About the Authors

Jon Webb

My interest in the Aculeate Hymenoptera was kindled when looking through an invertebrate report from a heathland. A large list of Andrena, Nomada, Lasioglossum and others was present and from this point onwards I was fascinated to see what these animals looked like in action. When I did start to collect and survey I was not disappointed. In general, Aculeate species are attractive, have interesting behaviour with bizarre and fascinating lifestyles.

It soon became apparent, however, that there was a lack of information on these species for Staffordshire (VC39). I therefore took the decision to attempt a provisional checklist based on reliable records and specimens.

I must make apologies at this stage. Although I have been studying Aculeates for four years, I am still not keen to determine a number of the more difficult groups myself. Therefore, in going through museum collections and personal collections I have only confirmed those species that I am sure about. Others will therefore often appear in the text as 'not confirmed' - I therefore strongly point out that this is a provisional checklist.

I must stress that that document is a provisional list and there is little doubt in my mind that there is (and probably will always be) plenty more work required to fully understand this group within Staffordshire.

Mike Bloxham

As a general entomologist of some experience and with a commitment to invertebrate conservation in Britain, I have become interested in the potential of insect groups in habitat evaluation studies. There has been some encouraging progress here and it may give added impetus to entomological survey, breathing fresh life into biodiversity initiatives which currently threaten to stagnate into 'action' on a limited number of flagship species about which much is already known.

With the assistance of many others, I have intermittently studied aculeates in Staffordshire for over twenty years and am delighted to have been asked to assist in this valuable exercise.

Craig Slawson

As an arachnologist, I am the 'foreigner' in this collaboration. Although, as a general entomologist, I have an interest in Hymenoptera, I cannot claim to have any expertise in their identification or biology. However, as Ecological Records Officer for Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and manager of Staffordshire Ecological Record (SER), it has been my responsibility to computerise all the records, both contemporary and historical and in this capacity I have also designed the routines to produce the checklist.