Native Irish Honey Bee Society
Available to Purchase Below
“The Native Irish Honey Bee, Apis mellifera mellifera” focuses exclusively on the native Irish honey bee, featuring narratives on its evolution, genetics, history and conservation, with practical “How-to” sections on bee improvement, plus real-life stories from commercial beekeepers. Its aims are to increase awareness of and appreciation for the precious resources imbued in the native black honey bee, to encourage beekeepers to choose native Irish honey bees and to discourage the buying and importation of non-native honey bees.
Latest NIHBS News
NIHBS welcomes the Irish Seed Savers Association to the Conservation Area Family
‘The Irish Seed Savers Association (ISSA) have made a major contribution to the protection and enhancement of nature on farms, gardens and across Ireland for …
Press Release Apis mellifera mellifera
We all know how important honey bees are. You may not realise, however, that we in Ireland have our own subspecies of honey bee. The …
The Native Irish Honey Bee
We all know how important Honey Bees are. You may not realise, however, that we in Ireland have our own subspecies of honey bee. The …
Irish Native Honey Bee & Legal Protections
The Protection of The Native Irish Honey bee Bill 2021. Vincent P Martin The Bar of Ireland @TheBarofIreland Law, policy, current initiatives ….& some bee-keeping …
Protection of the Native Irish Honeybee Bill 2021 TG4
https://www.tg4.ie/en/player/home/?pid=6307204791112 Check this out from #TG4 #Seanad #vincentpmartin Paddy O’Fiannachta, Camus. Jill Uí Dhuinn Bhig, Indreabhan. Felim Burke, Maigh Cuileann. Siún Nic Gearailt
About NIHBS
The Native Irish Honey Bee Society was established to promote the conservation of Apis mellifera mellifera throughout the island of Ireland. The Society strives to raise public awareness of our native honey bee and its importance, and acts in an advisory capacity to groups and individuals wishing to promote and preserve it.
What Our Native Honey Bee Looks Like
Apis mellifera mellifera (aka European dark bee) can be distinguished from other subspecies by its stocky body, overall dark coloration, plus abundant thoracic and sparse abdominal hair, which is brown. There can be heavy dark pigmentation of the wings. Overall, when viewed from a distance, these bees should appear blackish or rich dark brown.
Bee Improvement
As part of our conservation mission, NIHBS advocates that Irish beekeepers buy native bees. To that end, NIHBS is affiliated with multiple bee breeding groups located around the country. Find out more about them by clicking the button below.
