The Honey Bee

Irish honey is as good as Manuka, and we have the research to prove it, but the native honey bee is under threat by Brexit with foreign live imports decimating our population. Beekeepers are working together to preserve our bumbles, but you too could do more. Native bee expert John Thorp explains all.

Some people don’t even know that we have our own native honey bee here in Ireland? There was once a misconception in the early to mid-twentieth century that the native honey bee had become extinct. However modern techniques, like DNA testing, show that Ireland has a large and diverse population of native honey bees. These different strains of native bee which are being found all the time, will ensure the maintenance of its genetic diversity for many generations to come. The Latin name for the Native Irish Honey Bee is Apis mellifera mellifera, Apis for ‘bee’ and mellifera for ‘honeybearer’ (1)

Our Native Irish Honey Bee has many important traits.

• Known as ‘Black Bees’ but colouration may vary. 

• They are naturally adapted to the Irish climate.

• The Native Honey Bee can be easily bred for docility and low swarming.

• While their populations are smaller than those of other honey bees, they may compensate for this by being longer lived. 

• They are excellent at sparing their stores during bad weather. 

• They can fly at lower temperatures and are great honey producers when we get good weather. (4)

Irish honey as good as Manuka

A research team from Dublin City University and Trinity College Dublin found that Irish heather honey is quite literally buzzing with health benefits.

The findings showed that there was a similar overall presence of powerful antioxidants called phenolic compounds in Irish heather honey as there is in Manuka honey. These antioxidant compounds help to prevent damage occurring in the cells of the body and are important for health and well-being.

Researchers also found that multi-floral honeys produced by urban bees had a greater level of antioxidant phenolic compounds than their rural counterparts - a finding possibly attributed to the flower diversity and abundance surrounding hives.

The research focused on honey produced in Ireland and examined the phenolic content and physicochemical parameters (moisture, total sugar, colour) of different types of Irish honey and compared these with international brands.

It was also the first ever comparison of Irish single-origin honeys; heather, ivy and oilseed rape and multi-floral honeys and, in addition, compared honey from urban and rural hives. 

The findings are published in the prestigious journal, Food Chemistry. The research was led by PhD student Saorla Kavanagh (pictured); School of Chemical Sciences and DCU Water Institute and supervised by senior academic’s Dr Blánaid White, School of Chemical Sciences, DCU and Professor Jane Stout from the School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin. Funding was provided by the Irish Research Council and honey samples were donated by beekeepers across Ireland.

Brexit is putting the native bee under threat 

The native bee is thankfully still very much alive in Ireland and is the one kept by most beekeepers BUT it is severely threatened due to hybridisation with imported non-native sub-species as well as the potential detrimental effects of diseases that may be imported with non-native bees. Along with other bees and pollinators generally, it is also struggling due to habitat loss, pesticide use and intensive agriculture. 

The native honey bee is on the brink of extinction over most of its original territory of Northern Europe. It has been hybridised due to imports of other sub species and consequent cross breeding, as well as being severely impacted by imported pests and diseases.

The Native Irish Honey Bee Society (NIHBS) has been working for over 30 years to improve, conserve and preserve our local bee. Members are all volunteers, simply doing the right thing for the bees. Lots of local beekeeping associations have created Voluntary Conservation Areas where beekeepers agree to work with native bees only. Obviously imported bees have a detrimental effect here and some areas are now being severely threatened by non-native bees. Since Brexit there has been a very keen interest by importers of live non-native bees who want to use Ireland as a route from southern Europe into the UK market. These would inevitably get released into Ireland. This is mass scale importation in the millions. 

How do you become a beekeeper?

There are more than 3500 registered beekeepers in Ireland. To become a beekeeper you need, ideally, to do a beginner’s beekeeping course which will teach you about bees and the diseases they can get. Some people may be tempted to import bees from abroad, but there is a high likelihood that they may contain disease or be sold into one of the many voluntary conservation areas for native Irish black bees. Always consider the breeding of the local bees as different breeds may cause problems if they hybridise with each other. A local beekeeper association will guide you on this. Buying nucleus hives, half sized hives as opposed to buying full hives, is also better for beginners. You then need a suit to protect you with a veiled hood, a beehive and all the tools that go along with this, of which there are many. 

Attracting honey bees into your garden

Don't mow, let it grow!  Dandelions may not be the gardener's favourite flower, but it is essential as an early source of pollen and nectar for bees and other pollinators so please let them bloom. If you encourage your neighbours to do the same, you will really be helping the honey bee population. The reward for all of us is to see bumbles, honey bees, solitary bees, butterflies, wasps and other native species not just surviving but thriving. Remember to leave at least some areas in your garden for nature and let that bit go wild. And above all else do not use pesticides and chemicals. Think about our Wildlife when doing anything in your garden.  Trees are also hugely important for bees, for example one lime tree is worth acres of flowers. Our hedgerows are being decimated and we need to look after them  

Honey and beeswax

The native honey bee not only produces the best tasting honey, you can make, furniture polish, lip balm, hand cream, soap, mead, and the best candles in the world are made from beeswax. 

John Thorp is the Public Relations Officer for the National Irish Honey Bee Society

Join Up

The National Irish Honey Bee Society, visit nihbs.org

The Federation of Irish Beekeepers' Associations, visit irishbeekeeping.ie

Irish Beekeepers' Association CLG, visit irishbeekeepersassociation.com

Ulster Beekeepers Association, visit ubka.org

Institute of Northern Ireland Beekeepers, visit inibeekeepers.com

The National Irish Honey Bee Society

NIHBS was established in November 2012 by a group of beekeepers to support the Native Irish Honey Bee (Apis mellifera mellifera) throughout the country. It is a cross border organisation, open to all. and now has a broad membership base from all corners of the island of Ireland. You do not have to be a member of another beekeeping organisation or even a beekeeper to join NIHBS but if you decide to keep bees, you should become a member of a beekeeping association. 

Pictures: By Vyonne Kleijn, John Thorp

Images of native honey bees, researcher Saorla Kavanagh, beeswax candles, Galtee honey farm