Course: Field Identification of Bumblebees - Online

In this beginner online course, you will be introduced to the identification skills needed to reliably identify the UK’s bumblebee species in the field.

There are currently 24 species of bumblebee present in Britain, with eight varieties being fairly widespread no matter where you live in the UK.

What will be covered during this course?

• Bumblebee biology and ecology
• Bumblebee field skills and the ‘Big 8’
• Cuckoo bumblebee identification
• An introduction to scarce species and recording

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Identify the morphological features used for bumblebee identification.
• Know the techniques and equipment used to locate and catch bumblebees.
• Reliably identify the Big 8 bumblebees.
• Be aware of the features used in the identification of the UK’s bumblebee species.
• Understand the process of generating and making a biological record.

This is a 4-week online course covering 4 topics, for which you will complete a variety of self-led online resources and activities. Each topic is then concluded with an interactive Zoom workshop to complement the online content. Time commitment is approximately 3-5 hours a week and an E-certificate is provided upon completion.

This course is eligible for a student discount. If you are a current student, please use discount code BioStudent20 at checkout for 20% off.

Please refer to the Field Studies Council website for further information and to book.