Identifying Solitary Wasps

This course will introduce participants to the identification and ecology of solitary wasps including nesting and prey requirements, hosts and associated aculeate nest parasites.

Introduction to the identification of genera and species will be through a combination of presentations, field visits (including Stackpole – an outstanding site for aculeates) and microscope workshops using keys and prepared specimens.

By the end of the course participants should be more confident in identifying the more commonly encountered genera and a number of species.

The major part of the course will focus on identification of specimens down to species. Time will be put aside for those who are less familiar with the group to work through keys to genera before advancing on to species identification. Field visits to a variety of habitats will cover ecology and field identification to genera or species where possible. Narrowing specimens down certainly helps to make later identification a lot easier.

This new course is supported by the FSC Tomorrow’s Biodiversity project, enabling us to offer it to participants at rates representing outstanding value for a residential course of this length.

Participants should leave the course with the confidence to work through the keys understanding the terminology and the features used to successfully identify a number of species. For specimens that are more difficult knowing where to go for help will enable individuals to progress with the group.