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NEWS
Short-haired bumblebee project
Natural England have confirmed they will continue to support this project
and funding levels have been agreed with Hymettus for 2011/12. Hymettus is
drawing up an agreement with the other partners in the project, the
Bumblebee Conservation Trust and RSPB, and has let a contract to Nikki
Gammans to manage the project on a day to day basis. Read more about the
project here.
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Rare bumblebees in southern Kent
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The shrill carder bee Bombus sylvarum has been found again at
Dungeness following its reappearance in southern Kent last summer. In 2010
two other rare bumblebees, B. ruderatus and B. ruderarius, were seen in the
Romney Marsh and Rye Harbour area and B. ruderatus has been seen in a number
of new locations in 2011. The re-colonisation of the area is believed to be
an outcome of nearly 20 years of work with conservation organisations, local
farmers and other land owners to enhance the habitat in the area.
Left Bombus sylvarum. Photo: R. Williams |
Report on managing sea walls in Essex for Bombus muscorum
A preliminary study on the Essex coast has highlighted the value of sea wall
flood defences, managed by the Environment Agency (EA), for the moss carder
bee Bombus muscorum. The report identifies the importance of undertake
sustainable management of flood defences where significant populations
occur. It concludes it is likely that mowing regimes which consider bee
populations (e.g. leaving an area of uncut grassland on the folding every
year) may be particularly effective where there is a wider folding (> 20 m
wide) and a greater area of foraging and nesting habitat. Download the full
report here.
Branching out
The 2010 field season saw the start of the first Hymettus sponsored work on
non-aculeate invertebrates. One of the projects supported by Defra funding
was an investigation of the ecology of two fenland dolichopodid flies.
Initial results suggest that Dolichopus laticola shows a preference for
reed-dominated fen vegetation but was also frequent at the short open
vegetation of paths and tracks. Dolichopus nigripes shows a preference for
the short open vegetation of paths and apparent avoidance of reed-dominated
vegetation. Both species appeared to avoid sedge, carr and old tall scrub.
Both species were associated with other dolichopodids that are known to be
fenland specialists. |
Kentish millipede rediscovered
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In April 2011, using Defra funds, Hymettus subsidised a small number of
myriapodologists to investigate the ecology and distribution of two
Biodiversity Action Plan listed species of millipede in Kent. As a result,
fears of a decline in the status of one species, Polyzonium germanicum, were
found to be unfounded and a lot of information on the habitat requirements
of the millipede was collected. A strong population of the second species,
Metaiulus pratensis, was discovered at a site in the Medway valley. This
elusive snake millipede is rare throughout Europe and although described as
new to science from Kent in 1956, had not been seen there for over 20 years. |
| 2010 Hymettus Report issued.
A full report is available for download
here |
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