Poll-A-Gen – a research initiative aiming to map pollinator genomics across the UK – is currently searching for amateur entomologists to contribute to the project by collecting pollinator specimens from anywhere in the UK and submitting them to be barcoded. Anyone can get involved! There are 16 target pollinator species on the list; nine bees, two wasps and five hoverflies (see below). Most have a relatively widespread UK distribution and all are relatively easy to identify in the field. Information on how to collect and send off specimens can be found after the list of target species.
Target species
Bombus terrestris (Buff-tailed Bumblebee)
Bombus lapidarius (Red-tailed Bumblebee)
Bombus jonellus (Heath Bumblebbee)
Vespula vulgaris (Common Wasp)—-
Myathropa florea (Batman Hoverfly)
Leucozona laternaria (Dark-saddled Leucozona)
Bombus hortorum (Garden Bumblebbee)
Bombus humilis (Brown-banded Carder Bee)
Osmia bicornis (Red Mason Bee)—
Dolichovespula sylvestris (Tree Wasp)
Baccha elongata (Gossamer Hoverfly)
Bombus pascuorum (Common Carder Bee)
Bombus ruderatus (Ruderal Bumblebee)
Andrena flavipes (Yellow-legged Mining Bee)
Episyrphus balteatus (Marmalade Hoverfly)–
Syritta pipiens (Thick-legged Hoverfly)
Collection instructions
- Poll-A-Gen are looking for maximum 2 specimens per site, and minimum 40 specimens of each species (from across Britain, for the whole project). Different sites should ideally not be within a 10 mile/16 kilometre distance from one another.
- If collected on a protected site you will need to provide evidence of sampling permission, via email or otherwise. Permission is assumed if specmens are collected on your personal property.
- For bees and wasps, please collect females only, and no queens.
- Please preserve specimens in ethanol (premixed to 70%) and store them in the fridge prior to sending. Collection tubes and ethanol can be provided on request (see contact information below).
- Please label the tubes with the date, site, species name and submitter collection information. Ethanol dissolves pen ink, so labels should be written in pencil on card/ ethanol proof paper, then put in the tube.
- We will liaise around postage once enough specimens have been collected – the Natural History Museum is able to cover postage costs. We will need to retain your contact information in order to do this.
Please contact Inez Januszczak (Poll-A-Gen Project Coordinator) regarding submission of specimens: Inez.januszczak@nhm.ac.uk
Full submission instructions can be found in the pdf below.
Current progress
Interactive map showing sampling sites across the UK: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?ll=51.921946254186864%2C-1.0405123057654286&z=7&mid=18VRkwU5Q27yCnWMb9WTt7utnFULzMgQ
Specimen count by species as of May 2026:
Poll-A-Gen Background Information
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