AN APP can be downloaded to picture bees in their natural habitat for World Bee Day, allowing citizens to be scientists for the day.
The Spot-A-Bee app has been created in a collaboration between the University of Glasgow and Cardiff University.
The researchers are calling on the UK public to picture bees in nature and submit the shots via the app.
The app aims to create ‘bee-friendly’ habitats by plotting out the plants that attract the insects.
Users are invited to picture bees around plants that attract them in their local area in an effort from researchers to plot a map of plant distribution.
Last year, over 8000 pictures from all over the world were logged on the app.
The data gathered through the app provided researchers with information about plants that bees like and could encourage planting them to create bee-friendly habitats.
Public are invited to celebrate World Bee Day by snapping shots of bees.
The app has been created by the School of Education at the University of Glasgow in collaboration with the School of Pharmacy at Cardiff University.
Dr Ria Dunkley, a lecturer at the University of Glasgow, said: “The pandemic has helped many of us realise just how important outside space is as well as how important it is for us to connect with nature in our local area.
“We’re always looking for more people to get join us so as restrictions ease across the UK we are inviting everyone to get involved and download the app.”
She added: “We had a great response after launching last year and have received over 8000 spots from citizen scientists all over the world!
“The Spot-a-Bee app also allows you to become part of the Spot-a-Bee community where you can comment on other spot records and explore the map to see what bees’ others are spotting. So please join in and get spotting!”
The Spot-A-Bee app can be downloaded for free from the App store or Google Play and a learning pack for children can be downloaded here.
