Why hardy honeys are bees’ knees

SCOTLAND’S honey bees could be among the toughest in Europe when it comes to coping with cool climates.

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute found the insects are uniquely hardy after studying their genetic makeup as part of efforts to protect populations, which are feared endangered.

Dr Tim Regan said: ‘We have created a platform that could revolutionise how we monitor threats to honey bees and maintain their health.’

The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.