This forum is a place to discuss matters related to BWARS and general matters related to aculeates.
It is not intended as a forum for identification queries. We may add this feature in due course, but meanwhile, if you need help identifying bees, wasps and ants, please use either iRecord or UK Bees, Wasps and Ants Facebook page, for recording your find.
Social wasps belong to the family Vespidae. Although this family contains over 4000 species worldwide, only around 8 of these species are regularly found in the UK. Identification involves using their colour markings on the face and body to get to species. Join our expert tutor to learn more about social wasps, and gain the skills needed to identify them to species level.
Solitary wasps are a diverse group, with thousands of species in the UK alone. They are often brightly coloured, making them a delight to look at- but with such diversity species level identifications can be difficult. Join our expert tutor to learn more about solitary wasps, and gain the skills needed to identify them to family ,genus and species level.
Ants are some of the most ubiquitous insects in the world and are found on every continent apart from Antarctica. There are around 60 ant species in Britain, several of which require microscopic examination in order to reliably identify to species. Join us to take your ant identification skills to the next level.
With around 270 species of bee across 29 genera found in the UK there are a number of species that require microscopic examination in order to reliably identify them to species. This 2-day course will provide you with the skills you need to be able to start identifying bees to genus using a microscope.
If you’re interested in finding out more about wasps but don’t feel ready for a beginner’s ID workshop, then this is the course for you. Learn To Love Wasps is a very gentle introduction to this group of insects, introducing aspects of their biology, ecology and behaviour.
Learn about the different families, genera and species of solitary bees and how to tell them apart. We will be using Field Guide to the Bees of Great Britain and Ireland by Steven Falk – copies will be available to use from our library, but please feel free to bring your own.
Join our tutor in the field to search for bumblebees. We will find a variety of different species’ and discuss the identification features of UK bumblebees that can aid field ID.
Hylaeus signatus male emerging from roost
Pseudomalus auratus
