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Short-haired bumblebee reintroduction

Queen short-haired bumblebee on clover

Queen short-haired bumblebee on clover

Image: Nikki Gammans

The short-haired bumblebee, Bombus subterraneus, is one of 27 bumblebee species native to the UK. It was once widespread across the south of England, occurring as far north as Humberside, but post-1950’s its population distribution became isolated and patchy. Its decline was almost certainly the result of the loss of the species-rich grassland habitats on which it depends. It was last recorded near our Dungeness nature reserve in 1988 and was declared extinct in 2000. A population of UK origin survives in New Zealand, where they were introduced in 1895 to pollinate red clover.

Project objectives

  • To reintroduce the short-haired bumblebee in the UK
  • To establish a corridor/mosaic of suitable bumblebee habitat through Dungeness and Romney Marsh spreading into East and North Kent
  • To raise the profile of bumblebee conservation through public outreach

Key dates so far

  • 2009: The short-haired bumblebee partnership was formed between Natural England, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Hymettus and the RSPB
  • 2009 and 2010: Attempts were made to captive rear and export queens back from New Zealand to the UK but with limited success. Results from genetic analysis showed high levels of inbreeding.
  • 2011: Natural England and the project partners agreed to change the reintroduction source location from New Zealand to a European source. Sweden was chosen as it supports the most robust population and has a broadly similar climate to the UK.
  • May 2011: An initial visit to Sweden found suitable source locations. A sample of bees were collected and have been checked for diseases at Royal Holloway, University of London.
  • Spring 2012: With the co-operation of the Swedish authorities, 89 queen bees were collected from southern Sweden and put into quarantine at Royal Holloway for 2 weeks. At the end of May, 51 of the healthiest queens were released at RSPB's Dungeness reserve.

Work planned or underway

The project is working with farmers, conservation groups, small holders and other land owners  to create flower-rich habitat within the release area of Dungeness and Romney Marsh.

Our Dungeness reserve is contributing to this through the creation of 4 ha of flower-rich bumblebee habitat from the restoration of arable fields.

The Swedish Threatened Species Unit (ArtDatabanken) has advised that the status of the short-haired bumblebee in Sweden has improved and is no longer red-listed. Southern Sweden was chosen as the source of the bees, following advice from local bee recorders that the population in southern Sweden was strong, and given the similarity in climate between southern Sweden and the UK.

With permission from the Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket), an initial visit to Sweden was made in May 2011 to find suitable locations to collect queen bees. Working with the local bumblebee recorder, suitable areas of habitat were visited and bees collected for disease screening.

Natural England has undertaken a full Disease Risk Assessment and Disease Management Plan in order to meet IUCN guidelines on species reintroductions. This involves a protocol to be followed for reducing the risk of disease transmission. FERA has approved the import of the bees into the UK and the Natural England licencing unit has granted a license to release them.

In spring 2012, with continuing permissions and the co-operation of bee experts in Sweden, 89 queen bees were collected from two areas of Skane in southern Sweden where good numbers of short-haired bumblebees were found in 2011. The bees were collected from two 30m long transects which were 40 kilometres apart. Only a few queens were taken from each location along the transects to make sure there was a minimal impact on the population at any one locality. They were checked for mites and American foulbrood disease by a registered vet and honeybee inspector in Sweden prior to the issuing of a heath certificate to allow their transportation to the UK. After two weeks in quarantine at Royal Holloway, University of London, 51 of the heathiest bees were released at RSPB’s Dungeness nature reserve on 28 May 2012.

Teams of volunteers and RSPB staff will be carrying our surveys along transects to look for the bees and record other species using the flower-rich habitats on the reserve and in the surrounding farmland.

Further releases are planned for the succeeding years to build up a genetically diverse population.

Results

To date the project has had enormous success with bumblebee habitat creation prior to the reintroduction of the short-haired bumblebee. The project has created, advised and assisted in the management of over 650 hectares of flower rich habitat within the release area of Dungeness and Romney Marsh. The RSPB’s Dungeness nature reserve is contributing to this through the creation of 4 ha of flower-rich bumblebee habitat from the restoration of arable fields.

The success of the habitat creation is being assessed through survey transects to record bumblebee species and numbers seen. Excitingly five of the seven UK BAP priority species have been recorded on the transects. England’s rarest bumblebee, the shrill carder bee, has returned to the Dungeness RSPB reserve after a 25-year absence and the large garden bumblebee has come back after ten years.

The project has played a large part in raising awareness of bumblebee declines through events and publicity.

Who to contact

Dr Jane Sears
Biodiversity Projects Officer
E-mail: jane.sears@rspb.org.uk

Partners

Natural England, the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and Hymettus.

Funding

Natural England, RSPB