entoLEARN is a programme of educational talks and online courses taught by invertebrate specialists. Each entoLEARN course focuses on a group of UK invertebrates, including their biology, ecology and behaviour. All events are suitable for adults of all abilities – a passion for invertebrates is all that’s required!
Biological recording is at the heart of everything that we do, so we work with invertebrate specialists and organisations that are heavily involved in recording the UK’s invertebrates… the Bumblebee Conservation Trust partnered with us on the bumblebee entoLEARN content, the author of the Britain’s Dragonflies WILDguide is our Odonata tutor and our earthworm, leech and longhorn beetle subject specialists are all the national recorders for their respective groups.
entoLEARN Webinars
entoLEARN webinars take place throughout the year, during evening slots (18:00 – 19:30). Each webinar is 90 minutes in length and delivered via Zoom, consisting of a 1-hour presentation and a Q&A session with the subject specialist. All entoLEARN webinars are available for just £12.50 each, and copies of the recordings and other content are made available to anyone who booked (just in case learners are unable to attend live).
Bees, Wasps & Ants Series
Ants of the UK: Formica Ants
Learn about the species of ant found within the Formica genus that occur in the UK with Gary Skinner.
Ants of the UK: Lasius Ants
Learn about the species of ant found within the Lasius genus that occur in the UK with Gary Skinner.
Ants of the UK: Myrmica Ants
Learn about the species of ant found within the Myrmica genus that occur in the UK with Gary Skinner.
True Bugs Series
Froghoppers of the UK
Learn about the Froghoppers (Aphrophoridae and Cercopidae) of the UK with Joss Carr.
Flies Series
Robberflies of the UK
Learn about the Robberflies (family Asilidae) of the UK with Martin Harvey.
Arachnid Series
Orbweb Spiders of the UK
Learn about the orbweb spiders (family Araneidae) of the UK with Martin Frost.
entoLEARN Self-study Online Courses
We have no plans to repeat entoLEARN webinars, so the recordings of entoLEARN webinars are packaged up alongside useful links and Q&A’s with the subject specialist as online self-study entoLEARN courses. Where a species group was covered over several webinars, the content from these webinars is combined into a single course.
Our entoLEARN courses start from just £12.50 and the content can be worked through at your own pace via our e-learning platform.
Arachnids
Harvestmen of the UK
Harvestmen are arachnids (order Opiliones). Unlike spiders, they have a single fused body, no venom or silk, no webs, and one eye pair on a turret. Learn about the biology and ecology of UK harvestmen and some of the species that can be found in terrestrial, arboreal and subterranean environments.
Bees, Wasps & Ants (Aculeata) Series
Bumblebees of the UK
Discover the UK’s 24 bumblebee species with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Explore the most common species, rare and localised ones, and cuckoo bumblebees, including two extinct species, while learning about their ecology, ID and conservation.
Social Wasps of the UK
Explore 10 species of social wasps and hornets, learning how to tell different species from one another with wasp specialist Tony Madgwick. Enhance your knowledge and appreciation of these misunderstood insects in this entoLEARN course.
Beetle (Coleoptera) Series
Chafers of the UK
Learn about 18 species of chafer, from the beetle subfamilies Cetoniinae and Melolonthinae, with Coleopterist Wil J. Heeney in this entoLEARN course.
Longhorn Beetles of the UK
The UK is home to over 70 species of longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) that can be found occurring in natural habitats that have been recorded to date. Wil Heeney presents 24 of the UK’s species in this entoLEARN course.
Dragonfly (Odonata) Series
Damselflies of the UK
Explore the 20 species of damselflies in the UK, uncover their life cycles, colours, and flight skills with Odonata specialist Dave Smallshire. Enhance your knowledge and appreciation of these stunning insects in this entoLEARN course.
Dragonflies of the UK
Discover the UK’s 30 dragonfly species and uncover their colours, life cycles, and flight skills with Odonata expert Dave Smallshire. Expand your knowledge and appreciation of these remarkable insects in this entoLEARN course.
Flies (Diptera) Series
Bee-flies of the UK
Learn about the Bee-flies (Bombyliidae) of the UK with tutor Martin Harvey. This online course covers all the UK species, their ecology, behaviour, distributions and recording techniques.
Soldierflies of the UK
Learn to identify UK soldierflies (Stratiomyidae) with fly specialist Martin Harvey. This online course covers key species, ecology, behaviour, and recording techniques.
Segmented Worm (Annelida) Series
Earthworms of the UK & Ireland
Learn about the 33 species of earthworm recorded from natural environments in the UK and Ireland with Keiron Brown, including notes on their distribution, habitat preferences, behaviour and rarity.
Freshwater Leeches of the UK
Dive into the fascinating world of freshwater leeches with this entoLEARN short course, focusing on the 7 distinctive freshwater leeches found in the UK and presented by leech specialist Rachel Davies.