BIG News

Sue Taylor is a member of BIG and a prolific recorder and talented photographer of insects. Her previous invertebrate courses have been very well-received and there is now another opportunity to get started with observing and recording insects, based at BBOWT's Dancersend reserve. 

The sessions will be on 22 and 29 October, and 19 and 26 November, and ideally you will attend all four sessions. No charge but donations to BBOWT will be welcome to help cover costs and the conservation work at Dancersend (suggest £5-10 per session).

Contact BIG to book your place (we will pass your details on to Sue).

Please include a few words about why you are interested in the course, and the groups of invertebrates you are interested in. Spaces are strictly limited to just 10 attendees, who must be over 18 years old.

An Introduction to Invertebrate Recording

Recent news has highlighted both the importance of invertebrates and the huge losses in numbers. They are also fascinating and beautiful creatures.

More data is urgently needed to monitor changes to insect populations and to do this more people making more records are needed.

This course is designed to encourage people who are seriously wanting to become involved in recording invertebrates but need help either to get started or to build their confidence.

The course will be held at Dancersend over four Sunday’s from 10am to 1pm and will include both classroom and fieldwork (or work with specimens if weather is poor). You are encouraged to attend all 4 sessions.

The course will introduce you to finding, collecting/photographing, identification and the formal recording of the following groups.:

Heteroptera (bugs), Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Arachnids (spiders), Coleoptera (beetles),  Mecoptera (scorpionflies),  Hymenoptera (bees, wasps and sawflies), Mollusca (slugs and snails),  and some Diptera (flies) including Hoverflies, Soldierflies & allies.

Tutored by Sue Taylor, volunteer recorder for BIG, BBOWT and Butterfly Conservation.

Course outline

Week 1

• Intro and H&S

• The Why’s and How’s of recording

• Tea break

• Bugs (Heteroptera)

• Field work

Week 2;

• Lepidoptera

• Tea break

• Mollusca

• Field Work

Week 3

• Diptera

• Tea break

• Arachnids

• Field Work

Week 4

• Hymenoptera

• Tea break

• Coleoptera

• Field Work

The BIG Bulletin  for 2023 is now available to download from our Resources page.