North West Invertebrates

Bee Identification Training: From Field to Microscope
2026-04-24 10:30 - 2026-07-17 16:00 (Europe/London) | World Museum, William Brown Street, Liverpool, England, L3 8EN, United Kingdom
Book here
Interested in bees but unsure where to start in identifying them? Confused by terminology in identification keys? This workshop series aims to help you develop skills in finding bees, examining them in the field or under a microscope, and getting to grips with using identification guides. You will learn at a comfortable pace across four days in spring and summer: three practical workshops plus an optional lab day for extra support. No prior experience required, but also suitable for those with some experience wishing to progress their bee identification skills.
You’ll gain confidence and practical skills under the guidance of Chloe Aldridge. Chloe brings over seven years of experience recording bees across Cheshire, working with the Cheshire Bee Group and in her former role as Monitoring Officer for Cheshire’s Local Record Centre. She’s also a committee member at BWARS – the Bees, Wasps & Ants Recording Society.
What you’ll learn:

Bee identification guide terminology
How to identify bees to genera – e.g. Bumblebee (Bombus), Leafcutter Bee (Megachile), Mining Bee (Andrena) and some to species.
How to catch bees with nets and pots, and use a hand lens
How to photograph bees for identification – and limitations
How to find and identify bees in the field
How to use identification keys and microscopes for those which cannot be identified in the field
Specimen handling skills, including preparing and labelling voucher specimens
How to record your finds and where to get further help
Using keys to help you start identifying bees to species

Day 1 – 24th April (10:30 – 16:00) Introduction to Bees. World Museum Liverpool

Introduction to bees: ecology and diversity
Identifying genera
Terminology and describing bees
Outdoor session: recognising bees in the field

Day 2 – 22nd May (10:00 – 15:30) *Note the earlier start time* Bees in the Field. Ness Gardens, Wirral

Using nets, pots, and hand lenses
Photographing bees for identification
Where to find bees and field skills
Terminology and describing bees (continued)
Handling specimens and further exploring genera

Day 3 – 19th June (10:30 – 16:00) Bees under the microscope, World Museum, Liverpool

Identification using microscopes
An intro to species-level identification
Working with specimens collected at Ness Gardens

Day 4 – 17th July (10:30 – 16:00) Bee Identification Help. World Museum, Liverpool (optional)

Extra practice with microscopes and keys
Hands-on help with identification and recording

More than Just House Flies - An Introduction to British Muscidae Webinar
2026-04-27 19:30 - 21:00
Book here.
The fly family Muscidae are generally known as House Flies and everyone knows Musca domestica which flies around our kitchens and confounds scientists by landing upside down on the ceiling. But that species is the only one which likes to share our homes. The rest of the 294 British species have amazingly varied life styles. The larvae may develop in dead wood, rot holes, leaf litter, moss. fungi, bird nests, carrion, dung, dunes, saltmarsh, mud flats and more. Imagine a habitat and likely as not, you will find a Muscid there. Others attack animals and are important as vectors of livestock disease. Mike will introduce the family describing each of our 40 genera and providing some hints for their identification. Mike Ashworth is coordinator of the Dipterists Forum Muscidae and Fanniidae Study Group.

This session will run on Zoom. If you are new to Zoom you will need to create a Zoom account and download their software. This is all free and you can do so here.You can use a laptop/desktop computer, smartphone or tablet and it isn’t necessary to have a webcam or microphone to participate.Further info on how to join a zoom meeting can be found here.

Risley Moss Invertebrate Recording Day
2026-05-15 10:00 - 16:00
Book here.
Risley Moss is an 82-hectare Local Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Warrington, featuring lowland raised bog, woodlands, and meadows. It is also the only known site in Cheshire with an extant population of adders. The site is usually closed on a Friday but will be open for us only. There is no public access to the mossland areas but we have special permissions. In recent weeks, the council have also worked to improve access to different parts of the mossland where it had become completely overgrown over a period of years.
There is a car park and toilet facilities on site.
Nearest train station: Birchwood – 30 mins walk to the visitor centre – or bus – see below
Nearest bus stop: On Ordnance Avenue – 4 mins walk to the visitor centre – services to/from Warrington Interchange and other areas.
​Please be aware that whilst we welcome invertebrate recorders of all experience levels, our recording days are not taught or guided sessions. (Check out our webinars/workshops here).
Events will be subject to cancellation if there is severe weather forecast.
Booking essential: Further details regarding meeting place etc. will be circulated before the day.

Crag Bank Invertebrate Recording Day Visit 1
2026-06-05 10:00 - 16:00
Book here.
Crag Bank Nature Reserve is 3.7 ha. SSSI comprising calcareous boulder-clay ridges and extensive wet areas of calcareous peaty soil with fen-like vegetation, ditches and a muddy stream. Over 170 species of flowering plant have been recorded in the wet areas, calcareous grassland, scrub and a small wood. A number of plants that are very rare in Lancashire (eg. Pedicularis palustris) occur. Access to the site has been restricted until summer 2025.
Car park and toilet facilities available.
Nearest train station: Carnforth – 20 mins walk to meeting spot.
Ne​arest bus stop: Crag Bank bus stop on Lancaster Road – 8 min walk to meeting spot – services to/from Lancaster, Carnforth, Keswick, Heysham, Morecombe etc.
Please be aware that whilst we welcome invertebrate recorders of all experience levels, our recording days are not taught or guided sessions. (Check out our webinars/workshops here).
Events will be subject to cancellation if there is severe weather forecast.
Booking essential: Further details regarding meeting place etc. will be circulated before the day.

Jumping Plant Lice (Psyllids) Workshop
2026-06-13 10:30 - 2026-06-14 16:00
Book here
Day 1 (13th June) will be at World Museum, Liverpool. Day 2 (14th June) will be at Rixton Clay Pits, Warrington.
Psyllids (Jumping Plant Lice) are a small, understudied group of Hemiptera often overlooked until they attack your favourite plants. This course introduces their ecology and identification. While some adults have distinctive wing patterns, many species require microscopic examination – sometimes of both sexes. Nymphs can also be identified under a microscope, though this is challenging. Psyllids are highly host-specific plant feeders, so finding them usually involves targeted searches. This 2-day workshop includes fieldwork to locate and identify species at Rixton Clay Pits, Warrington (on day 2).
Our tutor: Dr. Joe Botting, is a palaeontologist and entomologist, he co-authors the British Bugs website and has a special interest in psyllids and hoppers. He runs the Psyllid recording scheme and plans to revive it after a hiatus. He lives in the relatively psyllid-poor area of mid Wales (most species are tied to warmer climates), because that’s where the best fossils are, but likes to make up for it when the sun comes out.
Workshop level – Beginner/Intermediate

Heswall Dales Invertebrate Recording Day
2026-06-26 10:00 - 16:00
Book here.
Heswall Dales is an area of some 72 acres of lowland heath situated close to Heswall on the Wirral. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Local Nature Reserve.
On-street parking and toilet facilities available. 20 min walk from Heswall Bus Station – services to/from Liverpool and Chester and local areas.
Nearest bus stops: on Telegraph/Thurstaston Road – 8 min walk to meeting spot.
​Please be aware that whilst we welcome invertebrate recorders of all experience levels, our recording days are not taught or guided sessions. (Check out our webinars/workshops here).
Events will be subject to cancellation if there is severe weather forecast.
Booking essential: Further details regarding meeting place etc. will be circulated before the day.

Alvaston Hall Invertebrate Recording Day
2026-07-03 10:00 - 16:00
Book here.
Alvaston Hall is a hotel complex in South Cheshire with extensive grounds on the floodplains of the River Weaver. The area of interest was formerly a 9-hole golf course that never re-opened since the Covid-19 pandemic. It has since been managed by the groundsmen for wildlife. There is a developing a mosaic of species-rich grassland and scrub habitats alongside ponds and small patches of woodland. There are also small sand deposits that were formerly bunkers. We are not aware of any attempt to record invertebrates on the site apart from butterflies, and the odd casual observation of other groups.
Car park and toilet facilities available.
Nearest train station: Nantwich – the 85 bus goes from Nantwich bus station and stops on Middlewich Road outside the hall.
​Please be aware that whilst we welcome invertebrate recorders of all experience levels, our recording days are not taught or guided sessions. (Check out our webinars/workshops here).
Events will be subject to cancellation if there is severe weather forecast.
Booking essential: Further details regarding meeting place etc. will be circulated before the day.

An Introduction to Invertebrate Identification Workshop
2026-07-08 10:00 - 16:00 | Ness Botanic Gardens, Ness, CH64 4AY
Book here (via RECORD LERC)

Have you ever wanted to identify an invertebrate but weren’t sure where to start?
In this introductory workshop at the beautiful Ness Gardens, we’ll be looking at the differences between some of the commonly encountered invertebrate ‘orders’ (groups). Experts from RECORD and Tanyptera will be guiding us through the features of each group and how to identify invertebrates to order level.
What to expect:

We’ll spend some time in the classroom learning about invertebrate orders and features
There will be plenty of opportunity to get ‘hands on’ with identification and practice your skills
Weather permitting, we’ll be exploring the gardens with a chance to try out some ‘in the field’ identification

By the end of the session we hope that you’ll:

Have a good understanding of the features seen in the more commonly encountered invertebrate orders
Be able to identify at least some common invertebrates to order level
Know how to use this knowledge to help with more detailed identification (e.g. to species level)
Gain some knowledge on how to make your invertebrate observations count for conservation through sharing your records

Accessibility: You can find more information on accessibility at Ness Gardens here. If you have any mobility needs or other additional needs please do not hesitate to get in touch with us ahead of the event to discuss (email info@record-lrc.co.uk).
The event is free to attend and is aimed at adults. Details on the exact meeting point will be emailed to you by RECORD LERC when you book – please check your spam box if you’ve not heard from us.
The session is hosted by RECORD and The Tanyptera Project. Please email any questions to info@record-lrc.co.uk.
Workshop Level: Beginner

Dibbinsdale Nature Reserve Invertebrate Recording Day
2026-07-10 10:00 - 16:00
Book here.
The river Dibbin runs through the centre of Dibbinsdale Nature Reserve with 3 miles of maintained pathways leading through ancient woodland, tunnels, wetland areas and meadows.
There is a car park and toilet facilities on site.
Nearest train station: Spital – 15 min walk to the car park/meeting spot.
Nearest bus stop: Opposite main entrance – local Wirral services.
​Please be aware that whilst we welcome invertebrate recorders of all experience levels, our recording days are not taught or guided sessions. (Check out our webinars/workshops here).
Events will be subject to cancellation if there is severe weather forecast.
Booking essential: Further details regarding meeting place etc. will be circulated before the day.

Freshfield Dune Heath Invertebrate Recording Day
2026-07-24 10:00 - 16:00
Book here.
Freshfield Dune Heath is a mixture of woodland, scrub and acidic grassland woven through a lowland dune heath: 9% of the national total of this incredibly rare habitat. It is the single largest lowland heath site in North West England.
On-street parking available.
Please note there are no toilets on site but there are a couple of coffee shops near Freshfield Train Station (approx. 15 min walk away from the site entrance).
Nearest train station: Freshfield – 15 min walk to meeting spot
Nearest bus stop: On Massam Road – Services to/from Formby – 8 min walk to meeting spot
​Please be aware that whilst we welcome invertebrate recorders of all experience levels, our recording days are not taught or guided sessions. (Check out our webinars/workshops here).
Events will be subject to cancellation if there is severe weather forecast.
Booking essential: Further details regarding meeting place etc. will be circulated before the day.

Carr House Green Common Invertebrate Recording Day
2026-07-31 10:00 - 16:00
Book here.
Carr House Green Common, Inskip is primarily a lowland wet grassland meadow. It features marshy grassland with wet depressions and drainage ditches, creating a mosaic of wetland habitats that support characteristic flora and fauna.
Parking and toilet facilities will be available at the YIP centre, Inskip.
Nearest Train Stations: Preston and Poulton-Le-Fylde – the 74 bus goes from near the stations and stops near the site on Preston Road, Inskip

​Please be aware that whilst we welcome invertebrate recorders of all experience levels, our recording days are not taught or guided sessions. (Check out our webinars/workshops here).
Events will be subject to cancellation if there is severe weather forecast.
Booking essential: Further details regarding meeting place etc. will be circulated before the day.

Grimsargh Wetlands Invertebrate Recording Day
2026-08-07 10:00 - 16:00
Book here.
Grimsargh Wetlands comprises three decommissioned former reservoirs and surrounding land managed by a dedicated Trust near Preston in Lancashire. There is variety of grassland habitats surrounding the former reservoirs, from species-rich free draining south-facing embankments through to tall, damp vegetation on heavy soils. One of the water bodies is shallow enough to virtually dry up in summer, revealing good access to reedbed habitat. The third former reservoir has become a fen habitat dominated willow scrub and more accessible reedbed. The site is largely closed to the public and even volunteer work parties do not access large areas between April and July for the bird breeding season. The site managers are not aware of any attempts to record invertebrates apart from spiders. Our visit represents a special opportunity to access this reserve.
Nearest Train Station: Preston
Nearest Bus Stops: Catch the No.1 bus service Preston to Longridge from stand 29 at Preston Bus Station. Leave the bus at The Plough, Sunnybank or Elston Lane stops on Preston Road. Travelling from Longridge, leave the bus at Elston Lane or the Village Hall.
Please be aware that whilst we welcome invertebrate recorders of all experience levels, our recording days are not taught or guided sessions. (Check out our webinars/workshops here).
Events will be subject to cancellation if there is severe weather forecast.
Booking essential: Further details regarding meeting place etc. will be circulated before the day.

Crag Bank Invertebrate Recording Day Visit 2
2026-08-14 10:00 - 16:00

Errwood & Fernilee Reservoirs Invertebrate Recording Day
2026-08-21 10:00 - 16:00
Book here
Join us for a joint recording day with Sorby Invertebrate Group and Cheshire Bee Group at Errwood and Fernilee Reservoirs in the Goyt Valley area. The site consists of mostly acid grassland/moorland with a mosaic of broadleaved woodland and gullies.
Please note there are no toilets on site.
Parking: at The Street Car Park.
Please be aware that whilst we welcome invertebrate recorders of all experience levels, our recording days are not taught or guided sessions. (Check out our webinars/workshops here).
Events will be subject to cancellation if there is severe weather forecast.
Booking essential: Further details regarding meeting place etc. will be circulated before the day.

Chalcid wasps (Chalcidoidea) Workshop
2026-10-02 10:30 - 16:00 | World Museum, William Brown Street, Liverpool, England, L3 8EN, United Kingdom
Book here.
This one-day workshop with Steve Compton will cover the identification of chalcid wasps, one of the most species-rich groups of insects in the UK. An introductory lecture will outline the ecology and anatomy of these often very small but beautifully-metallic wasps.
The higher classification of chalcids has changed in recent years, with a considerable expansion in the number of recognised families within the world fauna. By the end of the day, participants should be able to distinguish between the families present in Britain.
Our tutor: Steve Compton is the retired Reader in Entomology at the University of Leeds and a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society. He has an interest in parasitic hymenopterans in general, but his research has centred on one particular group of chalcids – the fig wasps responsible for pollination of fig trees. His research has taken him to a many different countries and habits – from the rainforests of Borneo to investigate how high chalcids fly, to the Namib Desert where he showed that some wasps can travel hundreds of kilometres between their hosts.
Workshop level – Intermediate

Picture-winged Flies Workshop
2026-10-22 10:30 - 2026-10-23 16:00 | World Museum, William Brown Street, Liverpool, England, L3 8EN, United Kingdom
Book here.
This two-day workshop with David Clements will cover the identification and biology of flies in the families Tephritidae, Ulidiidae, Platystomatidae, Pallopteridae and Opomyzidae – the main families of the so-called ‘picture-winged flies’. The programme will start with a general introduction to the acalyptrate Diptera families and the distinguishing of the target families, followed by a detailed summary of the species, ecology and biology, main identification resources and techniques for collection, preservation, identification and recording etc. The latter will include a demonstration of genitalia preparation – a key identification technique which many beginners find a bit intimidating. A revised and updated set of unpublished keys will be provided, together with access to specimens from the museum’s collection. Participants can also bring along their own material for identification.
David Clements is a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society and runs the national Picture-winged Flies Recording Scheme, as well as the Conopid Recording Scheme and many other involvements. Until recently he ran an ecological consultancy business and was previously an entomologist working at the National Trust Biological Survey and at the National Museum of Wales. He is now retired and is currently involved in researching the entomology of the UK Overseas Territories, with interests in a wide range of invertebrates.
Workshop level – Beginner/Intermediate
Photo: Tephritis formosa (female) by Alvesgaspar, CC BY‑SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Introduction to ‘Proctos’ Parasitoid Wasps Workshop
2026-11-06 10:30 - 16:00 | World Museum, William Brown Street, Liverpool, England, L3 8EN, United Kingdom
Book here
Introduction to ‘Proctos’: Parasitoid wasps of the superfamilies Diaprioidea, Platygastroidea, Proctotrupoidea and Ceraphronoidea
Small parasitoid wasps are among the most diverse and numerous insects in terrestrial ecosystems where they exploit other insects and spiders as food for their young.
This one-day workshop will be a practical based introduction to parasitoid wasps of the superfamilies Diaprioidea, Platygastroidea, Proctotrupoidea and Ceraphronoidea. Participants will develop an understanding of collection, preservation, and study techniques, learn to identify families and subfamilies, and become familiar with key resources for further learning.
Material from the museum’s collection will be available for study and participants are encouraged to bring their own specimens.
Our tutor David Notton is an expert in diapriid wasps and was formerly Senior Curator of Hymenoptera at the Natural History Museum London.
Workshop level – Intermediate
