The Big Bug Hunt 2017: Time Is of the Essence

Welcome to the Big Bug Hunt 2017 international research project newsletter!

The Big Bug Hunt relies on accurate reports from gardeners across the country to track when and where bugs appear and spread. Our identification guides are a great way to check what you’ve seen. But letting us know when you saw your bug could help to further improve the accuracy of your report. Big Bug Hunters can now do exactly that. Go to www.BigBugHunt.com as usual to report your bug. Let us know what you saw and which plant you saw it on. You now also have the option to add the date you spotted your bug from a drop-down list. Or just leave it set to ‘today’. Our researchers have confirmed that knowing the date that a bug appears is crucial in predicting how it spreads. This may be a very simple addition, but it will significantly improve the final pest warning system under development. Take a look for yourself – and please keep your reports coming!

Leave My Legumes Alone! Keep your peas and beans in fine fettle this summer with our free, downloadable guide to common legume pests – and what to do about them! Download our free guide here.

Your FAQs… Answered Q. How do I report a bug that isn’t listed? A. Simply type in the name of any bug you want to report. Every bug matters, even the ones we don’t currently list. Q. Which bugs are most important to report? A. All of them! We’re especially keen to hear about the first time you see a bug in your garden as this gives an idea of how they spread through the country. Q. Should I keep reporting a bug if I’ve already reported it? A. Yes please! Knowing how long it stays in your garden is also useful information for our data analysis team. Q. When will the pest prediction service launch? A. We’re now in our second year of data crunching. It will take ongoing research but we’re already seeing significant patterns in how some pests spread. Common pests such as aphids are the most likely to give us our first results. Q. I’m impatient. How can I speed things along? A. We are too! The best way you can help is to spread word about The Big Bug Hunt, so that others can also tell us about the bugs they’re finding.

Ones to Watch Here are four bugs you’ll definitely want to welcome into your garden:

Hoverfly Great because: Helps to pollinate crops and feeds on aphids Find out more... Lady Beetle Great because: Keeps aphids and other pests in check Find out more... Bumblebee Great because: Pollinates many vegetables and fruits Find out more... Lacewing Great because: Feeds on many soft-bodied pests such as whitefly Find out more...

Learn more about these and other pests, plus beneficial bugs here.

Thanks for connecting with us. If you have any further questions or suggestions, please don't hesitate to get in touch via our contact form.

Stay in Touch  - Follow us on Facebook