From Brian Williamson:
Having followed the activity of several Lasius brunneus nests in various locations in Epping Forest during the Spring and Summer I have been surprised by observing workers still active, albeit sluggishly, whose nest is located in a large, sawn section of tree trunk. Although in this part of the country weather conditions have been fairly mild the last two nights have been frosty yet on checking this nest today(11th December, 2013) I observed two workers moving… Read more
Steven Falk's Review of the Scarce and Threatened Bees, Wasp and Ants of Great Britain, published in 1991, and long out of print, can now be downloaded at:
http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/Pub91_Review_of_threatened_bees_wasps_ants_PRINT.pdf
Although some of the understood statuses have changed since publication, partly through the ongoing work of BWARS, the review still contains much useful information about habitat requirements, management recommendations and detailed… Read more
Two new book reviews - The Natural History of Bees and Gardening for Butterflies (2013), Bees and other beneficial insects (2010) have been added to the Book Reviews section
It is now 22 years since a large and general introduction to the wonderful world of bees, came on the market (Bees of the World by O’Toole & Raw). Natural history books that are aimed at the interested general public, lavishly illustrated with spectacular photographs and still of considerable value to experienced melissophiles are as uncommon as they are welcome.
This new book, published in the US by Névraumont Publishing Company and Firefly Books, and retailing at £30 looks at all aspects of bees, and includes… Read more
This is one of an increasing number of how-to books now on the market, and Jan Miller-Klein’s volume covers a range of aspects of wildlife friendly gardening, with a special emphasis on gardening for butterflies and bees.
It is an enjoyable book to dip into and is written in a straightforward manner with a general audience in mind. Although there is rather more that is, perhaps, specifically butterfly orientated, there is still plenty for bee folks… Read more
A lsit of species not represented in the World Museum - Liverpool aculeate collection. Please contact the museum if you can provide specimens of any of the missing species.
Contact: tony.hunter@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk
Male from Norfolk (vc28)
Photo: Michelle Bantoft
The map shows all the records received up to the end of 2014 with records received in 2015 now appearing in red
Update: 11 October 2013
On the eastern side of the country, Colletes hederae has now been sighted in north Norfolk, even further north than the Shrewsbury sighting below. Latest map here.
Update: 10 October 2013
This is an update to an existing news item.
Several Colletes hederae have been found foraging at ivy in the centre of Shrewsbury. This is a further 20 miles north of the sightings reported below. Clearly, C. hederae is making a major… Read more
Invertebrates and us - the good, the bad and the ugly is the title of a series of lectures organised by the Ecology and Conservation Studies Society. This includes two aculeate themed lectures.
Download the programme here
Colletes hederae is now flying in some areas. Send your records to BWARS' annual monitoring project
