Coastal Bees and Wasps

COASTAL BEES AND WASPS

LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

Links to associated HAP/SAP

Coastal Sand Dune

Ecology

This plan includes the following species all associated with Coastal Sand Dunes:

Sand Wasp (Podalonia affinis)

Nesting occurs in bare sandy substrates in warm sunny situations. Nest burrows are excavated and usually one caterpillar is placed in each. Adults are recorded from June to September.

Cuckoo Bee (Coelioxys mandibularis)

It is a kleptoparasite of the Leaf Cutter Bee (Megachile maritime). Like other cuckoo bees it lays its eggs in the nest of the host and its larvae feeds on the food supplies in the cell.

The Vernal Colletes, Mining Bee (Colletes cunicularius)

Prefers semi fixed yellow dune, and areas characteristic of old blowouts undergoing secondary colonisation by marram (Ammophila arenaria), Creeping Willow (Salix repens) with plenty of exposed sand. Sunny South facing slopes required. Nesting typically occurs in dense and conspicuous aggregations on sandy slopes between 45o and 85o. The species is single brooded, with adults recorded from early April (exceptionally, late March) to late May (rarely mid June).

Current Status

The distribution of coastal bees and wasps is restricted and discontinuous because of the habitat they require. All three species in this plan are found in the North Wirral Coastal Park. Sand Wasps and Cuckoo Bees are located on dunes behind the gun site car park Wallasey, and the Mining Bee is found in the Leasowe and Meols dune system

Apart from the general provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, none of the species are afforded special protection under British or European law although the Mining Bee is included on the long list of priority BAP species

Dr John McGaw (using a GPS provided by rECOrd and the GIS at Wirral MBC) plotted all of the nest sites for the mining bee Colletes Cunicularius in 2006 thereby enabling tracking of the populations and decisions regarding habitat management to be made. It is hoped that similar surveys for the other species in this plan can be conducted and updated regularly to inform management decisions.

Why are coastal dune bees and wasps in decline?

* Coastal bees and wasps are largely under threat because the habitat they depend on is under threat.
* Accretion and erosion of the dunes. No or little new dunes are forming in the Wirral and pressure from recreation is high
* Habitat loss to coarse vegetation, scrub/ woodland.
* Degredation resulting from the effects of public pressure (dune erosion).
* Dune stabilisation schemes.

How are we helping to conserve coastal sand dune bees and wasps in Cheshire?
The bees and wasps BAP is an amalgamation of three previous plans. Although there is not a specific action group - objectives and targets for the species are considered by the Wirral Biodiversity Steering Group.

Objectives, Targets and Actions

The objectives, targets and actions to help conserve coastal bees and wasps in the Cheshire region can be found on the Biodiversity Action Reporting System (BARS): Cuckoo Bee; Mining Bee; Sand Wasp; along with full details of our progress so far.

How to find out more about coastal bees and wasps

Search national database of actions and targets for bees and wasps on the Biodiversity Action Reporting System
http://www.ukbap-reporting.org.uk

National Biodiversity Network (NBN) species dictionary detail for Podalonia Affinis supplied by the Natural History Musuem
http://nbn.nhm.ac.uk/nhm/bin/nbntaxa.dll/taxon_details?taxon_key=NBNSYS0000009573

NBN gateway distribution maps for Coelioxys Mandibularis
http://www.searchnbn.net/searchengine/search.jsp?searchTerm=Coelioxys%20mandibularis

NBN species dictionary detail for Colletes Cunicularis supplied by the Natural History Musuem
http://nbn.nhm.ac.uk/nhm/bin/nbntaxa.dll/taxon_details?taxon_key=NBNSYS0000009605


Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society. A recording scheme that coordinates data in order to support conservation programmes, ecological research, and to promote effective conservation strategies on a national basis.
http://www.bwars.com/

How can you get involved?

Recording Coastal Bees and Wasps: If you have seen an individual or colony of one of the BAP species and checked it against identification guides, please a photo and grid reference to have your record verified.

You can submit records of the sand wasp, cuckoo bee and mining bee and other plants and animals you have seen to the local biological records centre, rECOrd.
http://www.record-lrc.co.uk

Cheshire Wildlife Trust's annual programme of Natural Know How events includes invertebrate identification workshops. Contact Cheshire Wildlife Trust on 10948 820728 for more information.

Contact details
John McGaw: 0151 6785488

Carl Clee, NMGM, Phone: 0151 478 4315

References
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 2: Action Plans, London.
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 1: Meeting the Rio Challenge, London.