Iconic Bees: Wales Large Mason Bee

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1 Iconic Bees: Wales Large Mason Bee Bees are a vital to the ecology of the UK and provide significant social and economic benefits through crop pollination and maintaining the character of the landscape. Recent years have seen substantial declines in many species of bees within the UK. This report takes a closer look at how 13 iconic bee species are faring in each English region, as well as Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. In Wales the report focusses on the Osmia xanthomelana. Authors Rebecca L. Evans and Simon G. Potts, University of Reading.

2 Key Facts: > Britain s rarest solitary bee. > Thought extinct in the U.K until its rediscovery in Wales in the 1990 s. > Estimated population in the U.K is about 250 females (Clee, 2013). > No decline statistic available. Best places to see: only found at two sites: Porth Ceiriad and Porth Neigwl on the Llŷn Peninsula. Osmia xanthomelana collecting mud Carl Clee Through collating information on the 13 iconic bee species, common themes have emerged on the causes of decline, and the actions that can be taken to help reverse it. The most pervasive causes of bee species decline are to be found in the way our countryside has changed in the past 60 years. Intensification of grazing regimes, an increase in pesticide use, loss of biodiverse field margins and hedgerows, the trend towards sterile monoculture, insensitive development and the sprawl of towns and cities are the main factors in this. I agree with the need for a comprehensive Bee Action Plan led by the UK Government in order to counteract these causes of decline, as called for by Friends of the Earth. But households and communities, local authorities and agencies, and devolved governments can also make a significant difference. And while it s critical that the UK Government acts to reverse the decline in all bee species, some of the iconic bees identified in this research also have very specific and local needs. Overarching Recommendations include: > Government i, local wildlife groups and local authorities to raise awareness of bee diversity and pollinators ecological and economic importance. > Government to ensure further surveying and monitoring of wild bees to establish more accurate population numbers and changes. > Government to ensure there is enough expertise and advice available for landowners, local authorities and farmers to inform bee-friendly land management. > Government, local wildlife groups and local authorities to promote sympathetic grazing regimes to landowners and farmers that ensure adequate bee-friendly forage availability until the end of summer/early autumn. > Government to encourage farmers to take-up the most beneficial Agri-Environment options such as sowing pollen and nectar mixes, buffer strips, wildflower margins, sympathetically managed hay meadows and semi-natural grasslands. These options need to be widely available and financially viable for the landowner. > Government to set quantitative targets for the reduction of all pesticide use and to encourage the use of alternative pest management methods. > Government to ensure protection for sites of importance to rare and threatened bees, for example with SSSI designation. > Local planning authorities to ensure that biodiversity priority lists and action plans are consulted as part of their consideration of any planning or development proposals and damage to priority species and habitats avoided. > Government and local planning authorities to encourage developers to include bee-friendly habitat when carrying out developments. > Local authorities and local wildlife groups to encourage gardeners and local communities to grow more wild and/or bee-friendly plants in open spaces and gardens. > Local authorities to grow more bee friendly plants in parks and open spaces. These actions cut across various policy areas and involve multiple actors. Friends of the Earth s call for a Bee Action Plan is primarily aimed at the UK government, but would involve devolved governments, key stakeholders such as farmers, bee keepers, local authorities and agencies to advise on its content and implementation. Simon G. Potts, Professor of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading. i Government refers to UK Government or where powers are devolved to the relevant devolved Government

3 Common name: Large Mason Bee Latin name: Osmia xanthomelana Description This is a medium-sized (12-13mm) robust black bee with golden to brown coloured hair covering the face and thorax. The abdomen has a sparse covering of golden to pale hairs. Distribution and Status Wales is a key area for the Osmia xanthomelana. Map copyright: See back cover. > Widely distributed throughout northern Eurasia, although almost always rare throughout its range. The Welsh population marks the North West edge of its distribution. > Historically recorded from 28 localities in England and Wales but has declined so severely over the last century that it is now only recorded from two sites in north Wales. It was originally thought extinct in the U.K when the remaining English population on the Isle of Wight was searched for in the 1990 s and no individuals were found, however it was rediscovered in Wales at Porth Ceiriad (1998) and Porth Neigwl (1999) on the Llŷn Peninsula. > Associated with eroded soft-rock cliffs such as clay and chalk, landslips, dunes and semi-natural and unimproved grassland where there is the presence of the leguminous plant Bird s-foot Trefoil upon which it likely depends for its survival in the U.K. Sites also need a supply of freshwater from seepages for nest cell construction. O. xanthomelana is listed as Endangered 1 in the Red Data Book for the British Isles by Shirt (1987) and Falk (1991) and is on the England Biodiversity Strategy S41 2 and Welsh Biodiversity S42 3 species lists (previously the UK List of Priority Species and Habitats under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP)). 1 A status given to species at risk of becoming extinct if causal factors continue operating. The species exists in five or fewer 10km grid squares of the U.K. 2 This is a list of species and habitats identified to be of biodiversity conservation priority in England that should be taken into consideration during planning and development initiatives. 3 This is a list of species and habitats identified to be of biodiversity conservation priority in Wales that should be taken into consideration during planning and development initiatives.

4 Ecology and Behaviour > Males are seen from April, females from May. Both seen until July. > Nests are usually excavated from south-east facing eroded banks or sometimes previous burrows are cleaned out and reused. > Females collect freshwater from cliff base seepages to make mud that is combined with grit in the construction of the nest cells (these normally number five or six). > Egg cells are provisioned with pollen from Bird s-foot trefoil. > The species will collect nectar from a variety of plants however such as Horseshoe vetch, Bramble and Bugle. > O. xanthomelana is known to be parasitized by the wasp Sapyga quinquepunctata. Causes of Decline and Conservation > The main threats to this bee are loss of nesting and forage habitat through erosion, development or mismanagement. > The preferred nesting habitat of bare soil in soft-rock cliffs, sandbanks or landslips is maintained by a certain level of erosion. However too much or sudden erosion can result in complete loss of suitable habitat at a site (this is thought to be what wiped out the remaining English population on the Isle of Wight). Conversely too little erosion (caused by stabilising sea defences for example) also results in loss of suitable habitat. > The bee s forage plant of bird s-foot trefoil can be detrimentally affected by overgrazing or under- grazing which results in the reduction or complete loss of the food plant during the bee s life cycle. > Other factors thought to potentially negatively impact the bee include climate change and agricultural run-off from nearby intensive farmland. > Since the rediscovery of O. xanthomelana at Porth Ceiriad and Porth Neigwl, the two populations have been extensively surveyed and monitored in order to establish the size of the populations, what the bee s habitat requirements are and also to look into the effect of habitat management targeted at the species. The majority of this work was commissioned by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) (Now Natural Resources Wales). A comprehensive paper presenting the findings is due to be published in the near future. > At the Porth Neigwl sites, management has been undertaken to increase nesting habitat. Nesting banks have been cleared of invasive grasses and 15 new banks have been constructed. These new banks were monitored and surveyed in 2012 and ten females were found to be nesting in them. Further management work is due to be carried out this year. > The two sites where the bee is found are fortunately protected under the Porth Ceiriad and Porth Neigwl ac Ynysoedd Sant Tudwal SSSI which is also part of the Seacliffs of Llŷn candidate Special Area of Conservation (csac) as well as falling under the the Llŷn Peninsula Environmentally Sensitive Area, Heritage Coast and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. > It is clear that since its rediscovery in the 1990 s Gwynedd Council and experts have put in a huge amount of effort to help this bee by thoroughly researching its ecology and habitat requirements and then using this information to undertake active and informed habitat management that appears to be showing positive results.

5 Recommendations The report authors agree with the need for a Bee Action Plan to address urgent actions to be taken by the UK government, as called for by Friends of the Earth s Bee Cause campaign. It is worth noting that in April 2013 the Welsh Government published a Draft Action Plan for Pollinators for Wales. If this is supported by key stakeholders and fully implemented it will help in delivering several of the measures set out below. Further potential strategies to assist Osmia xanthomelana include: > The UK Government should introduce a UK wide monitoring programme in collaboration with devolved governments to monitor populations of wild pollinators including declining, threatened or rare bee species such as O. xanthomelana. > Local authorities, local recorders, or wildlife groups to identify sites near suitable habitat and relate this to any available data on the species dispersal distance and propensity. This information can then be used to determine if colonisation would be feasible given appropriate management. > If an area is found and subsequently managed then it should be monitored by either local wildlife groups/organisations, recorders or local authorities. If deemed particularly important the local authorities are recommended to incorporate it into their Local Development Plans to protect the site and the species that depends upon it Top: Bird s-foot trefoil flowers. Cindy Kilpatrick Bottom: Porth Ceiriad beach, Llŷn Peninsula. Thinkstock > The public, local recorders and NGOs/wildlife groups to raise awareness of O. xanthomelana with other members of the public, local conservation organisations, local authorities, local AMs, MPs and land owners/managers where the bee occurs or where it could potentially occur. > Natural Resources Wales, Farming Connect, local wildlife organisations and local authorities advising landowners in the above areas (and those surrounding) to encourage appropriate habitat management incentives such as grazing regimes in these areas which support the bee s nesting habitat and forage plant, Bird s-foot trefoil, ensuring there are always the appropriate resources at the critical times of its life cycle and scrub is prevented from taking over. For example, using cattle instead of sheep for grazing where feasible (cattle are less damaging)and delaying grazing or cutting until after the bee s life cycle, i.e. August (it would be even more beneficial to delay until Autumn as this would also ensure forage for a range of bees that fly later than O. xanthomelana). > Natural Resources Wales, Farming Connect, local wildlife organisations and local authorities to encourage farmers to select options under Glastir (and the RDP post 2014) beneficial to pollinators, these may include incorporating clover as a nectar source or sowing nectar mixes where appropriate. > Local wildlife groups, recorders or local authorities to continue building new nesting habitat at the two sites as they appear to be quite successful. > If any management is undertaken local recorders, local wildlife/groups or local authorities to monitor its effectiveness. > Welsh Government and local authorities to encourage developers in the area to include bee-friendly habitat when carrying out developments. Local people in Wales can join local groups such as Môn and Gwynedd Friends of the Earth, and Friends of the Earth s Bee Cause campaign to support the Welsh Government action plan for pollinators and also sign the petition for a UK-wide Bee Action Plan.

6 References Clee, C. (2013) Personal Communication. Else, G.R. (2012) Osmia xanthomelana. BWARS Species Page. Falk, S. (1991) A Review of the Scarce and Threatened Bees, Wasps and Ants of Great Britain. Research and Survey in Nature Conservation, Peterborough. JNCC (2010) Osmia xanthomelana. UK Priority species Pages V2. Lee, P. (2011) Hymettus Ltd Research Report for Hymettus Ltd. Roberts, S. (2013) Personal Communication. Shirt (1987) Red Data Book of British Insects. Williams, R. (ed.)(2012) An Introduction to Bees in Britain. Bees Wasps & Ants Recording Society. Want to know more? More information about the University s work on bees can be found at Information about Friends of the Earth s The Bee Cause campaign can be found at Our paper is totally recycled and our printers hold EMAS certification which means they care about the environment. Friends of the Earth Limited Friends of the Earth April Cover: Carl Clee This report has been prepared by the University of Reading for Friends of the Earth. The authors would like to thank all the local recorders, regional experts and photographers who have generously donated their time, knowledge and work in the compilation of this report, with a particular mention to Stuart Roberts for his expert input and considerable advice. Authors Rebecca L. Evans and Simon G. Potts, University of Reading. Map copyright: Crown Copyright. All rights reserved NERC Data courtesy of the NBN Gateway and provided by BWARS. The NBN and BWARS bear no responsibility for the further analysis or interpretation of this material, data and/or information.