DBRC Hymenoptera species records 1975 to 2015

Quality Control

The data should not be regarded as having comprehensive geographic or taxonomic coverage. Systematic Countywide surveys have not taken place and levels of expertise to find and identify more difficult taxa have varied. For any rare or more difficult taxa further infrmation should be sought from DBRC. A few records with a low level of confidence have already been excluded. Given the small size of the dataset and that many of the species are relatively well known there can be resionable confidence in the dataset. The recorders have tended to be local naturalists with some expertise in insect identification. The dataset has been checked using the NBN Record Cleaner.

Method steps

1. The records forming the dataset have been collated from observations made by staff at Derbyshire Willdife Trust and the former Derby Biological Records Centre as well as local naturalists together with some casual sightings sent in by members of DWT and members of the public. Most records are a result of direct observation, but some records are a result of sweep netting. In some cases identification has been aided by capturing specimens in tubes in order to gain a closer look or from high quality digital photographs.

This is a relatively small dataset, but does include records from most regions of the County. However, the dataset does not represent a systematic attempt to record across the County and inevitably there are gaps in coverage.