Collecting, Collecting and Sorting

Today we arose ready to the real work of research. Everyone donned on their rubberboots, raingear and headed out to collect. Out here you do not go anywhere without a raincoat. We are high enough that when it rains it is COLD!

The morning was spent looking under leaves, ontop of leaves and anywhere else a caterpillar might hide. We had some success. A few things we found were Arctidae, Notodontidae, Pyrallidae, Geometridae, and Megalopigidae.

In the afternoon. Emily, Willmer and I, sorted, identified and bagged caterpillars. Every caterpillar that is collected is identified, its host plant is identified and the caterpillar is given a number.

Willmer is one of the many brilliant parataxonimist working at the station. I think that all Emily and I did was slow him down. (it is hard to spell catapillar names in Spanish!) Fortunatly, he is patient and I am learning a lot from him.

June 17, 2009: Driving to the Station and Orientation

We left Quito at about 9:00am. We were all excited to start our research station adventure. It took us about 4 hours to reach Yanayacu. Along the way we had to drive over a 13,000 ft. pass. We saw a lot of farms that were cut right into the moutainside. People had to be climbing straight up to reach their crops.

After we reach the station we took an orientation hike and did some exploring. Collected a few caterpillars and headed back.

The highlight of the day was blacklighting. For you that don't know what that is, you put out a blacklight on a white sheet in a dark place. Insects are attracted to the light. You can attract hundreds of moths, beetles, or anyother kind of bug that happens to be in the area.

Day 1 in Ecuador Basilica del Voto

Here is a little information about the Basilica fromWikapedia:

The Basilica of the National Vow (Spanish: Basílica del Voto Nacional) is a Roman Catholic church located in Quito, Ecuador.

Grotesques on the southeastern face of the Basílica del Voto Nacional

Consecrated in 1988^[1], it remains technically "unfinished." Local legend says that when the Basílica is completed, the end of the world will come. The building is noted for its grotesques in the form of native Ecuadorian animals.

Pope John Paul II blessed the Basilica on January 30th, 1985 and in 1988 it was declared immaculate.

The Basilica is 150 meters long, 35 meters wide, 35 meters high in the sanctuary and 15 meters in the votive chapels. Its towers are 78.23 meters high, 73 meters in the dome, 16 meters by 45 meters on the base of its towers.

Arrived in Quito

We arrived! It was the smoothest trip I have ever been on. No flight delays, breezed through customs and got to the hotel in one piece and with my luggage. I hope our luck holds.

Tomorrow will be touring through Quito. Hopefully I will have some great pictures to post. For now I need to get some rest!

Yanayacu Research Station

Here is where I will be working.  You can check out their site on the web:  http://www.yanayacu.org/index.html

Shots Galore

I finally got all my shots.  I had to get:  Yellow fever, Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid.  No problems with the shots.  I also got my malaria pills, altitude sickness and bacteria antibiotics (in case I get Montezuma's revenge).  

Project Article

Here is a recently published article about the project I will be working on:

http://www.insectscience.org/9.26/