Transcript Pictured from left to right standing G.Cassis, C.Weirauch, M.Schwartz, F.Konstantinov, H.Finley, D.Wyniger, S.Hewson-Smith, R.(T) Schuh. Pictured from left to right kneeling T.Henry, D.Forero, M.Wall & A.Mututantri. Also in attendance N.Tatarnic, G.Carter, M.Elliot & P.Flemons. PBI Team Meeting Sydney 2004 Field based activities The.

Pictured from left to
right standing
G.Cassis,
C.Weirauch,
M.Schwartz,
F.Konstantinov,
H.Finley, D.Wyniger,
S.Hewson-Smith,
R.(T) Schuh.
Pictured from left to
right kneeling
T.Henry, D.Forero,
M.Wall &
A.Mututantri.
Also in attendance
N.Tatarnic, G.Carter,
M.Elliot &
P.Flemons.
PBI Team Meeting
Sydney 2004
Field
based
activities
The Sunday before
the meeting was
due to commence,
the team organized
equipment for a
field trip in the
Royal National
Park including
killing jars (inset) at
the Australian
Museum.
PBI participants
collected at the
Royal National
Park Sydney.
Gerry is pictured
collecting insects
on the “bacon &
eggs” legume, a
Dyllwinia sp.
which serves as
host to several
PBI target
organisms.
If you look really
close you will see
two mirids in the
jar.
To the right of the
slide we have a
small sample of
the host plant they
were collected
from.
Left: Toby
examines a
speciman of
Xanthorrhoea to
determine if
Baclozygum
depressum
(Thaumastocoridae)
is present.
Right: Toby &
Fedor discuss what
is known about the
host plant
Casuarina.
Fedor, Gerry &
Dimitri are shown
here discussing
their insect catch.
Christiane &
Denise examine
their net for plant
bugs.
Tom collected over
a nearby stream.
Christiane beats a
shrub in search of
miridae.
Tom & Gerry
record field trip
information which
included location
and host data.
Often times the car
is the best office for
this kind of work.
Left: A species of
Darwinia is host to
a green orthotyline
(yet to be
described).
Right: A species of
Restionaceae.
A detailed view of a
papilionoid legume
near Dyllwinia.
Often a great host
for plant bugs.
Left: Toby
collects plant
samples so that
host information
can be
determined for
the plant bugs
collected.
Right: The
genus
Casuarina is a
well know host
of many species
of plant bugs
across the
Australian
continent.
The Post-Docs &
PhD Candidates
collate their field
results at days
end.
Museum
based
activities
Day one of the
meeting at the
Australian
Museum. Gerry
leads the team in
a discussion of
future field trips.
During the
meeting,
demonstrations,
presentations and
tasks were set
with emphasis on
the PBI team
learning and
sharing
information/
knowledge.
Senior Scientist
Michael Schwartz
demonstrates the
recognition of
morphological
characters useful
for plant bug
identification
through the use of
digital imaging
technology.
In order to learn
the techniques of
genitalic
dissection
Michael &
Dimitri spent
much of their
time at the
microscope.
Anouk &
Christiane used
keys to perfect
their knowledge
of Heteroptera
family
classification.
…as did
Nikolai
Tatarnic.
Shown
right:
Michael
& Tom
assisted
Dimitri
with his
query.
The meeting in
Sydney was also a
great opportunity
for the Australian
IT team to meet
with PI Toby.
Many discussions
and meetings
were held to
ensure the
Locality database
was on track.
From left to right
Michael Elliot,
Toby, Gareth
Carter & Gerry.
While at the
Australian
Museum Fedor
took advantage of
the opportunity to
examine the
extensive
Heteroptera
collections.
There were many
opportunities
during the week
to discuss the
project whether
during the
meeting or having
a meal, as shown
here in
Chinatown.
At the conclusion
of the meeting
another fieldtrip
was conducted to
Ku-ring-gai
Chase National
Park. This
created a great
sightseeing
opportunity for
many in the team
who had never
seen a
Kookaburra or
Wallaby before
(shown far right).