Submitting your records

Computerised records should be sent in by email as follow

Bees, Wasps and Ant Records for bulk data e.g. spreadsheet, Mapmate and Recorder data.

Clare Boyes: clarebwarsdata[at]gmail.com

Electronic (Digital) vs. Paper Records

Electronic records

BWARS encourages members to submit records electronically. There are two main advantages to the society in receiving electronic records:

Electronic records save BWARS enormous amounts of time in entering data onto mapping programmes.
It is very easy to track records when using electronic databases. This means that it is straightforward for BWARS to find all records for a particular species, county, recorder, or other facet of a record.

Paper Records

If you are unable to submit electronic records, then BWARS is prepared to accept paper records.

Verifying your records

Many species of aculeate hymenoptera require critical determination, so recorders should always retain voucher specimens, either at home or by donating them to an appropriate Museum collection. Specimens must always be accompanied by accurate data labels providing details of the location and date of capture.

**IMPORTANT**

Recorders who are new to aculeate hymenoptera are advised to seek verification of difficult specimens by experienced BWARS members. For advice on identification of specimens from photographs, post your photographs to iRecord or seek assistance via the BWARS run UK Bees Wasps and Ants Facebook page.

How to submit your records

It is important that the data submitted - be it in computer readable form or not, contains the minimum information, detailed here, in the agreed format and preferably order.

For each record please give:

The Species name - the most up to date names can be downloaded here
An Ordnance Survey Grid Reference
Locality - the name of the locality, preferably as named on an OS map
Date of the record. Give this in the form dd/mm/yyyy e.g. 01/07/2006. IT IS VITAL THAT THIS FORMAT IS USED. If the actual day is not known use 00 for the date of the day.
Collector - the name of the person who made the record
Determiner - the name of the person who identified the species recorded
Source of the data: If a voucher has been held, describe where it is held (for species that are difficult to determine a voucher should always be retained)
Watsonian Vice County name - see a map showing the Watsonian Vice County numbers
Watsonian Vice County number. To confirm which vice county your record is in use the Botanical Society of the British Isles' vice county look-up tool
Irish Vice County number. The BSBI Irish vice county look-up tool
A combined vice-county/grid reference look up tool provided by Charlie Barnes (VC 53 & VC54 Coleoptera Recorder)
Grid Reference look up tool. Input Post Code or address to grab a Grid Reference
Further information - if you have any further information related to the record state yes or no. This may be useful for research purposes later.

For paper records please ensure that you use a BRC Gen 7 or Gen 13 record card. Available from the Biological Records Centre

Need to find a grid reference?

Try the Bedfordshire Natural History Society's excellent grab a grid reference tool which includes aerial photography via Googlemaps
Grab an Irish Grid reference here

For Channel Islands records, advice on recording locations is given here

Computerised records should be sent in by email as follows

1. Bees, Wasps and Mixed Records

For bulk data e.g. spreadsheet, Mapmate and Recorder data.

Mike Edwards, Lea-side, Carron Lane, MIDHURST, West Sussex GU29 9LB. Email: ammophila[at]macace.net

2. Ant Records

Mike Fox - Email: mike[at]fox101.co.uk

Halictus rubicundus

Drawing: Geoff Allen

Philanthus triangulum