The British Entomological and Natural History Society (BENHS)
BENHS is for everyone who cares about and is fascinated by the natural history of insects and other invertebrates. We promote their identification, recording and conservation throughout the British Isles in collaboration with our affiliated societies.
Since our foundation in 1872, we have welcomed beginners as well as experienced entomologists. Members receive four copies a year of our highly respected journal and get special discounts on society publications, which include key sources for the identification of particular insect groups. They can also attend a variety of field, indoor, workshop and virtual meetings providing practical skills in entomology in an enjoyable and engaging fashion. Our extensive library and insect reference collection are available to view, on open days, or by appointment at our purpose built headquarters.
BENHS Council and Committees 2024 as at 1 April 2024
The members recommended by Council as Officers or Ordinary Members of Council for 2024-2025 under Bye-Law 7 (a) are:
| PRESIDENT | Z.M. Simmons |
| VICE-PRESIDENTS | G.R. Broad and R.J. Barnett |
| TREASURER | J.P. Flynn |
| SECRETARY | Vacant |
| EDITOR | J.S. Badmin |
| CURATOR | P.J. Chandler |
| LIBRARIAN | I.R. Sims |
| LANTERNIST | M.S. Taylor (S. Lings indisposed) |
| BUILDING MANAGER | M.V. Albertini |
| SALES | Vacant |
| WEBMASTER | L.J. Evans-Hill |
ORDINARY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL: S. Clancy, A.J. Halstead, R.D. Hawkins, G. Hedges, S. Judd, R.P. Knill-Jones, A. Spalding, S. Taylor, C.M. Watts and A. Whiffin.
CUSTODIAL TRUSTEES: D.J.L Agassiz and D. Stimpson.
| Assistant Treasurer | R.D. Hawkins |
| Membership Secretary | A.J. Halstead |
| Field Meetings Secretary | G.E. King |
| Regional Secretary | Vacant |
| Assistant Webmaster | M.S. Taylor |
| Assistant Buildings Manager | J.F.H. Cole |
| Student Liaison Officer | G.M. Orledge |
| Archivist | S. Judd |
| Grants Coordinator | A. Spalding |
| Invertebrate Link representatives | A. J. Halstead and C.M. Watts |
| Patrick Roche Trust | D. Stimpson |
| Affiliate Societies Contact | R. Dawson |
| Representative from British Myriapod and Isopod Group | D. Sivell |
| Representative from British Plant Gall Society | J. Bowdrey |
| Representative from Bees Wasps and Ants Recording Society | R. Dawson |
| Representative from Dipterists Forum | M.S. Taylor |
| Representative from Earthworm Society of Britain | K.D. Brown |
| Representative from Coleopterists Society of Britain and Ireland | J.F.H. Cole |
| Representative from British Arachnological Society | P. Selden |
| Steering Group | Z.M. Simmons*, R.J. Barnett, G. R Broad and I.D. Masters |
| Finance Committee | Z.M. Simmons*, R.J. Barnett, G.R. Boad, T.J. Dillon, J.P. Flynn, R.D. Hawkins, S. Judd, I.D. Masters and J.W. Phillips |
| Communication and Events Committee | I.D. Masters*, J.S. Badmin, G.R. Broad, R.J. Barnett, S.P. Clancy, Z.M. Simmons, L.J. Evans-Hill, S. Judd, S. Lings, M.S. Taylor, C.M. Watts and G.E. King |
| Building and Heritage Assets Committee | Z.M. Simmons*, M.V. Albertini, G.R. Broad, R.J. Barnett, P.J. Chandler, J.F.H. Cole, S. Judd, M.S. Taylor (interim for S. Lings), I.D. Masters and I.R. Sims |
| Library Committee | I.R. Sims*, Z.M. Simmons, G.R. Broad, R.J. Barnett, P.J. Chandler, R.D. Hawkins, S. Judd and I.D. Masters |
| Publications Committee | Z.M. Simmons*, G.R. Broad, J.S. Badmin, R.J. Barnett, A.J. Halstead, R.D. Hawkins, S. Judd and I.D. Masters |
| Editorial Panel | J.S. Badmin*, D.J.L. Agassiz, J.N. Alderman, R.D.G. Barrington, P.J. Chandler, A.J. Halstead, R.D. Hawkins, P.J. Hodge and I.F.G. McLean |
| BENHS Research Fund Committee | A. Spalding*, Z.M. Simmons, G.R. Broad, J.S. Badmin, R.J. Barnett, J.P. Flynn, A.J. Halstead, S. Judd, I.D. Masters and L. Crowley |
| Website Committee | L.J. Evans-Hill, M.S. Taylor and E. Deutsch |
| Affiliations Working Group | K.D. Brown, M.S. Taylor, J.F.H. Cole & R. Dawson, D. Sivell, P. Selden and J. Bowdrey |
| Accuracy of Species Recording Working Group | I.D. Masters*, J.F.H. Cole, L.J. Evans-Hill, K. Lugg, P.T. Harding, G.M. Orledge, J.W. Phillips, I.R. Sims, A. Spalding, M.S. Taylor and C.M. Watts |
| [* = Chair] |
BENHS Groups and lead members:
| Saproxylic Group | K.N.A. Alexander |
| Student Group | L. Crowley |
Freelance role:
| Administrative Assistant | Ella Deutsch |
BENHS Byelaws 2019 (the full set of byelaws is available on the Society’s website)
Section 9
- c) If any six or more Members shall desire to propose any other eligible candidate or candidates for election to any of the offices or as one or more of the Ordinary Members of Council, such six or more Members shall, not less than one month before the Annual Meeting, give notice in writing (signed by these members and stating the name of every such candidate and the office or position as Ordinary Member of Council for which he or she is nominated) to the Secretary. If such notice is given, an election shall be held at the Annual Meeting before action on the Council’s nominees.
d) When no such notice has been so given, with regard to any particular Office or concerning the Ordinary Members of Council, the President or Chairman shall at the Annual Meeting declare elected the Council’s nominee or nominees to that office or as Ordinary Members of Council.