Course curriculum

    1. Ants of the UK course description

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    1. Genus Formica

    2. Genus Formica Q&A

    3. Guide to the Wood Ants of the UK

    4. Genus Formica Quiz

    5. The Shining Guest Ant: An Unexpected House Guest

    1. Recording Ants

About this course

  • £25.00
  • 7 lessons
  • 2 hours of video content

Start learning about ants today!

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What will be covered during this course?

Aimed at amateur naturalists, biological recorders, wildlife gardeners, conservationists, ecologists and environmental professionals looking to improve their knowledge of UK invertebrates.

  • Recognise and identify the British species of the genera Formica, Lasius and Myrmica using key morphological features, ecology and behaviour.

  • Understand the ecology and life history of UK ants, including colony structure, nesting habits, foraging strategies, parasitic relationships and the roles ants play in British ecosystems.

  • Apply practical identification techniques by using field observations, identification keys, microscopes and other diagnostic resources to distinguish between similar ant species.

  • Record and share ant observations effectively by using appropriate recording schemes, online identification resources and citizen science platforms to contribute high-quality biological records for conservation and research.

Natural history tutor

Gary Skinner

Ant Specialist

Gary Skinner began a degree in chemistry but soon decided to swap to biology and obtained a degree in 1972. He then went on to study the wood ant Formica rufa for his PhD. After this he went on to a career in teaching until his retirement in 2008. In the 80s whilst on a trip to Skomer he saw a little book on British buttercups and thought 'I could do one on ants'. That was published in 1987 and its success led him to think about a Naturalists’ Handbook, which came out in 1996. Teaching in a boarding school was very demanding but he managed to fit in some ant observing, especially in the 90s when he undertook survey work in the Northwest of England during a sabbatical term. He has written extensively across the biological sciences and was editor of the magazine Catalyst for 10 years until 2017. In retirement he has continued to write and mark GCSE and A level examinations.