Site Index
Important Dates
May 1, 2019
Registration Deadline
June 3-8, 2019
Lectures and Laboratory Activities
Location
Ft. Lauderdale Research & Education Center
3205 College Avenue
Davie, FL 33314
Click here for directions.
Instructors
Dr. Thomas Chouvenc
University of Florida
Dr. Rudolf Scheffrahn
University of Florida
Dr. Nan-Yao Su
University of Florida
Dr. William Kern, Jr.
University of Florida
Dr. Jan Šobotník
Czech University, Prague
Dr. Thomas Bourguignon
OIST, Okinawa, Japan
Dr. Kenji Matsuura
Kyoto University, Japan
Dr. Tiago Carrijo
Federal University of ABC, Brazil
Student Assistants
- Aaron Mullins
- Joseph Velenovsky

Introduction
This course provides a unique opportunity to obtain in-depth knowledge about termite biology with a strong emphasis on ecology and evolution. This 40+ hours workshop will include extensive seminars provided by guests speakers from around the world, field collection and lab ID training sessions. If you are interested in social insects overall, this course is for you.
2019 Termite Course Guest Speakers
In addition to the four local FLREC faculties, additional guest speakers will come to provide a multitude of visions concerning termite biology:
- Dr. Kenji Matsuura
- Dr. Jan Šobotník
- Dr. Thomas Bourguignon
- Dr. Tiago Carrijo
Course Objectives
- Students will learn about the natural history, ecology, evolution, behavior, and distribution of all major termite families.
- Students will be able to recognize major termite families and genera.
- Primary invasive termite pests must be recognized to the species level.
- Students will learn and gain experience in a range of techniques for the collection and control of subterranean and drywood termites pest species.
- Graduate students participating to the course will be given the opportunity to give a 10min presentation of their graduate research project in a student mini-symposium



Tentative Agenda
Monday, June 3, 2019 | |
7:45am – 8:00am | Registration at the FLREC |
8:00am – 10:00am | Introduction and overview of the world termite diversity (Chouvenc/ Šobotník) |
10:00am – 10:20am | Break (refreshments and snacks provided) |
10:20am – 12:00pm |
Termite natural history and termite phylogenetic tools (Scheffrahn/Bourguignon) |
12:00pm – 1:00pm | Lunch (provided) |
1:00pm – 3:00pm | Termite Phylogeny and biogeography, biology and ecology of Kalotermitidae (Scheffrahn/Bourguignon) |
3:00pm – 3:20pm | Break (refreshments and snacks provided) |
3:20pm – 5:20pm | Biology and ecology of Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae (Scheffrahn/Su) |
5:20pm | Welcome Dinner (provided) / Social time / Movie Session Movie Session and Discussion: “The World According to Termites” |
Tuesday, June 4, 2019 | |
8:00am – 12:00pm | Field collection trip, lab identification session |
12:00pm – 1:00pm | Lunch (provided) |
1:00pm – 3:00pm | Lab session, biology and ecology of minor termite families, protistology (Scheffrahn/Bourguignon/Velenovsky) |
3:00pm – 3:20pm | Break (refreshments and snacks provided) |
3:20pm – 5:10pm | Neotropical termites, Termite communication (Šobotník /Carrijo) |
5:10pm | End of session. Dinner on your own (or with your old friends) |
Wednesday, June 5, 2019 | |
8:00am – 9:40am | Termite evolution, eusociality and emergence of castes systems (Chouvenc/Bourguignon) |
9:40am – 10:00am | Break (refreshments and snacks provided) |
10:00am – 12:00pm | Termite symbiont diversification, evolutionary convergence in eusocial systems, and self-organization in termites (Bourguignon/Chouvenc/Matsuura) |
12:00pm – 12:50pm | Site Lunch, Observe Tenting Procedures |
12:50pm – 3:00pm | Foundation strategies, caste development pathways, parthenogenesis in termites (Chouvenc/Matsuura) |
3:00pm – 5:00pm | Short break, Lab ID session, Termite lab tour Student mini-symposium, part 1 (Scheffrahn/Chouvenc) |
5:00pm | End of session. Dinner on your own (or with your old friends) |
Thursday, June 6, 2019 | |
8:00am – 9:40am | Termite immunity, social parasites in termites (Chouvenc/Matsuura) |
9:40am – 10:00am | Break (refreshments and snacks provided) |
10:00am – 12:10pm | Termite defenses, polyethism, epigenetic regulations (Šobotník /Matsuura) |
12:10pm – 1:00pm | Lunch (provided) |
1:00pm – 2:30pm | Sexual division of labor, feeding biology and ecology of termites (Šobotník /Matsuura) |
2:30pm – 5:00pm | Short break, Lab ID session, Termite damage session Student mini-symposium, part 2 (Scheffrahn/Chouvenc) |
5:00pm | End of session. Dinner on your own (or with your old friends) |
Friday, June 7, 2019 | |
8:00am – 9:00am |
Identification practical examination and turn in termite collection (For students taking the class for credits only) |
9:00am – 9:20am | Break (refreshments and snacks provided) |
9:20am – 11:40am | Termite pest species and overview of drywood termite control methods (Scheffrahn/Chouvenc/Kern/Mullins) |
11:40am – 12:40pm | Lunch (provided) |
12:40pm – 3:10pm | Subterranean termite control methods and Termite IPM (Kern/Su) |
3:10pm – 3:30pm | Break (refreshments and snacks provided) |
3:30pm – 4:30pm | New insights from termite biology and implications on termite control (Chouvenc/Matsuura) |
4:30pm – 5:30pm | Termites and human culture. Open discussion |
5:30pm | Farewell Dinner/Social time at Ye old Falcon Pub (Participants on own to cover this cost) |
Saturday, June 8, 2019 |
Note: At this time, no classes are scheduled for Saturday. HOWEVER, we strongly suggest you remain available for this day, as we may have additional guest speakers joining this session. In case additional classes are added, this program will be updated and additional lectures will take place on Saturday. If no additional classes take place, please keep in mind that:
If you plan on doing group activities, we can help you organize it, per your request. |
Registration Information
Registration proceeds on a first-come, first serve basis.
Payment is due at the time of registration.
Pay using your credit or debit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
Registration Costs | |
Attendee Type | Cost |
UF Student | Register to ENY 4221 / ENY 6248 |
Non UF-Student | $250 |
Post-Doctorate | $300 |
Other (Faculty, staff, professional, termite enthusiast, etc) | $350 |
Registration Covers:
- Snacks and refreshments during breaks
- All lunches and the welcome dinner on Monday will be provided by the organizers
- A handbook with a printout of all lectures will be given to all participants
- A T-shirt of the event
Registration Does NOT Cover (and therefore on your own):
- Travel
- Lodging
- All dinners except the welcome dinner on Monday. The farewell dinner is at your own expense.
Refund Policy
Requests for registration refunds will be honored if written notification of cancellation is received by the Office of Conferences on or before May 10, 2019. A 25% processing fee will be deducted from all refunds. Sorry, no refunds will be honored for cancellations after the applicable deadline.
Email: kimmer72@ufl.edu

Travel Information
Local Airports
Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL)
8.3 miles (recommended)
Phone: 1-866-435-9355
100 Terminal Drive
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
Nearby Hotels
Holiday Inn Express
1.1 miles
Phone: 954-585-7071
2540 Davie Road
Davie, FL, US, 33317
WoodSpring Suites Fort Lauderdale
1.6 miles
Phone: 754-600-3366
5700 Reese Road
Davie, FL 33314
Extended Stay America
1.7 miles
Phone: 1-954-476-1211
7550 State Rd. 84
Davie, FL 33317
Sheraton Suites
3.9 miles
Phone: 954-452-3202
311 N University Drive
Plantation, FL 33324
More Information
For further information about the class, contact:
Thomas Chouvenc
Assistant Professor, Ph.D.
UF/IFAS
Ft. Lauderdale Research & Education Center
3205 College Avenue
Davie, FL 33314-7719
Phone: (954) 577-6320
Fax: (954) 475-4125
Email: tomchouv@ufl.edu