Bumblebees (ERCCIS Workshop)

Discover how to identify the species of bumblebee that we find in Cornwall.

This workshop is funded by the Alexanda Fund and costs just £5 to attend. For this reason, it is open only to non-professionals.

There are believed to be 18 species of bumblebee currently present in Cornwall (Saunders, 2016). In this workshop, we will start off by gaining an understanding of the basics of bumblebee identification, introducing you to the species you are most likely to find in Cornwall, along with rarer species to look our for. We will learn the key identifying features and methods of locating, catching and handling live bumblebees in the field. Then, we will head out onto Penhale to seek out species to identify. We have been given special permission to enter the MoD area, normally closed to the public.

Complete beginners to bumblebees are very welcome. Those with more experience should also find this workshop useful in honing their skills.

Leader: Will Hawkes

We will also be joined by Pip Cook from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

The Alexanda Recorders Fund is made available to support biological recording and recorders in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ERCCIS have applied to make this workshop accessible in price and enable more people to improve their identification skills. Anyone can apply to the fund to cover expenses relating to recording, from tools and equipment to training opportunities. Take a look at our website to find out more: Alexanda Recorders Fund | Online wildlife Recording for Kernow & Scilly

Photographs:

• Heath Bumblebee by Niki Clear
• Red-tailed Bumblebee by K Thomas
• Bee Weekend 2016 at Penhale by Laura Fox