This day is all about learning and improving your ant ID skills using a stereo microscope and identification key. It is free to attend (though booking is essential) so that we can ensure you get access to a microscope. You don’t need any experience of using microscopes, identification keys, or specimen preparation – we will provide instruction in all of these.
Identifying Insects using Specimens and Microscopes focuses on how to find and sample insects, how to prepare and curate specimens for identification purposes, and how to approach identification of your chosen species group.
The main emphasis will be on how to carry out reliable and verifiable identifications through the correct presentation of specimens and the use of keys and other entomology identification resources. Participants will be expected to select a suitable taxonomic group in which they will start to specialise by building up a reference collection of specimens.
There are over 20,000 species of bee worldwide, each with its own unique behaviours, life cycles and lifestyles. The nesting ecology of bees varies between different families, with some species living underground in the soil, whilst others excavate their nests in deadwood. Several species prefer to make their nests inside the empty cavities left by other animals and there are even some bees that nest in abandoned snail shells!
Please note that this course is NOT a species identification course and will only go as far as categorising British bees by their life nesting behaviours.
This course will introduce participants to the identification and ecology of solitary bees, including nesting and foraging requirements, hosts and associated aculeate nest parasites.
The course covers identification of solitary bees, the processes involved in their identification and the key features for discrimination, plus an understanding of the importance of these species for conservation, ecology and recording.
Join like-minded people with an interest in field recording for a day identifying and surveying for ants in an informal environment at Gunnersbury Triangle Nature Reserve. This is an urban wet woodland nature reserve surrounded by intersecting railway lines and managed by London Wildlife Trust. Naturalists of all levels (from beginner to expert) will be able to share their experiences with peers and help one another improve knowledge and build confidence in biological recording.
There are around 270 species of bee in Britain, although many are under-recorded, under-appreciated and under-loved! Found in a range of habitats, bees have fascinating life histories and ecosystem roles.
Learn To Love Ants is an introduction to to one of our planet’s most numerous insect groups, introducing aspects of their biology, ecology and behaviour. Important ecosystem engineers and highly successful social insects, ants can be found almost anywhere and they display a host of different behaviours depending on species, habitat, or caste (whether they’re queens, workers or soldiers). On this course, you will learn all about their hidden empires and their fascinating secret lives.
Learn To Love Ants is an introduction to to one of our planet’s most numerous insect groups, introducing aspects of their biology, ecology and behaviour. Important ecosystem engineers and highly successful social insects, ants can be found almost anywhere and they display a host of different behaviours depending on species, habitat, or caste (whether they’re queens, workers or soldiers). On this course, you will learn all about their hidden empires and their fascinating secret lives.
Learn To Love Ants is an introduction to to one of our planet’s most numerous insect groups, introducing aspects of their biology, ecology and behaviour. Important ecosystem engineers and highly successful social insects, ants can be found almost anywhere and they display a host of different behaviours depending on species, habitat, or caste (whether they’re queens, workers or soldiers). On this course, you will learn all about their hidden empires and their fascinating secret lives.
Hylaeus signatus male emerging from roost
Pseudomalus auratus
