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Snails and Slugs
A Workshop on Land Mollusca of Eastern North America with Emphasis on the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains 26–29 May 2026, CLEMSON, SC Informative Flier! Application Form - fill out and return |
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Where: Clemson, South Carolina
When: 26–29 May 2026
Application Deadline: 1 April 2026
General Description
A high diversity of land snails exists in the Appalachian Mountains like no other area in North America. This workshop will introduce the species of the southern Appalachians and explore a little studied area in the upstate South Carolina foothills. Land snails can have very limited ranges and some specific species exist exclusively in this region. We will discuss the morphological characters to distinguish land snail species and try our hand at collecting and identifying the many species including microsnails. You should become familiar with the common genera, as well as many of the species of the Southern Appalachians for a good background in land snail identification.
Instructors
Denise Furr: Schiele Museum of Natural History
Emily Phifer: Schiele Museum of Natural History
Organized by:
Michael L. Ferro: Clemson University Arthropod Museum
Preliminary Schedule*:
Day 0 (25 May): Instructors and Participants arrive, dinner on your own. “Meet and greet” at the lab at 7:00pm.
Day 1 (26 May): General Info.; Land Snail Morphology; Genera Identification; Lab: Basic Macro Snail Morphology and Identification. (breakfast, lunch, dinner provided)
Day 2 (27 May): Field Day! In the Clemson Experimental Forest; Lab: Prepare dirt; Macro Snail Identification. (breakfast, lunch, dinner provided)
Day 3 (28 May): Micro-snails; Examine Dirt Samples (from the day before) and Identification. (breakfast, lunch, dinner at Smokin' Pig BBQ provided)
Day 4 (29 May): Invasives and current research; Half day, leave around 11 am. (breakfast provided)
*The schedule may change. The lab will be available each evening for late night study!
When: 26–29 May 2026
Application Deadline: 1 April 2026
General Description
A high diversity of land snails exists in the Appalachian Mountains like no other area in North America. This workshop will introduce the species of the southern Appalachians and explore a little studied area in the upstate South Carolina foothills. Land snails can have very limited ranges and some specific species exist exclusively in this region. We will discuss the morphological characters to distinguish land snail species and try our hand at collecting and identifying the many species including microsnails. You should become familiar with the common genera, as well as many of the species of the Southern Appalachians for a good background in land snail identification.
Instructors
Denise Furr: Schiele Museum of Natural History
Emily Phifer: Schiele Museum of Natural History
Organized by:
Michael L. Ferro: Clemson University Arthropod Museum
Preliminary Schedule*:
Day 0 (25 May): Instructors and Participants arrive, dinner on your own. “Meet and greet” at the lab at 7:00pm.
Day 1 (26 May): General Info.; Land Snail Morphology; Genera Identification; Lab: Basic Macro Snail Morphology and Identification. (breakfast, lunch, dinner provided)
Day 2 (27 May): Field Day! In the Clemson Experimental Forest; Lab: Prepare dirt; Macro Snail Identification. (breakfast, lunch, dinner provided)
Day 3 (28 May): Micro-snails; Examine Dirt Samples (from the day before) and Identification. (breakfast, lunch, dinner at Smokin' Pig BBQ provided)
Day 4 (29 May): Invasives and current research; Half day, leave around 11 am. (breakfast provided)
*The schedule may change. The lab will be available each evening for late night study!
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Application, Fees, Etc.
The course is limited to 20 lucky students. How to Apply? Complete the Application Form Send it to Michael Ferro ([email protected]) Application Deadline: 1 April 2026 Course Fee: The course fee is US$450 (a bargain!) which covers housing the night of 25 May through the morning of 29 May, all meals, ID materials, and lab supplies provided. Etc.: Study specimens will be provided but students are encouraged to bring personal unknown specimens for use in lab IDing exercises. (Get your IDs confirmed by the experts!) Questions: Email Michael Ferro ([email protected]) |
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