In 2017, the first Collembola collection and identification workshop was hosted by the IPM Initiative, and presented by Dr. Charlene Janion-Scheepers, South Africa’s leading Collembola expert.
Update
Click here for the update to the Workhop that was held in November 2017
Instructor: Dr Charlene Janion-Scheepers 
Date: 6 – 10th November 2017
Venue: Dept. of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University
Despite their global importance, Collembola (springtails) have been poorly studied compared to other invertebrates in South Africa. This is mainly due to the lack of taxonomic knowledge and the undersampling of this group. However, a growing number of studies are now using Collembola as model organisms for soil health and climate change. For the first time in South Africa, this five-day, hands-on Collembola workshop will cover a broad range of topics, including basic Collembola knowledge (anatomy, ecology, physiology), collecting and extracting Collembola in ecological and other studies, identifying Collembola using morphological characters and the use of barcoding in species identification. This workshop will include two half days of field sampling in the nearby Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, where participants will practice different sampling techniques for collecting Collembola. In addition, laboratory based training will be done where participants will acquire the skills needed to extract Collembola from samples, prepare slides, and identify Collembola using available keys.
Topics covered:
Day 1: Introduction to Collembola, diversity in South Africa
Day 2: Collecting Collembola: in field using collection methods, extraction methods in laboratory
Day 3: Collecting Collembola: in field using collection methods, extraction methods in laboratory
Day 4: Identification techniques
Day 5: Barcoding, physiology, function
Registration fee R6000
Includes provision of light refreshments at a morning tea break and lunch
Registration deadline: 6 October 2017
Registration can be done online at the following link: http://shortcourses.sun.
Contact: Dr Corey Bazelet, IPM Initiative
Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University
Email: cbazelet@sun.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 808 9600
