What Activities Are Planned at the SLS 2026 Annual Meeting at Cuscowilla?

The Southern Lepidopterists' Society (SLS) 2026 joint meeting with ATL runs Friday–Sunday, April 17–19, 2026, at Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center in Micanopy, Florida, about 10 miles south of Gainesville. The program combines scientific talks with nightly blacklighting and moth collecting, and the timing is deliberate: the new moon falls on April 16–17, giving dark skies for attracting moths.

Scientific Talks

The formal program is scheduled for:

• Friday afternoon — optional session
• Saturday morning through afternoon — main talk program

The meeting announcement references a downloadable Call for Papers, so anyone intending to present should check the SLS site for that document and its submission details. The announcement excerpt does not specify talk lengths, abstract deadlines, or a final program order, so confirm those with the meeting organizers or the posted Call for Papers before planning a presentation.

Blacklighting and Moth Collecting

Collecting is a core part of the meeting rather than a side event:

• Blacklighting and moth collecting are welcomed every night of the meeting.
• Vaughn Shirey of the McGuire Center (MGCL) will help set up communal light sheets, so attendees without their own rig can still participate.
• The new moon on April 16–17 means minimal moonlight during the Friday and Saturday nights, which generally improves attraction at light sheets.

The venue itself has a documented moth fauna: a 2025 study of Cuscowilla's Lepidoptera by SLS-ATL specialists was published in the August 2025 issue of Southern Lepidopterists' News, with the report credited to David Fine and Montana Atwater. That makes the site a reasonable place to look for species already recorded there.

Why the Venue Changed for 2026

The McGuire Center is temporarily closed for renovations, so the usual on-campus arrangement is not available. The 2026 meeting moves off-campus to Cuscowilla. Organizers note that this is a new, temporary venue and that volunteer help will be solicited through a sign-up sheet circulated over the winter for specific preparation tasks.

Practical Points for Attendees

Registration and payment are handled through a downloadable registration form, and the announcement notes payment can also be made on the TLS site. Keith Willmott is acting as single payer for larger anticipated expenses via ATL checks, and Jeff Slotten is tracking SLS and ATL volunteers' incidental expenses such as veggie trays and supplies — relevant if you are volunteering and need to know how costs are handled.

What to Confirm Before You Go

The announcement excerpt does not cover the full Saturday schedule, meal arrangements, lodging at Cuscowilla, or collecting permit requirements. If you plan to collect, ask the organizers directly about any permits or venue rules, and check the posted Call for Papers if you want to give a talk. For registration specifics, see the registration form and the March 21, 2026 deadline.