Beginner’s Guide to Insect Identification

Are you fascinated by insects but don’t know where to start? Do you want to know how to distinguish bees from hoverflies and beetles from bugs?

Join experienced tutor Connor Butler for a practical session catching and identifying insects at Chelsea Physic Garden.

We’ll explore:

• How to identify the different insect families
• How to use taxonomic keys to identify species
• The diversity of insect lifecycles
• How to collect and study insects

No prior experience is needed, just a passion or interest in learning more about wildlife.

This event is subsidised thanks to a grant from the John Swire 1989 Charitable Trust.

Tutor bio:

Connor Butler

Connor is an entomologist and consultant ecologist for Chelsea Physic Garden and The Royal Parks. He has been surveying London’s dung beetles over the past year so can often be found looking for insects in the grossest of places. With an aim to help Londoners see “ordinary” wildlife from new perspectives, Connor encourages everyone to take time to appreciate the smallest details in nature and to show love for the often unloved creatures on our diverse planet.