When and Where Is the Southern Lepidopterists' Society 2026 Annual Meeting?

Updated

The Southern Lepidopterists' Society (SLS) 2026 Annual Meeting will be held April 17–19, 2026 (Friday–Sunday) at the Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center in Micanopy, Florida, about 10 miles south of Gainesville. The meeting is a joint SLS–ATL conference, moved off-campus because the McGuire Center (MGCL) is temporarily closed for renovations.

Key Details at a Glance

Item Detail
Dates Friday–Sunday, April 17–19, 2026
Venue Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center, Micanopy, FL (≈10 mi south of Gainesville)
Hosts Joint meeting of SLS and ATL
Registration deadline March 21, 2026
On-site contact Ms. Jamie Bass, Tel. (352) 574-2372
Night activity Blacklighting and moth-collecting welcomed every night
Moon phase New moon April 16–17

Why the Venue Changed

The McGuire Center's temporary closure for renovations prompted the move to Cuscowilla. The site is not a random substitute: the lepidopteran fauna of Cuscowilla was the subject of a 2025 study by several SLS–ATL specialists, with the published report appearing in the August 2025 issue of Southern Lepidopterists' News (prepared by David Fine and Montana Atwater). In other words, attendees will be collecting and observing at a location with recently documented moth and butterfly records.

What to Expect

  • Scientific talks run Friday afternoon (optional) and Saturday morning through afternoon.
  • Blacklighting and moth-collecting are welcomed each night; Vaughn Shirey of MGCL will help with communal light sheets.
  • Volunteers are being recruited for specific preparation tasks, with a sign-up sheet circulated in winter.

Registration and Payment

  • The registration deadline is March 21, 2026.
  • A call for papers and a registration form are available as downloads from the meeting announcement.
  • Payment can also be made on the TLS site.
  • Keith Willmott has offered to act as "single payer" for larger anticipated expenses via ATL checks, and Jeff Slotten will track SLS and ATL volunteers' incidental expenses (e.g., veggie trays, supplies).

Practical Notes for Planning

If you plan to attend, treat March 21, 2026 as your hard cutoff for registration and submit any talk abstract through the call-for-papers process. Because the meeting runs Friday through Sunday with nightly blacklighting, lodging near Micanopy or Gainesville is worth arranging early. For venue questions, contact Jamie Bass at the number above; for volunteer opportunities, watch for the winter sign-up sheet mentioned in the announcement.