Page 8 - Bumblebee Conservation Trust Buzzword Magazine July 2020

Andy Benson, Education Officer said
“In these difficult times, lots of people
have been appreciating nature and
wanting to find out more. What’s that
bumblebee makes it easy for people of
NEW 3D app brings UK all ages to discover and identify different
bumblebees visiting their gardens,
bumblebees to life on your phone outdoor spaces, parks or window
boxes”.

‘What’s that bumblebee’ is a new living room, shed, or anywhere else in The app is available on Apple
mobile app developed by the Trust, their environment. They will then be able and Android devices and free
through our Pollinating the Peak to walk around the bumblebee, zoom to download from the Apple
project. It allows anybody from in and rotate and watch the bumblebee App Store or Google Play Store.
beginners to enthusiasts, to engage fly, allowing them to take a more Augmented reality features are
with bumblebees in a simple and detailed look at their favourite common only available on compatible
exciting way. bumblebee. Users can capture images devices.
The app encourages users to look of their bumblebees and share them with
family and friends, across social media
more closely at the bumblebees in channels. Share your images
their environment and includes a clear on social media using
and concise guide to identifying the We all love bumblebees, but trying to #whatsthatbumblebee
UK’s eight most common bumblebee identify them can often be challenging
species, complete with images, maps at first. This app encourages users
and species information. The app also to enjoy the bumblebees in their own Bumblebees An introduction
allows two species to be compared environment with a focus on looking
side by side to help separate similar more closely and having fun, while at the
species. Individuals can sort their Red- same time, developing basic bumblebee
tailed bumblebees (Bombus lapidarius) identification skills.
from their Early bumblebees (Bombus
pratorum) and their White-tailed Photo: Screen shot of 3D augmented reality.
bumblebees (Bombus lucorum) from
their Garden bumblebees (Bombus
hortorum) in no time.

The app also uses augmented reality
technology to offer users the chance
to engage and interact with queens
of the eight common species, in a
new and exciting way. Using their
phone screen as a lens into a world
of bumblebees, users can place a 3D
model of a common bumblebee of
their choice in their garden, kitchen,
On sale for £10 at www.bumblebeeconservation.org/merchandise
8 9