Services · Specialist

Terrestrial Invertebrate Surveys

Terrestrial invertebrate assemblages are one of the richest measures of a site's ecological value — and often the most overlooked. We deliver targeted and assemblage-level invertebrate surveys for development sites, from brownfield land to ancient woodland.

SeasonApril – September
MethodsPitfall, sweep, light trap
TargetAssemblage & priority species
AssessmentPantheon / ISIS

Overview

Terrestrial invertebrate surveys assess the conservation value of a site's invertebrate fauna — often the richest and most informative element of biodiversity on a development site, particularly on brownfield land, where invertebrate assemblages frequently turn out to be of greater ecological significance than the habitats themselves appear.

We use a combination of survey methods tailored to the site and target groups: pitfall traps for ground-active species, sweep netting and beating for vegetation-dwelling species, light trapping for moths, direct searching and hand collecting for specific targets. Survey effort and method selection follow Natural England and CIEEM guidance for invertebrate assessment.

Results are analysed using the Pantheon database (Natural England's assemblage assessment tool) to characterise the invertebrate assemblage by habitat association, conservation status and species quality. This provides an objective measure of the site's importance for invertebrates — from local to national significance — and feeds directly into impact assessment and mitigation design.

When you need this

  • Your site is brownfield or post-industrial land, which often supports nationally important invertebrate assemblages
  • An EIA requires invertebrate survey as part of the ecological baseline
  • The site includes habitats known to support notable invertebrate assemblages — flower-rich grassland, heathland, ancient woodland, dead-wood habitats
  • Biological records indicate protected or Red Data Book invertebrate species in the area
  • Your PEA flags the site as having potential for significant invertebrate interest

Our approach

  1. 01
    Scoping and method selection

    We assess the site's habitats, desk study records and the purpose of the survey to select the most appropriate combination of sampling methods and target groups.

  2. 02
    Field sampling

    Typically two to three survey visits between April and September. Methods may include pitfall traps (ground beetles, spiders), sweep netting (plant bugs, flies, bees), beating (arboreal species), light trapping (moths) and direct searching.

  3. 03
    Identification and analysis

    Specimens are identified to species level and the assemblage is analysed using the Pantheon system to characterise habitat associations, rarity and overall assemblage quality.

  4. 04
    Reporting

    A report setting out the assemblage value, presence of protected or notable species, assessment of the site's importance for invertebrates and mitigation recommendations where required.

Frequently asked questions

01Why are brownfield sites important for invertebrates?+
Brownfield and post-industrial sites often provide the warm, open, flower-rich and structurally diverse conditions that many invertebrate species need — conditions that have been lost from much of the wider countryside. Some brownfield sites support invertebrate assemblages of national importance.
02What is Pantheon?+
Pantheon is Natural England's database and assemblage assessment tool for invertebrates. It categorises species by their habitat and resource associations and provides an objective assessment of assemblage quality, from local to national significance. It is the standard tool for invertebrate site evaluation in England.
03How long does a terrestrial invertebrate survey take?+
Typically two to three survey visits spread across the April–September season, each lasting one to two days depending on site size. Pitfall traps are deployed for a set period (usually two weeks) between visits. Laboratory identification and analysis may take several weeks after the final field visit.
Get in touch

Have a site that needs surveying?

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