5th Meeting of the Working Group on Fruit Flies of the Western Hemisphere May 16-21, 2004 Bonaventure Resort and Spa Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA

Dear Colleague,

Mark your calendar and make plans to attend the 5th Meeting of the Working Group on Fruit Flies of the Western Hemisphere scheduled May 16-21, 2004 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA. This web site will be used to provide you with up-to-date information on the conference and to assist you with making arrangements for your participation.

You can submit your abstract online, register for the conference online and even find out about airline, hotel and other travel arrangements. And, you will be able to conveniently pay for your registration fee with a Visa, Master Card, Discover or American Express credit card. Please take a moment to add this site to your bookmark list.

This working group meeting will provide numerous opportunities for participants to share up-to-date information and research, and to discuss common concerns with colleagues from the western hemisphere. This exchange of information is vital to the continued research and management activities to formulate new goals and approaches to management strategies and action programs for economically significant tephritid fruit flies. We invite you to join us.

See you in Ft. Lauderdale!

Robert R. Heath
Co-Organizer

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The conference is designed to bring together entomologists, chemists, geneticists, biologists, taxonomists, consultants, managers and regulators who are actively involved in all aspects of tephritid fruit fly detection.

This conference is intended as a forum in which to communicate the science associated with research and management strategies of economically important fruit flies. It will provide a singular opportunity to researchers, managers, regulators and industry to advance solutions to local, national and global fruit fly problems.

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The Working Group on Fruit Flies of the Western Hemisphere is the only large fruit fly meeting with simultaneous translation to facilitate and stimulate discussions. Invited speakers will address new challenges.

In addition to presentations and discussions of current research and regulatory activities, the participants will develop a prioritized list of research needs. The improved communication and discussion among the participants that will advance the science related to the understanding and mitigation of exotic pest fruit flies that threaten agricultural prosperity.

Participants will interact in an interdisciplinary setting to summarize and review the state-of-the-art in research and management activities and to formulate new goals and approaches to management strategies and action programs for the Mediterranean fruit flies as well as Anastrepha, Bactrocera, Rhagoletis and other genera of pest tephritid fruit flies.

Working group objectives:

• Disseminate education

• Share scientific information

• Synthesize multi-disciplinary information

• Issue status reports

• Fact-finding

• Networking

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1. Basic and Applied Biological Studies

2. Detection Methods

3. Control and Eradication Methods

4. Biological Control

5. Sterile Insect Technique

6. Regulatory Procedures

7. Program Management

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Invited speakers will address new challenges during the opening plenary session. The majority of presentations will be as posters with scheduled Q&A sessions and group discussions on topics and issues addressed in the posters as well as current research /program activities.

The meeting will have the same format as the previous meetings: Poster presentations followed by discussions coordinated by two or three leaders in the subject(s) and round-table discussions with participation of each attendee. Simultaneous English-Spanish translation will be provided. The meeting will include an opening plenary session and mixer, four days of presentations and discussions and one day for technical field trips.

There will be ample opportunity for formal and informal interaction among participants during Q&A, topical discussion periods, meals and networking functions.

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Poster Specifications:

• Posters are limited to a space 4 feet (121 cm) high x 3 feet (91cm) wide. 

• Poster boards will be freestanding. 

• Allow a 4-inch x 4-inch space for a poster number in the upper left-hand corner of your poster. 

• Displays MUST be affixed using PUSHPINS or VELCRO.  You may want to bring some with you, as only a limited supply will be available on-site. 

• The use of tape is NOT permitted.

• Please provide a single PowerPoint slide of the entire poster. Each presenter will have approximately 1.5-2 minutes to introduce themselves and their poster

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There will be an opening plenary session and four days of presentations and discussions along with poster presentations and one day for technical field trips. The general session will begin at 8:30 am each day, with scheduled refreshment breaks and lunch.

Sunday, May 16, 2004

Monday, May 17, 2004

 Tuesday, May 18, 2004

Wednesday, May 19, 2004

 Thursday, May 20, 2004

 Friday, May 21, 2004

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Technical Field Trips -- Wednesday, May 19, 2004

Port Everglades-Regulatory Activities at Ports-of Entry -- The technical field trip to Port Everglades has been cancelled due to security issues. If you have registered for this tour, we will contact you with other options. We apologize for any inconvenience

USDA/SHRS and UF/TREC

USDA/SHRS, Miami. The Subtropical Horticulture Research Station's (SHRS) mission is to conduct environmentally sound research on tropical and subtropical crops. SHRS meets the needs of U.S. agriculture by the collection, evaluation, and development of improved commercial plants; the development of methods for the management of exotic insect pests; and the development of technologies to promote a sustainable agro-hydrology system. SHRS encompasses approximately 197 acres that are part of the National Clonal Germplasm Repository.
The tour will include a station tour of tropical fruit, cacao and ornamental germplasm. Additionally, demonstrations will be presented of the chemistry, electro-antennogram, video-monitoring and bioassay laboratories. Lunch will be provided to the participants.

UF TREC. The University of Florida (UF) Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is located in Homestead, FL. Research, teaching, and extension programs focus on tropical and subtropical fruit and vegetable crops, and secondarily on ornamental crops of southern Florida. The center's 160 acres consists of offices, laboratories, greenhouses, vegetable fields, and fruit orchards.

Participants will have the opportunity to meet with world-renowned scientists conducting research in tropical fruits, row crops and entomology. Also presented will be discussion on the UF Center for Tropical Agriculture (CTA). The program collaborates with several complementary research and training programs/organizations of the University of Florida including the Tropical Conservation and Development Program. CTA works closely with the IFAS International Programs and with the University of Florida International Center.

Fairchild Tropical Garden

Fairchild Tropical Garden is one of the world's preeminent botanical gardens, with extensive collections of rare tropical plants including palms, cycads, flowering trees and vines. Established in 1938, the 83-acre Garden is among the region's most popular visitor attractions and offers a variety of programs in environmental education, conservation and horticulture. An international leader in tropical plant research, Fairchild Tropical Garden plays an important part in preserving the biodiversity of the tropical environment.

Participants will take a narrated tram tour through the botanical garden and tour the Conservatory and Gate House Museum. The Garden Shop offers the most extensive array of botanical and horticultural books in the region, with a wide selection on various plant families, gardening, landscape design, natural history and the environment of South Florida and the tropics. Lunch will be provided to the participants.

Everglades/Gatotrax

For centuries, nature has persevered in fashioning one of the world's most intriguing environments: Big Cypress, the water shed of the Florida Everglades, borne of the Seminole Indians and Billie Swamp Safari. Billie Swamp Safari opens 2,200 lush acres of its Big Cypress Reservation to the public. This is an unparalleled opportunity to experience, first-hand the majesty of nature. Billie Swamp Safari offers tours into reservation wetlands, hardwood hammocks and sloughs where wildlife abounds, sightings of deer, water buffalo, bison, wild hogs, hawks, eagles other rare birds and alligators are common - there are even Florida panthers in the area.

Participants will tour aboard swamp buggies, customized motorized vehicles specially designed to provide participants with an elevated view of the frontier while comfortably riding through the wetlands and cypress heads. Also, will take an exhilarating airboat ride and take a walk through the cypress dome boardwalk nature trail. Lunch will be provided to participants.

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Registration Fees

The attendee registration fee, combined with funds contributed by our generous sponsors, will allow meeting attendees to receive one copy of the abstract book, a bag and a shirt to be distributed on-site. The fee also includes an evening welcome reception, lunch each day, early morning, mid-day and afternoon refreshments each day, and a closing dinner banquet.

The spouse/guest fee includes the evening welcome reception and the closing dinner banquet.

All figures are presented in U.S. dollars ($).

Refund Policy: Requests for refunds will be honored if a written notification of cancellation is sent to UF/IFAS Office of Conferences by April 9, 2004. A processing fee of $50.00 will be deducted from all participant refunds and $25.00 from all guest refunds.

Special Needs: Special needs (such as visual, hearing or walking impairments) of registered participants can be reasonably accommodated if they contact the UF/IFAS Office of Conferences no later than May 3, 2004. You may contact the office by telephone at 1-352-392-5930, by fax at 352-392-9734 or by email jmanderson@ifas.ufl.edu. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) is available at 1-800-955-8771. The TDD phone number can only be accessed from within the United States.

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Bonaventure Resort & Spa 250 Racquet Club Road Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33326 USA Phone: 1-954-389-3300 FAX: 1-954-384-6878

The 5th Meeting of the Working Group on Fruit Flies will be held at the beautiful Bonaventure Resort & Spa in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Ft. Lauderdale boasts 3,000 hours of sunshine, 165 miles of waterways, seven miles of beautiful ocean. The Wyndham Bonaventure is nestled amid 23 acres of lush, tropical gardens and is located only 20 minutes from Hollywood/Ft. Lauderdale International Airport and 45 minutes from Miami International Airport.

All participants are responsible for making their individual reservations directly with the hotel. The direct phone number to the reservations department is (954)-389-3300. You may also make your reservations by faxing the completed Hotel Reservation Form to (954)-384-6878. You must identify yourself as a participant of the 5th Meeting of the Working Group on Fruit Flies of the Western Hemisphere in order to receive the discounted group rate.

The Bonaventure Resort Spa is offering participants a special reduced room rate of $79.00 plus 11 percent tax (tax subject to change without notice) and a $5.00 per room, per day resort fee with one or two occupants in a room. The resort fee includes entrance to the Spa Facilities, including use of the indoor hot and cold plunge pools, sauna, steam room and use of the cardio fitness room. It also includes individual transportation to and from the Bonaventure Golf Club and nearby tennis facilities, as well as various other resort amenities.

Should you decide to incorporate a family vacation into your trip, the group rate will be honored three days prior and three days following the conference, based on availability.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The deadline to make your reservation and receive the discounted group rate is Thursday, April 1, 2004. After this date, guestrooms and the group rate may no longer be available.

Special Instructions: A first night’s room deposit must be made with check, money order or credit card by the April 1st reservation cut-off date. For any reservations that "no show" or, are canceled within 72 hours of arrival, the deposit will not be refunded. Check-in time is 4:00 pm and checkout time is 12:00 noon. Should you arrive early or depart after these times, all reasonable efforts will be made by the resort to accommodate you.

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Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) serves millions of travelers from all over the world and is located in the heart of Florida's Gold Coast. Just a ten-minute drive from immaculate beaches, the area's business district, hotels, golf courses and many other major attractions. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is located 17 miles (27 kilometers) or 20 minutes from the Bonaventure Resort & Spa.

 
 
Miami International Airport (MIA), one of the busiest airports in the world, is served by over 100 airlines taking travelers to approximately 150 destinations around the globe. Miami International Airport (MIA) has more than 33.6 million passengers and 500,000 take-offs and landings each year. Miami International Airport (MIA) is located 35 miles (56 kilometers) or 45 minutes from the Bonaventure Resort & Spa.

Tri-County Transportation/Airport Express - Airport transportation information

Avis is offering special rental  rates to Working Group Attendees. Click here to  make reservations.

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By actively supporting this event, your organization will benefit by strengthening its prominence as a leader in management strategies and action programs, enhancing awareness of the significance of tephritid fruit flies to the world’s economy and by increasing your organization’s research and outreach capabilities, all on an international level.

Anyone who wishes to participate as a sponsor or exhibitor of the 5th Working Group on Fruit Flies of the Western Hemisphere may contact Jennifer Anderson, Conference Coordinator at jmanderson@ifas.ufl.edu.
 

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United Stated Department of Agriculture	USDA Agricultural Research Service	USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service
	USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

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	Official Site of Broward County, Florida
Sawgrass Mills Mall	Bonaventure Country Club

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Robert R. Heath, Co-Organizer, USDA-ARS, Miami, FL, USA

Susan McCombs, Ph.D., Co-Organizer, USDA-APHIS, Waimanalo,
    HI, USA

Nancy Epsky, Ph.D., USDA-ARS, Miami, FL, USA

Pedro Rendón, Ph.D., USDA-APHIS, Guatemala City, Guatemala

Aldo Malavasi, Ph.D., Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Walter R. Enkerlin, Ph.D., UN/IAEA, Vienna, Austria

Norm Leppla, Ph.D., University of Florida/IFAS, Gainesville, FL, USA

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