Buglife, B-Lines and Road Verges

Buglife, B-Lines and Road Verges Dr. Catherine M. Jones www.buglife.org.uk @buzz_dont_tweet

Overview • Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust • B-Lines: ‘insect pathways’ running across our countryside

• Road verges for pollinators

The Invertebrate Conservation Trust Europe's only organisation devoted to Conservation of ALL invertebrates

‘Saving the small things that run the planet’

Aim: Halt the extinction of invertebrates and achieve sustainable populations

The importance of insects Insects fulfil important ecological roles and provide a wide variety of essential services.

Adapted from: We are losing the “Little things that run the world�

UN Environment 2019

Insect populations are in crisis • 75% decline of flying insect biomass over 27 year period in natures reserves in Germany (Hallman et al 2017) • ‘Dramatic rates of decline that may lead to the extinction of 40% of the world's insect species over the next few decades.’ (SanchezBayo & Wuckhuys 2019)

Ectemnius lituratus © Steven Falk

Insect populations are in crisis • Since 1970, the populations of 41% of species have decreased in the UK (State of Nature report, 2019)

• ‘abundance of insects may have fallen by 50% or more since 1970’ (Goulson report for The Wildlife Trusts)

Ectemnius lituratus © Steven Falk

Insect populations are in crisis • There is an urgent need to reverse insect declines • No insect extinctions

What are B-Lines A network of routes linking together our best existing wildflower sites connecting wildflower rich areas for pollinators and people

B-Lines

Primary aim To create a national network of 3km wide linear pathways, increase habitat for pollinators (and other wildlife) reverse habitat fragmentation Why? • To create connected habitat to support the dispersal of pollinator species • Climate change – need to support species dispersal

B-Lines – guiding principles

A national network of 3km wide and 5,000 km long • 150,000ha of wildflower-rich habitats • Link the best wildlife sites providing dispersal networks • Expand wildlife sites and create stepping stones • Diversity of habitat types and structure • Co-ordinated /collaborative work • Benefits for a wide range of wildlife

B-Lines – Simple Delivery Principles

B-Lines – map

https://www.buglife.org.uk /our-work/b-lines/

Road verges and pollinators Road verges are important habitats for pollinators • almost 400,000 kilometres of roads • 238,000 hectares of road verges Resources: food and shelter Range of habitats Also present threats: • Death from traffic collisions • Pollutants

Road verges and pollinators What do pollinators need?

Food • Flowers - Pollen and nectar • Larval food (plants)

Nesting sites Overwintering sites Larval habitats

Road verges and pollinators Pollinators need food through the seasons

Spring

Legumes, composites and umbellifers provide summer food.

Bramble and rose have a long flowering season

Trees and shrubs provide pollen and nectar early in the season Summer

Autumn

Thistle, yarrow and scabious provide early autumn food.

Ivy often important food resource in autumn.

Road verges and pollinators Area 3 pollinator survey report • Buglife Services Oct 2016 (updated April 2017) • Commissioned by Kier Group Ltd 104 pollinator species: • • • •

14 bees, 6 other Hymenoptera 33 hoverflies, 18 other Diptera 18 butterflies and moths 11 others (true bugs and beetles)

Plus 38 non-pollinator species

Road verges and pollinators Road Verges offer a range of habitats

Grass verge with wildflowers, bramble and scrub, including mature Gorse.

Species-poor grassland adjacent to Hawthorn hedgerow

Š Chris Ayre

Š Chris Ayre

Road verges and pollinators Road Verges offer a range of habitats

Flower-rich grasslands offering high quality forage for invertebrates

Sparsely vegetated south-facing chalk slopes of high value for invertebrates

Š Chris Ayre

Š Chris Ayre

Road verges and pollinators Road Verges offer a range of habitats

Woodland margin adjacent by narrow grass verge.

Scrub management: retain some patches of scrub but prevent encroachment into grasslands.

Banks of dense bramble scrub.

Š Google 2016, Google Earth Street View

Road verges and pollinators Promoting pollinators along Highways England’s Area 9 road network Buglife Services March 2017 • For Kier Highways 415 ‘types’ of pollinators: • • • • •

58 bees, 52 other Hymenoptera 74 hoverflies, 175 other Diptera 29 butterflies and moths 19 beetles 8 true bugs

Road verges and pollinators Abundant pollinators on road verges: Red-tailed bumblebee; Common carder bee; hoverfly Eristalis tenax; hoverfly Syritta pipiens; Thick-legged flower beetle; Marmalade hoverfly; hoverfly Sphaerophoria scripta; Honey bee

Š Steven Falk

Road verges and pollinators Road verges and their potential for pollinators A review of the costs, benefits and managements options Beth Roberts and Ben Phillips, May 2019

This report outlines simple steps, that enhance floral species richness and the variety of habitats that provide food and shelter for pollinators that can be implemented in stages according to the resources available. https://cdn.buglife.org.uk/2019/10/Roberts-Phillips-Managingroad-verges-for-pollinators-report-040119.pdf

Road verges and pollinators The management of road verges • Baseline - No management or summer cuts • One cut - September onwards • Two cuts – Between September and March • Moving cuttings to one area • Removing cuttings

Road verges and pollinators The management of road verges is the key factor affecting the value of road verges for pollinators and other wildlife.

Collaboration between partners including Local Authorities and Highways Agencies to develop and deliver best practice Research to provide evidence that conservation management options are effective

Road verges and pollinators Bees under siege from habitat loss, climate change Bee species Status Comments and pesticides, WWF & Buglife Long-fringed mini-miner (Andrena niveata)

Lost from Suffolk

Found in Essex

Tormentil mining bee (A. tarsata)

Lost from Suffolk

Found in Norfolk

Grooved sharp-tailed bee (Coelioxys quadridentata)

Lost from Suffolk

Found in Cambridgeshire

Long-horned bee (Eucera longicornis)

Lost from Suffolk

Found in Essex and Norfolk

Dull-headed blood bee (Sphecodes ferruginatus)

Lost from Suffolk

Found in Cambridgeshire and Essex

Summary

Buglife’s work • No insectinction • B-Lines Road Verges for Pollinators • Resources – Food and Shelter • Habitats and Species • Management

Thanks!

Dr. Catherine M. Jones catherine.jones@buglife.org.uk www.buglife.org.uk @buzz_dont_tweet