One
of the UK's most threatened bumblebees, which has been in decline in southern
England over the past century, has been spotted in south-east London.
A
shrill carder bumblebee was spotted at Crossness sewage works in Thamesmead by
the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.
It
said plants would be introduced to encourage the species following the
discovery last month.
The
bee has not been seen in the city for nearly 10 years.
Great
sighting
There
are only six or seven populations in England and Wales.
Anthony
McCluskey, outreach officer at the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, said:
"This species is considered the most rare in the UK.
"The
great yellow bumblebee comes next which is only found in Scotland."
He
added: "The populations are quite small and far apart."
He
said that inbreeding among bees leads to "diploid males" and male
infertility.
Sam
Page, conservation officer at the trust, was advising on land management for
bumblebees funded by the Co-operative's Plan Bee campaign when she made the
discovery.
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