. Laptop (optional)
  2. Field dressing
  3. Entomological net (optional)

More details: dest@cetaf.org

Registration form

Registration has closed on 12th August 2022

Evaluation form