A residential FSC course at Rhyd-y-creuau Field Centre with tutor Ian Cheeseborough

The aim of the course is to introduce participants to the ecology of bumblebees and solitary bees. Emphasis will be placed on field identification where possible, with discussion of habitat and foraging requirements. There will be ample opportunity to study and identify prepared specimens using microscopes and entomological keys. Most bumblebees can be confidently identified in the field using one or more of the excellent guides available. Solitary bees on the other hand are a lot more numerous, so… Read more

An FSC intermediate one day course at Preston Montford Field Centre with tutor Ian Cheeseborough

This is an Invertebrate Challenge legacy event for 2015. Only brief details are currently available. You can book now, but please revisit the site to get further details and a course brochure soon.

This will be a field day led by Ian Cheeseborough at a top Shropshire site for hymenoptera, examining the bees… Read more

An FSC intermediate one day course at Preston Montford Field Centre with tutor Ian Cheeseborough

This is an Invertebrate Challenge legacy event for 2015. Only brief details are currently available. You can book now, but please revisit the site to get further details and a course brochure soon.

This will be a field day led by Ian Cheeseborough at a top Shropshire site for hymenoptera, examining the bees… Read more

An FSC one day course at Preston Montford field centre led by Ian Cheeseborough

Open for Everyone

This short course is for anyone who would like to learn about the identification and ecology of these social insects. Time will be spent in the field looking at a variety of genus, with the opportunity to study prepared voucher specimens in the classroom to species level.

For further information (including costs and booking details) click here

A beginners level one day FSC course at in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park led by Martin Harvey

Bees, hoverflies and other pollinating insects play an enormously important role in natural habitats and agricultural systems alike. Some pollinators are known to be declining, and their conservation is a cause for concern. This course introduces the insects that play a role in pollination, helping you to recognise them, understand how they interact with flowering plants, and find out how to play your part in conserving them.

For further information (including costs… Read more

A residential FSC intermediate course held at Flatford Mill led by Paul Lee. This course is accredited by Manchester Metropolitan University.

This long weekend course is designed for countryside professionals and amateur naturalists interested in learning more about these important and threatened insects. It is particularly suitable for anyone involved in biological recording schemes at a local or county level.

The couse will include both field excursions and workshop sessions. An evening presentation will also provide an insight into the life cycle and ecology of… Read more

A number of excellent videos showing behavioural aspects of various aculeates have been added to the species accounts.

Many thanks to John Walters and Vivian Russell for providing the video sequences.

The new video sequences can be viewed on the following pages:

Anthidium manicatum

Eumenes coarctatus

Mellinus arvensis

… Read more