This medium-sized Andrena is very similar to the common Andrena dorsata (Kirby), with bright foxy hairs on the thorax and a shining black abdomen with fine lines of white hairs on the apices of the segments, only even more contrasting in appearance. It may be confirmed by careful examination, looking at the shape and form of the hairs on the hind tibia in females and the presence of a line of black hairs against the eyes in the male. It is a rather enigmatic species, being very abundant in a locality for a number of years and then apparently disappearing. I have not seen… Read more
22nd – 29th June 2024 (Saturday to Saturday)
The DF would be pleased to have BWARS members join us at our 2024 summer field meeting in Lancashire, where we will be based at Lancaster University. Lancaster is a good base for exploring north Lancashire, the southern Lake District and the Forest of Bowland. For single rooms, the cost of half-board (which includes a two course evening meal with tea or coffee) will be £463.31 for 7 nights, while B&B only will cost £358.31. For two people sharing a twin room, the cost per person will be £311.66 for half board and £206.… Read more
Explore the subterranean world of the Yellow Meadow Ant and learn how their mounds support diverse ecological communities.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/yellow-meadow-ants-an-important-contributor-to-biodiversity-in-grasslands-tickets-710201741527?aff=eemailordconf&ref=eemailordconf… Read more
A number of mostly Field Recorder Days have been added to the Diary of Events page.
Join like-minded people with an interest in recording wildlife observations for a day identifying and recording invertebrates in an informal environment. Naturalists of all levels (from beginner to expert) will be able to share their experiences with peers and help one another improve their knowledge and build confidence in biological recording.
This event is aimed at adults only. It’s free to attend and invertebrate recorders of all abilities are welcome, but booking is essential.
Please note that this event will involve individuals collecting, preserving and killing… Read more
Join like-minded people with an interest in recording wildlife observations for a day identifying and recording invertebrates in an informal environment. Naturalists of all levels (from beginner to expert) will be able to share their experiences with peers and help one another improve their knowledge and build confidence in biological recording.
This event is aimed at adults only. It’s free to attend and invertebrate recorders of all abilities are welcome, but booking is essential.
Please note that this event will involve individuals collecting, preserving and killing… Read more
Join like-minded people with an interest in field recording for a day identifying and surveying invertebrates in an informal environment at Hounslow Heath. Hounslow Heath local nature reserve is one of the few remaining areas (80 hectares) of what was once a vast lowland heath covering much of west London, including what is now “Heath”row. The ancestral soils were created from Taplow Terrace Gravels, laid down as glacial conditions eased over 100,000 years ago. Gravel extraction and subsequent landfill have transformed much of the areas soils, but heathland and acid grassland has re-… Read more
Join like-minded people with an interest in field recording for a day identifying and surveying invertebrates in an informal environment at Chiswick House & Gardens. Historic Neo-Palladian Chiswick House and grounds date from the early 18th Century with over 25 hectares of a classic ‘English Landscape Garden’ designed by William Kent. The gardens are informal, with a mixture of lawns, meadows, a lake and ‘wilderness’ woodlands largely unchanged since they were created. The natural soils comprise some alluvium, but are mainly flat, acidic Kempton Park Terrace Gravels, the most recent of… Read more