New Atlas of the Bumblebees of Devon, A Recorder’s Guide
New Atlas of the Bumblebees of Devon: a recorder’s guide
By Patrick Saunders
Kernow Ecology New Atlas of the Bumblebees of Devon, A Recorder’s Guide Introduction
An atlas to the Bumblebees of Devon by Patrick Saunders, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and Stephen Carroll, with support from the Devon Biodiversity Records Centre and Natural England, is planned for publication in 2018.
Understanding bumblebee distribution will help direct future conservation efforts. There are large gaps in our knowledge, and it is hoped that the atlas will encourage more bumblebee recording.
We are calling for bumblebee records, of both rare and common species. For inclusion in the atlas, these should be submitted by 31st December 2017. For inquires or to submit records either contact Cathy Horsley [email protected] or submit records directly to http://www.dbrc.org.uk/tell-us-about-your-sighting/. Ideally in standard recording format such as http://www.dbrc.org.uk/i/Species_recording_Excel_spreadsheet.xls.
This guide is aimed to assist recording, by providing a list of key sites, a summary of species recorded or considered extinct in Devon, provisional distribution maps, and species notes.
Accurate species distribution data is so important for informing conservation effort. Bumblebees can be difficult to identify in the field, and so we will need to ensure data quality. Records of difficult species will be verified by the author and Atlas partners. Unverified records may not be included at the discretion of the author.
For best practice on collecting species, follow invertebrate link guidelines: http://www.royensoc.co.uk/InvLink/documents/Collecting%20Code%20(2002).pdf
Photo credits All pictures Patrick Saunders 2017
Kernow Ecology New Atlas of the Bumblebees of Devon, A Recorder’s Guide
Contents Introduction for recorders...... 3 Key sites for bumblebees in Devon...... 4 Bumblebee species in Devon...... 5 Provisional distribution maps...... 6 Contact details and list of partners...... 18
Kernow Ecology New Atlas of the Bumblebees of Devon, A Recorder’s Guide
Key sites for bumblebees in Devon
We are interested in receiving all records, of rare and common species, as this is essential for our understanding of trends over time.
Table 1: Key sites for bumblebees in Devon, and the species recorded. Please note that some species are unrecorded and may be present.
Site ALL records for 10km square (includes historical records probably extant) Note some common species are unrecorded but likely to be present Birch Tor Dartmoor (SX6881) B.bohemicus B.campestris B.hortorum B.humilis B.jonellus B.lapidarius B.lucorum B.magnus B.cryptarum B.monticola B.pascuorum B.pratorum B.sylvestris B.terrestris Braunton Burrows NNR (SS4635) B.bohemicus B.campestris B.hortorum B.humilis B.lapidarius B.muscorum B.pascuorum B.pratorum B.sylvestris B.vestalis B.rupestris B.distinguendus (1935) B.ruderarius (1934) B.ruderatus (1961) B.soroeensis (1978) B.sylvarum (1978) Exmoor, Withypool (SS8234) B.jonellus B.lapidarius B.lucorum B.sylvestris B.terrestris B.vestalis B.magnus B.monticola B.cryptarum ? Prawle (SX73) B. barbutellus B.campestris B.hortorum B.lapidarius B.pascuorum B.pratorum B.sylvestris B.terrestris B.vestalis B.rupestris (1969) B.mucorum (1944) B.humilis (1978) B.ruderarius (1983) B.soroeensis (1944) B.sylvarum (1969)
Some key areas for Bumbles where further records are greatly needed !!
South East Devon Coast, Paignton to Seaton Blackdown Hills Exmoor Somerset Border North Devon coast
Kernow Ecology New Atlas of the Bumblebees of Devon, A Recorder’s Guide
Bumblebee species in Devon
Of the 25 bumblebee species found in Devon (Table 2), six are now thought to be extinct in the region. These are Bombus sylvarum Shrill carder bee, B. ruderarius Red-shanked carder bee, B. soroeensis Broken-belted bumblebee, B. ruderatus Ruderal bumblebee, B. distinguendus Great yellow bumblebee, and B. subterraneus Short-haired bumblebee (Table 2).
Table 2: Bumblebee species in Devon, and species considered extinct in the county
Post Vouchers Scientific Name Common Name 2010 S.41 or Photo records required Bombus barbutellus Barbut's Cuckoo Bee Yes Usually Bombus bohemicus Gipsy Cuckoo Bee Yes Usually Bombus campestris Field Cuckoo Bee Yes Bombus cryptarum Cryptic Bumblebee Yes Yes Yes Bombus hortorum Garden Bumblebee Brown-banded Carder Bombus humilis Yes Yes Usually Bumblebee Yes Bombus hypnorum Tree Bumblebee Bombus jonellus Heath Bumblebee Yes Usually Yes Bombus lapidarius Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lucorum White-tailed Bumblebee Yes Northern White-tailed Bombus magnus Yes Yes Bumblebee Bombus monticola Bilberry Bumblebee Yes Bombus muscorum Moss Carder Bumblebee Yes Yes Usually Bombus pascuorum Common Carder Bumblebee Yes Bombus pratorum Early Bumblebee Yes Red-tailed Cuckoo Bombus rupestris Yes Bumblebee Bombus sylvestris Forest Cuckoo Bee Yes Usually Bombus terrestris Buff-tailed Bumblebee Yes Bombus vestalis Vestal Cuckoo Bee Yes Extinct in Devon
Bombus distinguendus Great Yellow Bumblebee 1945 Yes Yes Red-shanked Carder Bombus ruderarius 1983 Yes Yes Bumblebee 1961 Bombus ruderatus Ruderal Bumblebee Yes Yes Bombus soroeensis Broken-belted Bumblebee 1979 Yes Bombus subterraneus Short-haired Bumblebee 1928 Yes Yes Bombus sylvarum Shrill Carder Bumblebee 1978 Yes Yes Kernow Ecology New Atlas of the Bumblebees of Devon, A Recorder’s Guide
Provisional distribution maps and species notes
The species notes show selected species of interest to recorders. The following maps show the available records from provisonal data by Patrick Saunders. Yellow squares show records before 2000. Red squares show post-2000 records.
Kernow Ecology New Atlas of the Bumblebees of Devon, A Recorder’s Guide Brown-banded Carder Bumblebee, Bombus humilis
Bombus humilis (Brown-banded Carder Bee)
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SS ST
9
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3 SX 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 SY 1 2 3 4
This species can easily be misidentified, care and experience is needed. The Brown-banded Carder Bumblebee has greatly declined, and the only known strong site for this species (and Moss Carder Bumblebee) in Devon is the Braunton Burrows (SS4533). There are a few additional recent records elsewhere of Brown-banded Carder Bumblebee on the North Devon coast. Historically, this species was recorded on a great number of sites inland and on the south coast where it is no longer present.
Kernow Ecology New Atlas of the Bumblebees of Devon, A Recorder’s Guide Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum
This is easy species to identify in the field. A continental species, first recorded in Devon in 2010. It is becoming common in Devon, although it has spread more slowly westerly than in the eastern English Counties.
Kernow Ecology New Atlas of the Bumblebees of Devon, A Recorder’s Guide Heath Bumblebee, Bombus jonellus
Bombus jonellus (Heath Bumble Bee)
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SS ST
9
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3 SX 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 SY 1 2 3 4
This is found most commonly on heathland where there is an abundance of Bell Heather (Erica cinerea). Particularly found on Dartmoor, and Exmoor. This species can easily be confused with the very similar Garden Bumblebee (B.hortorum); care and experience is needed to avoid misidentification, although the bee can be identified in the field. Many of the queens encountered on the north coast of Cornwall are of a dark form with little or no yellow banding. More recording is required of this bee in Devon.
Kernow Ecology New Atlas of the Bumblebees of Devon, A Recorder’s Guide The White-tailed Bumblebee complex Bombus lucorum complex
Bombus magnus (a bumblebee)
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SS ST
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3 SX 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 SY 1 2 3 4
The White-tailed Bumblebee (B. lucorum) has been separated into three species, which are currently thought impossible to separate in the field. The Northern White- tailed Bumblebee (B. magnus),the White-tailed Bumblebee (B. lucorum sensu stricto) and Cryptic Bumblebee (B. cryptarum). This is problematic for recorders. Some authors have described identifying characteristics for the Northern White-tailed Bumblebee (B. magnus) and the Cryptic Bumblebee (B. cryptarum) which could help with field identification but whether these are reliable enough to replace DNA analysis is yet to be confirmed. The White-tailed bumblebee complex is the umbrella name of the species within this group or simply White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum sensu lato).
Kernow Ecology New Atlas of the Bumblebees of Devon, A Recorder’s Guide Bilberry Bumblebee, Bombus monticola
Bombus monticola (Mountain Bumble Bee)
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SS ST
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3 SX 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 SY 1 2 3 4
This bee associates with one plant species more than any other British Bombus species: the Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). Local or Rare, known largely from on Dartmoor and Exmoor. Considered likely to have declined, although on Eastern Dartmoor in good years can be present in good numbers. Exmoor is under recorded for the species. Very distinctive and easy to identify.
Kernow Ecology New Atlas of the Bumblebees of Devon, A Recorder’s Guide Moss Carder Bumblebee, Bombus muscorum
Bombus muscorum (a bumblebee)
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SS ST
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3 SX 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 SY 1 2 3 4
Very scarce in Devon, now only recorded around Braunton Burrows. Formerly more common and recorded on Dartmoor and South Devon coast. Difficult to identify. Vouchers probably required for sites away from Braunton burrows, ideally of males instead of females.
Kernow Ecology New Atlas of the Bumblebees of Devon, A Recorder’s Guide Vestal Cuckoo Bee, Bombus vestalis
Bombus vestalis (a bumblebee)
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SS ST
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3 SX 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 SY 1 2 3 4
The most commonly seen cuckoo bee in the region, although all the cuckoo bees are under- recorded. Identification of cuckoos can be difficult but can be done with experience.
Kernow Ecology New Atlas of the Bumblebees of Devon, A Recorder’s Guide Red-shanked carder bee, Bombus ruderarius
Bombus ruderarius (Red-tailed Carder Bee)
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SS ST
9
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3 SX 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 SY 1 2 3 4 Considered extinct in Devon but further recording is needed. Most recently recorded in 1983 at Prawle point (SX73) with widely scattered historical records through the county. The species occurs on the Dorset coast around Lulworth cove (SY8180) and has been recently recorded in Somerset around the Mendips. There could be occasional colonies in East Devon particularly on the Dorset Border. Workers of the Red-shanked carder Bumblebee (B. ruderarius) are very difficult to separate from the Red-tailed Bumblebee (B.lapidarius) in the field. The species may occur at low densities making it difficult to record. Vouchers may be required for this species to verify any records for submission to the atlas.
Photo Common Red Tailed Bumblebee (B.lapidarius) Kernow Ecology New Atlas of the Bumblebees of Devon, A Recorder’s Guide Ruderal Bumblebee, Bombus ruderatus
Bombus ruderatus (Large Garden Bumble Bee)
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SS ST
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3 SX 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 SY 1 2 3 4 In Devon not recorded since 1961 (Braunton Burrows). Can be easily confused with Garden Bumblebee (B.hortorum) and may have been misidentified and/or under recorded. It is possible that the species could recolonise from recovering populations in the East, and there are some modern records from the Somerset Levels. Difficult to identify. Vouchers will be required for this species to verify any suspected records.
Kernow Ecology New Atlas of the Bumblebees of Devon, A Recorder’s Guide Broken-belted Bumblebee, Bombus soroeensis
Bombus soroeensis (Broken-belted Bumble Bee)
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SS ST
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3 SX 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 SY 1 2 3 4
One of the latest bumblebee species, with populations peaking into the middle of September. Extinct in Devon, last recorded in 1979. Spooner recorded it at a large number of sites on the Devon/Cornwall border in the Culm grassland areas and on Dartmoor in the late 1970’s where it now appears to be absent. It is unlikely the species is present on Exmoor. Difficult to identify, the broken band is not diagnostic. Vouchers will be required for this species to verify any suspected records.
Kernow Ecology New Atlas of the Bumblebees of Devon, A Recorder’s Guide Shrill Carder Bumblebee, Bombus sylvarum
Bombus sylvarum (Shrill Carder Bee)
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SS ST
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3 SX 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 SY 1 2 3 4
Considered extinct in Devon, last recorded at Braunton in 1978. Historically the Shrill Carder Bumblebee was quite widely recorded in Devon. It is possible it could disperse occasionally from colonies present in Somerset to East Devon. Identification relatively easy. Photographs may be required for this species to verify any suspected records for submission to the atlas.
Kernow Ecology New Atlas of the Bumblebees of Devon, A Recorder’s Guide
Contact details and list of partners
Name Email Contact for: Patrick Saunders Verification (NB this will be after Sept 2017) Cathy Horsley [email protected] General enquiries Stephen Carroll Verification
The atlas is supported by Natural England and Devon Biodiversity Records Centre.
For identification Consult
Benton, Ted. Bumblebees: the natural history & identification of the species found in Britain. London: Collins, 2006. New naturalist
Falk, Steven J., and Richard Lewington. Field guide to the bees of Great Britain and Ireland. British Wildlife Publishing Lt, 2015.
Prŷs-Jones, Oliver E., Sarah A. Corbet, and Anthony J. Hopkins. Bumblebees. Exeter: Pelagic Publishing, 2011.
Kernow Ecology