I'm so pleased that I was able to play a small part in the creation of this book as designer/typesetter. Amazing work by Mike Slater Keith Warmington & many other dedicated volunteers BC Warwickshire. I would not be suprised if updated 2nd edition or reprint might be on the cards.

Staffordshire is of regional importance for its populations of the red wood ant. Not long now before they will start to emerge on sunny spring days to warm up en masse. BWARS Cannock Chase Council Cannock Chase National Landscape Lichfield District Council @StaffsInvertsDave Skingsley Andy Jukes @bugbotherer

Not long now B4 wood ants wake up & cluster on top of their nests 2 warm up in the early spring sunshine.Staffs holds a regionally important population of these scarce ants.U can find them at just 3 sites in Staffs, 1 is Cannock Chase National Landscape who'll B StaffsInvertScience this year.

The talks itinerary is starting to develop with some interesting presentations being lined up. First up, we have Professor Toby Bruce from Keele University 🐿️ University who will be giving a talk on 'the sense of smell in insects'. Which sounds intriguing to say the least!

As wood ants become increasingly rare, there R things we can do. 1 is actually move nests from sites with strong populations & (re-)introduce them to other suitable woods. Andy Jukes did just this. Moving wood ants is tried and tested. Need to consider this in Staffs.

You can meet Trine from Riverfly Partnership at this year's SISF on Saturday March 1st StaffsUni Bioscience . There will also be the usual pond dipping stall with Nick Mott and Andy Farmer, so plenty of aquatics for those interested in our waterways. Entomology @ Harper Adams University Keele University 🐿️ Environment Agency

New, fabulously illustrated spider book out now. The BAS will be at StaffsInvertScience on March 1st with Meg Skinner (British Harvestmen) (she/her) representing the harvestmen.

Our new paper, based on data from 1,705 studies, shows that pesticides are toxic to organisms they are not intended to harm, including fungi, microbes, plants, insects, & vertebrates such as ourselves. Questions the wisdom of applying over 3 million tonnes of them every year...

We've finalised the Staffordshire University's Children's University list of activities. The passport is filled with a fantastic variety of things to achieve for your kids while you are walking around chatting to the societies. See you all on March 1st @ Staffs Uni.

The final piece of the jigsaw is complete - the talks. We have a busy schedule of talks next Saturday (March 1st). Something for everyone including the Young Verrall Lecture presented by Dr Ben Clunie from Entomology @ Harper Adams University.You can find out more on our Facebook page (@staffsbugfest)

Any early years invertebrate ecologists looking for survey work? Please get in touch. Looking to offer survey work experience (paid). Plenty of survey work across the UK this year. Need a good foundation in ID, and especially Diptera to Family level. Entomology @ Harper Adams University Chris Foster

Thanks for helping out Dr Ben Clunie