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
Sample letter for your local TD or Senator
If you are passionate about protecting our Native Irish Honeybee you may wish to write to your local TD or Senator with regard to the …
Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021
PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 20th October 2021 The Native Irish Honey Bee Society (NIHBS) is delighted to advise that Senator Vincent P Martin will …
Sicamm Conference
Love Dark European honey bees? Want to know more about them and how to protect them? We are pleased to invite you to the SICAMM …
Rewatch the NIHBS Book Launch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLq-fCIKFp8 Please see Professor Tom Seeley’s books listed below:- Seeley, T.D. 1985. Honeybee Ecology. Princeton University Press. Seeley, T.D. 1995. The Wisdom of the Hive. Harvard University Press. Seeley, T.D. 2010. Honeybee Democracy. Princeton …
Raffle Winners Book Launch
James McCreight – book Pat O’Halloran – book Deirdre Potter – book Noel O’Dea – membership William Gilmore – membership Colin Harris – membership Sinead …
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.
