Honeybees are an indicator species for other pollinators on the YLH's menu

In readiness to combat any incursion of the YLH we are seeking to recruit volunteers to fill one of two roles, named as either Verifiers and Monitors. Their roles are very similar and involve confirming, or otherwise, reports of a YLH being sighted by deploying and observing monitoring stations baited to attract YLH. When a suspected sighting has been reported, the Verifiers/Monitors in the vicinity will be contacted and asked to carry out their role for 2 or 3 weeks with observations up to 3 or 4 times daily. The results, even if negative, will need to be reported and, if positive, a photo and the trajectory of its departure should be included in the report alongside the location and date.

The distinction between the two roles is that Verifiers volunteer to carry out this monitoring for suspected sightings on other people’s property whereas a Monitor volunteers to perform this task only on their own property. The reason for this distinction is that to operate on other people’s property, we require Public Liability Insurance to be in place. We do not require this where operating on one’s own property. Consequently, a Verifier is usually a member of a BBKA affiliated Association whereas a Monitor need not.

In addition, a Verifier will be expected to contact, and make arrangements with, the landowner for both the deployment of the monitoring station and access for the observation element and, also, to quiz the YLH sighting reporter to assess its credibility. This role will, therefore, requires some flexibility of availability to fit in with that of reporter/ land. The Monitor role has only themselves to consider.

Training sessions on YLH identification, types of monitoring stations/traps and their deployment will be provided. 

  Please indicate on the form below which role will suit you

All our pollinators are at risk