Bug Battalions

Many insect species are in decline in the UK and the funding for conservation is being decimated. Insects include essential pollinators and decomposers. They are key to healthy environments. Fortunately, however, an 'army' of amateur nature recorders has arisen to provide vital data on many (otherwise, neglected) insect groups (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/10/a-bugs-life-how-a-volunteer-army-is-putting-uk-wildlife-on-the-record-aoe). Most insect surveys are currently run by volunteers. The Biological Records Centre (a body that collects and organises some of this data), reckons that at least 70,000 enthusiasts are involved in surveys. Estimates suggest a 46% increase, in the time devoted to nature recording, since 2000. Perhaps the pandemic has intensified this along with making us more aware of nature? Nature recording is important work but the 'amateurs' (who can be extremely knowledgeable), will sometimes need specialist confirmation for their rarer 'finds'. So, coordination and some standardisation of techniques would be helpful. It almost looks, however, as if we are going back to the Victorian age of the gentleman (and gentlewoman) scientist.