The Society for the study of flies (Diptera)

The Diptera ("di-ptera" = two-winged) or "true flies" is the largest order of animals in the UK with around 7,000 known species and new ones being discovered every year. They are found in all habitats from the sea shore to mountain tops. Whilst some are agricultural pests or vectors of disease, the great majority are beneficial. They are extremely important as predators on other pests and diseases, as pollinators, as food for other animals and the immature stages of the bulk of the species are involved in the decay of organic matter and the recycling of material back into the soil.

Entomologists who specialise in these insects are "dipterists". In 1993, a group of people who wanted to find out more about every aspect of their lives, including the habitats they require, set up the Dipterists Forum. There is a great deal still to learn about flies. Mapping the distribution of some groups is a major achievement of the Dipterists Forum to date, but the immature stages of the majority of species are still unknown. Many species are becoming increasingly rare as a result of habitat loss and climate change.

Why not join the Dipterists Forum and help us find out more about flies? There is so much still to learn; we welcome beginners and there are always people who can help you out in the early stages. You don’t need to be an expert, or even to leave your own garden, to contribute to our knowledge of these fascinating insects. Flies need your help! Read more ...

• So how do I join?
• Benefits of membership
• Objectives of Dipterists Forum
• Diptera recording schemes

ONLY A FEW PLACES LEFT!!!!

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust at Whisby Education Centre with the tuition of Stuart Ball & Roger Morris are holding a Fly Identification Course on 18th and 19th February 2012.

£100.00 for a 2 day course (both days running 10.00am - 4.00pm)

BOOKING ESSENTIAL

Designed for novices, this course aims to give sufficient confidence to identify different species of fly. Identification sessions use preserved material provided by the course tutors. With Roger Morris and Stuart Ball, all tuition, materials plus tea and coffee are included in the day.

To book or for more information please contact:- Whisby Education Centre, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln, LN6 9BW, telephone             01522 696926      , email:- whisbyeducation@lincstrust.co.uk.

Stuart Ball and I will be running our Introduction to Hoverflies course at Bangor in North Wales on 7-8 April.  The course organiser is Richard Gallon who is keen to hear from people who would like to attend.  Richard can be contacted at

richard.gallon cofnod.org.uk

The course is designed for the absolute novice so no prior experience is required. There will be a charge of £20.00 per person to cover the costs of course materials and travel and accommodation costs we incur.

Note - we are looking at changing the date so it does not clash with Easter.

Regards

Roger Morris

Stuart Ball & I will be running our standard two-day course on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th February in the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity at the Natural History Museum. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided, and you can bring your own packed lunch or visit the cafes in the Museum or nearby. There will be a small fee (in the order of £10.00 - £15) to cover Roger and Stuart’s travel expenses (depends upon numbers).

People wanting to attend should contact Hannah Cornish on h.cornish at (@) nhm.ac.uk

Regards

Roger

18-19 February 2012, BENHS Regional Meeting at the FSC Preston Montford, Shropshire. ‘Invertebrate Challenge’ (part of Shropshire Entomology Day on Sat 18 Feb.). Identification workshops for various insect groups on Sun 19th.  Contact Pete Boardman, (pete@field-studies-council.org) or see : www.benhs.org.uk

2-4  March 2012, DF Identification Workshops.  Beginner’s workshop on ‘Introduction to Diptera’, Advanced Workshop on ‘Dolichopodid Flies’. Preston Montford Field Studies Centre, Shrewsbury. Details will be posted soon, see FSC website: http://www.field-studies-council.org/prestonmontford/

10 - 11 March 2012, Hoverfly Identification Course.  Yarner Wood, Woodland Classroom, Devon. Costs : £30~40 depending on number of participants (12 maximum). For further details or to secure a place contact: mattprince1969@gmail.com   

17 March 2012, BENHS AGM and Presidential Address plus talks, tours and discussions. University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PW.  See: www.benhs.org.uk

24- 25 March   Introduction to Flies (Identification).  9 am – 4.30 pm each day, Cost £70.00, accommodation not included.  Hill End Field Study Centre, nr Oxford, Tel: 01865 863510. Tutors: John & Barbara Ismay (Dipterists Forum)

28 April 2012, AES Members' Day and AGM 2012. The Manchester Museum, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. http://www.amentsoc.org

10 May 2012, Insect-Fungus Interactions, .Insect Ecology Special Interest Group Meeting. Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ. Contact Michael Bonsall:  michael.bonsall@zoo.ox.ac.uk

12 May 2012,  BENHS Regional Meeting at Elvedon, Thetford, Norfolk ‘Breckland Invertebrates’. Contact: Claudia Watts (CWatts@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk) or See: www.benhs.org.uk
 
12-13 May 2012, DF Spring Field Meeting to the New Forest, (to be confirmed).. Contact Roger Morris (7 Vine Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire, roger.morris@dsl.pipex.com

19 May 2012, Perivale Wood, Middlesex. One day Field Meeting to record Diptera for the Selbourne Society in this site with ancient woodland pasture and pond. Contact Peter Chandler  (chandgnats@aol.com, tel: 01225708339)

16-17 June 2012  The Great Fen Project  field meeting.  This project is an initiative aimed at re-wetting a large area of former farmland between Woodwalton and Holme Fens. Our meeting will provide an opportunity to visit both these fens and also to explore the re-developing fen. Contact Roger Morris (7 Vine Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire) roger.morris@dsl.pipex.com

15-17 June 2012, Identifying Flies Course. Flatford Mill Field Centre, Suffolk. Tutor Martin Harvey. See: http://www.field-studies-council.org/in … 34699.aspx 

29 June – 1 July 2012, Bridlington for soft rock cliffs and chalk wolds. A special meeting of Dipterists Forum and Yorkshire Dipterists. Contact Roger Morris (7 Vine Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire, roger.morris@dsl.pipex.com

25 June -1 July 2012, National Insect Week. See website: http://www.nationalinsectweek.co.uk

18-20 July 2012,  Ento'12 - the National Science Meeting of the RES, Venue: Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. See http://www.royensoc.co.uk

22 - 29 July 2012, DF Summer Field Meeting to  Lagganalia Centre, Kingussie, Speyside. Only a few places left! Contact Roger Morris (7 Vine Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire,)roger.morris@dsl.pipex.com

17-20 August 2012, Identification of  Hoverflies. Preston Montford Field Centre, Shrewsbury. Tutors Stuart Ball and Roger Morris. See FSC website: http://www.field-studies-council.org/prestonmontford/

13-20 October 2012, DF Autumn Field Meeting to Bangor, North Wales Contact Roger Morris (7 Vine Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire) roger.morris@dsl.pipex.com

3 November 2012,  BENHS Annual Exhibition. Imperial College, London See: www.benhs.org.uk

24 November 2012 Dipterists Day and AGM 2012, Bristol.  M Shed Museum at Princes Wharf, Wapping Road, Bristol BS1 4RN (http://mshed.org/about-us/) with access to the entomological collections on Sunday 25 November. Full details of the programme will be posted on the DF website (http://www.dipteristsforum.org.uk/) when available.

BENHS Dinton Pastures Open Days in the Pelham-Clinton Building, Hurst, Reading. Open 10:30-16:00 on second and fourth Sunday in each month except April to September when only on the second Sunday of each month (except for August when there are no Open Days). We encourage you to bring along your pinned flies and use the Diptera Collections and library for identification.  Other Dipterists are usually present meaning good chat and assistance with identifications may be possible.  The grid reference for Dinton Pastures is SU 784718, turn left off the B3030 driving North from Winnersh. The site is about 15 minutes walk from Winnersh station, which has trains running on a half-hourly service from Reading and Waterloo. See: www.benhs.org.uk   

April-Sept/Oct 2012 The Northants and Peterborough Diptera Group hold meetings every weekend from end of April until some time in September/October. Contact John Showers on:  ShowersJohn@aol.com

The next Dipterists Forum Bulletin newsletter 73 is in production at the moment and aims to be arriving through your letter boxes in Mid February. It already looks a great issue with a round up of news from the recording schemes, reports on meetings past and important news on meetings to come, along with a selection of interesting articles news and views and a new fly key to try.  Basic Forum membership at still only £6.00 enables you to receive this twice yearly publication - really good value for money!  Judy