Introduction to Pollinator Identification Workshop

Between 3 and 6 February, the Mitra Campus of the University of Évora hosted the Introduction to Pollinator Identification Workshop, an initiative dedicated to discovering and classifying these insects, which are essential for maintaining ecosystems.

The event was supported by MED&CHANGE, the Biology Department and the Water Laboratory of the University of Évora, and had 21 participants who began to identify bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae), beetles (Coleoptera), butterflies (Lepidoptera) and ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

The training was led by specialists Rita Azedo (Department of Biology-UÉvora; MED&CHANGE) and Amália Oliveira (Water Laboratory-UÉvora; MED&CHANGE), Hugo Gaspar (FLOWer Lab – University of Coimbra) and Renata Santos (TAGIS – Portuguese Butterfly Conservation Centre), whom we would like to thank especially for sharing their knowledge.

According to the participants, the workshop was an enriching experience, full of learning and good humour, which will certainly be valuable for application in the various projects and doctoral theses the participants are working on.