Irish Beetles with Louise Garcia

Irish Beetles for Beginners: A Hands-On Workshop

Join us for an engaging and interactive introduction to the fascinating world of Irish beetles! Whether you’re a complete beginner or simply looking to deepen your appreciation for these incredible insects, this workshop will provide an accessible and enjoyable learning experience.

What to Expect

Our session will begin with an informative talk covering Ireland’s top beetle species, offering insights into their unique characteristics, habitats, and ecological importance. You’ll learn about the key features that distinguish different beetle families and gain practical tips on identifying them in the field.

Louise Garcia, our workshop leader, will also share helpful advice on where and how to find beetles, making it easier for you to begin your explorations into Ireland’s rich insect life.

To help reinforce your newfound knowledge, Louise will provide a printed guide to beetle family identification that participants can use during and after the session. This guide will serve as a handy reference for beetle identification, both in the field and at home.

Get Outside and Explore!

Following the talk, we’ll head outdoors for a hands-on field session, where you’ll have the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned. Under Louise's guidance, you’ll search for beetles in their natural habitats, observe their behaviour, and test your identification skills in real-world conditions. This outdoor experience is designed to be both educational and enjoyable, helping you connect with Ireland’s biodiversity practically and memorably.

This section will also cover:

• Beating
• Sweeping
• Hand Searching
• Food Plant Identification
• Making Field Notes
• Labelling Specimen Pots

Back in the Lab

With specimens in hand, we will use our Beetle Family Guide and Lab Microscopes for identification. In addition, Louise will talk about:

• Online ID Resources
• Accurate Size Measuring
• Recording with the National Biodiversity Data Centre

Participants may wish to bring their laptop or tablet to view online resources. Please also bring (if you have them) hand lenses, magnifying glasses, a small ruler, a sweep net, a white umbrella or sheet, and collecting pots. (We will have limited availability of these for participant use if you don't have any yourself).

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is ideal for nature lovers of all backgrounds, from complete beginners to those with a budding interest in entomology. Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast, a student, or simply curious about the tiny creatures that share our environment, this is a great way to build your knowledge and confidence in identifying beetles.

Come along and discover the hidden world of Ireland’s beetles – you might just leave with a new passion for these incredible creatures! We look forward to seeing you there.

About Louise Garcia

Louise studied Zoology at the University of Oxford, specialising in Entomology and Ecology. She has worked in the Hope Entomological Collections of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and, as a teacher, taught Biology for 23 years.

She has led many National Biodiversity/Heritage Week events in Ireland and is the Beetle Record Validator for the National Biodiversity Data Centre.