Biological research center

In 2010 Peter E. Stüben established the "Biological research center Curculio-Institute / La Gomera" on La Gomera collaborating closely with the Casa Diversa. The research center is located in the idyllic valley of Hermigua in the vicinity of the world-famous Garajonay National Park. It is part of a nicely furnished apartment-hotel.

The apartment-hotel, which is near the center of the village, provides both the best conditions for recreation and the initial point of exploration of the weevil fauna of the Canaries for our members, as well as for our Spanish colleagues of the neighbouring islands. Already in 2010, a representative collection available to every member has been established, as well as microscopes and the necessary collecting permit for La Gomera. Moreover, there will be special offers (up to 20 percent, depending on the duration of residence) on accommodation and car rental to members of the Curculio-Institute. Due to all of this, please contact directly with our cooperation partners and members on location: Raquel and Norbert Bewernitz (raquelnorbert@hotmail.com), who will always support and affectionately entertain you.

The main goal of the non-profit-making Curculio-Institute is the advancement of scientific intercommunion and teamwork with local institutions and public authorities responsible for nature conservation. Therefore we do not only attach importance to a close cooperation with the authorities mentioned above (primarily on La Gomera and Tenerife), but we also encourage our members to become as involved as possible in the conservation of the unique fauna and flora of La Gomera.

This of course primarily includes adhering to all policies of the public authorities responsible for nature conservation on La Gomera. In case of the discovery of a weevil species new to science it is assumed that the holotype specimen will be deposited in the Natural History Museum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. In addition to such matters, our members are expected to do at least one "good deed" per visit: This could for instance be a short presentation in the Casa Diversa with an audience from Hermigua, a field trip with interested visitors of the Casa Diversa, a guided tour along the nature trail of the Barranco Diversa (if you are a botanist), which is about 800 meters long, or the deposition of further specimens in the representative collection. But of course, you are free to develop your own idea of "how best to help and promote La Gomera’s wildlife and its conservation and conceive your own personal good deed". Just make sure to leave behind a well preserved island and people who treasure the Curculio-Institute and you!

In this spirit, we wish you all the best and a pleasant stay in the Casa Diversa. Please help to realise our aim of cross-frontier entomological research and scientific cooperation for the good of the native fauna and flora of La Gomera, which should be a unique experience for us and generations to come.

The managing board of the Curculio-Institute 22nd May 2010