A remarkable Cornish site for ground-nesting bees and wasps.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Zoology
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• South UK coasts have diverse habitats supporting ground-nesting aculeate wasps and bees.
• Sandy areas are crucial for nesting, with adjacent heathlands providing essential floral resources.
• The interplay between habitat types can significantly influence local insect fauna richness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and report the species of ground-nesting bees and wasps in a specific coastal transition zone.
• To assess the biodiversity of aculeate Hymenoptera in a small, mixed Hard Cliff and Maritime Heath habitat.
• To document rare species and provide photographic evidence of nesting insects.

Main Methods:

• Field surveys conducted in summer 2024 in a 20 m² area of exposed sandy soil.
• Identification of ground-nesting bee and wasp species.
• Collection and photographic documentation of observed species.

Main Results:

• Over twenty species of ground-nesting bees and wasps were identified.
• Ten species of solitary bees and ten species of aculeate wasps were recorded.
• Several rarely observed species were found within the surveyed area.

Conclusions:

• A small transition zone between Hard Cliff and Maritime Heath habitats can support a rich and diverse fauna of ground-nesting bees and wasps.
• The findings underscore the ecological significance of seemingly small, specialized habitats for insect conservation.
• Further research into similar coastal ecotones may reveal additional important sites for pollinator biodiversity.