. Team Scarab members Brett Ratcliffe, Ron Cave (University of Florida), Mary Liz Jameson, and Jesus Orozco (PhD student in the Team Scarab lab) traveled to Belize for two weeks (27 May to 9 June 2008) to collect and make field observations in multiple localities. This trip was conducted for the NSF-sponsored project entitled "A Biotic Inventory of the Dynastine Scarabs of Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize" with PIs Brett Ratcliffe and Ron Cave. After spending the first night in Belmopan in order to obtain permits, we proceeded to our first base camp at Mamanoots Backabush ecolodge just outside of Mayflower National Park in the Stann Creek District in the southern part of the country. After checking in, we immediately proceeded further south to the Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve to set fruit traps and intercept traps. We arrived back at Mamanoots at dusk to learn that the family dog had barely escaped a puma on the lodge grounds a couple of nights before! While watching for pumas, we set up our lights at Mayflower just down the road in heavy rain . . . not knowing that hurricane Alma from the Pacific was meeting tropical storm Arthur from the Atlantic right over Belize for what Belizean weather officials later termed the "perfect storm". And so it was for the next three days at Mamanoots: heavy rain. Fortunately, at least some scarabs fly in the rain and were attracted to our fruit traps, dung traps, intercept trap, and light traps. On our last day, Mary Liz was stung by a scorpion, and her tongue and palate went numb, causing us some concern.

Mamanoots lodging house. Photo M. Jameson.

X......

Jesus with Inca clathrata at Mamanoots. Photo M. Jameson.

X..

Mary Liz at Mamanoots. Photo BCR.

X..

Antelope Falls Trail at Mayflower National Park. Photo J. Orozco.

X..

Brett and Ron at Mayflower National Park. Photo M. Jameson.

X..

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize. Photo J. Orozco.

X..

Lunch? Headquarters area for the jaguar reserve. Photo BCR.

X..

The real deal: Felis panthera. Photo J. Orozco.

X..

Jesus preparing fruit traps, Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve. Photo BCR.

X..

A rental vehicle with good tires is a non-sequitur. Photo M. Jameson.

X..

Lighting in the rain at Mamanoots. Photo J. Orozco.

X..

Part of the catch. Photo J. Orozco.

X..

Rain, rain, go away! Photo J. Orozco.

X..

After leaving Mamanoots, we drove back to Belmopan and then west to Georgeville where we then took a less than nice road south over the Mountain Pine Ridge to the Las Cuevas Research Station in Chiquibul National Park in the Cayo District. The station is remote, and for the last 20 km the road became narrower and narrower. The station is located in good forest and has bunk houses, a classroom, lab, dining area, kitchen, visiting British researchers, and a local contingent of the Belize Defense Force (BDF). We got our light set up (in the rain) and also used the large merc light permanently affixed to the end of the lab building specifically for attracting insects (at least this had a roof over it). Enema endymion swarmed the place! Dung and fruit traps were also set up as well as the flight intercepts. Even with all the sudden, and continuing, rain, the protracted dry season that was just ending slowed the expected emergence of our beetles.

X

Welcome to "near" Las Cuevas Research Station! Photo R. Cave.

X..

Successful extraction of vehicle from pitfall trap: Jesus, Mary Liz, Ron. Photo BCR.

X..

Las Cuevas main building with lab, comedor, classroom, bunk areas. Photo BCR.

X..

Photo BCR.

X..

Bunk house with light trap sheets drying. Photo BCR.

X..

Beetles had better watch out with these madmen on the loose!! Photo M. Jameson.

X..

Well, this seems obvious. Photo M. Jameson.

X..

In fact, there is a large cave at las Cuevas. Photo M. Jameson.

X..

Cave at Las Cuevas. Photo M. Jameson.

X..

Mary Liz with stalagmites (adult and baby) at Las Cuevas cave. Photo BCR.

X..

Setting up flight intercept trap at Las Cuevas, Photo J. Orozco.

X..

Las Cuevas Research Station from Bird Tower Hill. Photo BCR.

X..

Enema endymion emerged en masse. Photo BCR.

X..

Scarab outreach to members of the Belize Defense Force at Las Cuevas. Photo J. Orozco.

X..

Ron and Brett with BDF light trappers and future scarab aficionados. Photo J. Orozco.

......

After five days of collecting at Las Cuevas, we traveled north and east to Pook’s Hill Lodge just to the west of Belmopan, where it was warm and HUMID. This site has patches of forest mixed with clear cut areas. All of our traps were set up, and success at the lights was "moderate." After collecting for three days, we returned to Belmopan to overnight and then to the airport on 9 June for our return flight.

......

Pook's Hill, Belize. Photo BCR.

......

Mayan ruins at Pook's Hill. Photo BCR.

......

Mary Liz tending a carrion trap. Photo BCR.

......

Ron tending a dung trap. Photo BCR.

......

Pelidnota virescens. Photo J. Orozco.

......

After a couple of weeks in the field, Mary Liz needed to get back to civilization for a shave. Photo J. Orozco.

......