The importance of the Native Irish Honey Bee
Bees and other pollinators are fundamental for the health of ecosystems and food security, helping to maintain biodiversity and to ensure the production of nutritious food. However, intensive monoculture production and improper use of pesticides pose serious threats to pollinators by reducing their access to food and nesting sites, exposing them to harmful chemicals, and weakening their immune systems.
Under the theme ‘Bee engaged in pollinator-friendly agricultural production’, World Bee Day 2023 which is being marked on Saturday, May 20th, calls for global action to support pollinator-friendly agricultural production and highlights the importance of protecting bees and other pollinators, particularly through evidence-based agricultural production practices.
Native Irish Honey Bee Society (NIHBS) secretary, Aideen Day provides the following information on the Apis mellifera mellifera (Amm) - Native Irish Honey Bee, for our readers, as the Society continue to promote awareness of this vital pollinator.
THE NATIVE IRISH HONEY BEE
The Native Irish Honey Bee (Apis mellifera mellifera) is a strain of the Dark European Honey Bee which was once widespread across Northern Europe. Tragically they are now scarce in most areas due to cross breeding with other strains of honey bee and diseases from imported bees.
Dark in colour and resilient to our unpredictable weather our sturdy little native bee has many attributes that specifically aid it in prospering here including an ability to tolerate long periods of confinement to the hive in Winter and an ability to fly at low temperatures and in drizzle or light rain. Clearly our native bee is admirably adapted to life in Ireland!
We are extremely fortunate that a strong and genetically diverse population of our native bee still exists in Ireland, but it needs protection if it is to continue to survive and thrive.
THE NATIVE IRISH HONEY BEE SOCIETY
The need to protect our native bee led to the formation of the Native Irish Honey Bee Society (NIHBS) in 2012. NIHBS is an all island organisation whose aim is to promote the conservation, study, improvement and reintroduction of the Native Irish Honey Bee throughout the island of Ireland.
In the beginning, NIHBS had just three hundred members, but this has grown over the years as the importance of the work NIHBS does has gained recognition. Membership is now seven hundred and fifty and still growing.
The work of NIHBS has resulted in many achievements over the last decade.
CONSERVATION
In the area of conservation, NIHBS has worked tirelessly to encourage the establishment of conservation areas for our native bee. The number of conservation areas now numbers more than twenty and new conservation areas are being declared every year. Most conservation areas have been established by beekeeping associations but there are a growing number of conservation areas now being set up by other types of organisations such as social enterprises and community groups.
EDUCATION
The education of both beekeepers and the public is especially important to NIHBS and every year a number of workshops, seminars and conferences are held to promote our native bee and support and train beekeepers committed to keeping native bees. In 2020 a Queen Rearing Group Scheme was launched with the aim of establishing a network of self-sufficient native Amm bee breeding groups throughout the island. Initially thirteen groups of beekeepers partook in the scheme and a further sixteen groups have since joined. It is hoped that this initiative will continue to grow and expand the network of beekeepers dedicated to the protection of our native bee.
Education is further supported through NIHBS publications. There is a quarterly magazine and monthly newsletter distributed to all members. A range of booklets and leaflets have been produced containing valuable material relating to conserving, breeding, and protecting our native bee. In addition, an excellent book called ‘The Native Irish Honey Bee’ was launched last year and is a treasure trove of information for anyone interested in the conservation of Amm.
This book is not just a beekeeping book for beekeepers - it is a book written by beekeepers, but about a bee, and for the sake of a bee: Ireland’s native bee.
RESEARCH
Scientific research plays an important role in the work of NIHBS and the society has supported a wide range of research projects relating to our native bee, Amm. Strong links have been forged with institutions in Ireland, notably Limerick Institute of Technology and the National University of Ireland, Galway.
Significant resources have been invested by NIHBS into a range of relevant research studies including research on DNA screening and Varroa resistance. NIHBS has gained international recognition for its work and has established strong links with international organisations and individuals whose work and aims are in alignment with those of the society.
PROTECTION OF THE NATIVE IRISH HONEY BEE BILL 2021
NIHBS has always campaigned for a ban on the importation of honey bees into Ireland. Hence the introduction of a private members bill by Senator Vincent
P Martin in 2021 entitled the ‘ Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021’ was a momentous event for the society.
This bill seeks to ban the importation of non-native honey bees with the aim of reducing the threat to and adverse impact upon biodiversity and the ecosystem arising from the introgression / crossing / cross-breeding of the native Irish Honey Bee, Apis mellifera mellifera, due to the importation of non-native species or sub-species of and/ or strains derived from Apis mellifera.
Currently the bill is at its second stage before Seanad Eireann.
Much work lies ahead to support the progression of this bill in the hope that finally our native honey bee will be afforded some protection under law and that this precious genetic treasure can be conserved for future generations.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
To learn more about our native honey bee check out the NIHBS website, www.nihbs.org. Here you will find lots of information on our native honey bee, the work done by NIHBS to preserve it and how you can join in that work.
Also, you can support our native Irish honey bee by buying honey from beekeepers who only keep native bees. Many beekeepers clearly label their honey as ‘Irish Honey’ but is that honey made by native Irish bees? If you are in doubt ask.