Bees declining in UK's South West

April 2014: Up to three quarters of our most threatened bee species have been lost in the South West of England says nature conservation charity Buglife

The study researched 23 species considered to be at risk in the UK and found twenty are declining whilst three have become extinct.

Andrew Whitehouse, South West Manager at Buglife said "The South West remains a stronghold for some of the UK's most threatened bee species. But, over the past 50 years we have seen the local extinction of many of the region's special bees. Some are precariously holding on, such as the Six-banded nomad bee (Nomada sexfasciata) which has all but disappeared from the UK, except for a last remaining site in South Devon".

Wild bees and other insect pollinators are faced with a perfect storm of pressures which have all led to their decline, these include: a loss of wildflower-rich natural and semi-natural habitats through the intensification of farming, increased use of pesticides, the loss of bee habitats to development, unpredictable and extreme weather resulting from climate change.

This report has helped conservationists take a finer look at where declines are taking place. For example it found large garden bumblebee (Bombus ruderatus) are still found in the South West, in Gloucestershire and Somerset, but over the past 50 years has disappeared from Cornwall, Devon and Dorset.

Andrew said "We need to take urgent action to reverse the declines in our bees. By making space for wildlife in our countryside and restoring the wildflower-rich habitats that bees rely upon we can offer hope for our region's bees. However, Buglife cannot do this alone, and we call upon others to work with us to get the South West buzzing!"

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/bee-decline-014.html