Flower-Insect Timed Count (FIT Count)

Watch a 50x50cm patch of flowers for 10 minutes and record how many insects visit.

This survey runs from April to September and anyone can take part.

There are concerns that the numbers of pollinating insects such as bees and ﬂies are declining, but we need more data to be able to track changes in abundance. You can help by doing a FIT Count which is designed to collect new data on the numbers of ﬂower-visiting insects.

This survey is a collaboration between the National Biodiversity Data Centre and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. It is also supported by the Irish Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation NI, Buglife, The National Trust and the Centre for Environmental Data and Recording in NI (CEDaR). It follows the methodology of the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (PoMS) and data for Northern Ireland will be shared directly with PoMS.

Please only carry out FIT Counts in line with Covid-19 guidelines

FIT COUNT SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Wait for a good day. The weather should be warm and dry.

If the sky is clear (less than half cloud) the minimum temperature for a count is 13˚C

If the sky is cloudy (half cloud of more) the minimum temperature for a count is 15˚C

2. Find a location containing target flowers. Your location can be anywhere e.g., garden, farm, park, school. You will need to watch insects in a 50cm by 50cm square patch

Try to select one of these flowers: Buttercup, Dandelion, Hawthorn, Bramble, Lavender, Hogweed, Knapweed, Ragwort, White clover, Red Clover, Buddleja, Heather, Thistle, Ivy

If you cannot find any of these flowers at your location it is fine to choose another flower that is attracting insects

3. Take a photo of your target flower patch

4. Print out the recording form and fill in the background information about the weather and your flower patch

5. Set a timer for 10 minutes.

Stand close enough to the patch so that you can see insects landing on the flowers but don’t lean over the top of the patch as this can prevent insects from visiting

6. Count every insect that lands on one of the flowers of your target species within the 50x50cm patch.

Try to count each individual insect just once. If a bumblebee goes from flower to flower in your patch that just counts as one.

Count the total number of insects. If you can, put them into the different groups on the recording form. We don’t expect you to be an expert, we just ask that you do this as best you can. If you’re not sure add it to the ‘other insects’ category.

It may be the case that no insects visit in the 10 minutes. This is still a valid result and should be submitted to us (tick the zero abundance box on the online submission form).

7. Add your results to the online data submission system

8. If you can carry out multiple counts e.g. once a month or even once a week during the year that would be fantastic and will add value to your data. The most useful counts are those that are repeated over time at the same location (or very nearby). You can use different target flowers at different times of year.

Resources:

Fit Count instructions simple instructions_Ireland 2020

FIT Count recording form_Ireland

FIT Count online data submission form

FIT Count survey guidance_Ireland 2020

FIT Count – guide to identifying the different insect groups

FIT Count – interactive map showing where counts have taken place

Click on the image below to watch a short YouTube video on how to carry out a FIT Count. This was created by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

This survey follows the methodology of the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme. We thank them for their generosity in sharing resources.