Native Irish Honey Bee Society – Apis mellifera mellifera

Native Irish Honey Bee Society
Apis mellifera mellifera

Native Irish Honey Bee Society

Come Join Our Online Book Launch

18th September 2021 19.30 to 21.00

Online Book Launch by Micheál Mac Giolla Coda, followed by
Guest Speaker, Professor Thomas Seeley – The Lives of Bees, the Untold Story of the Honey Bee in the Wild

Free Raffle

Your name will automatically be entered when you register or pre-order the book. A Zoom link will be emailed to all registered attendees before the event date.

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

Boosting Bee Buzz: Unveiling a Variety of Log Hive Designs by Trained Forester Mick Verspuij

Boosting Bee Buzz: Unveiling a Variety of Log Hive Designs by Trained Forester Mick Verspuij Mick Verspuij, a trained forester, transforms windfallen trees into unique
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Statement regarding requests for queens from Mainland Europe.

NIHBS, and many of its members, receive requests for the supply of Apis mellifera mellifera queens from individuals, commercial organisations, conservation groups, and researchers in
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Celebrating Nature’s Guardians – FIBKA’s 75th Summer School & Honey Show, Supported by NIHBS!

The Native Irish Honey Bee Society (NIHBS) wholeheartedly stood by the Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ Associations (FIBKA) in celebrating their momentous 75th Annual Summer School
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Honey Bee and Queen Improvement Day and BBQ Banbridge, Saturday 19th August 2023

Event: NIHBS Honey Bee & Queen Improvement Day Banbridge, the Native Irish Honey Bee Society Date & Time: Saturday 19th August 2023, 14:00-17:00 (2pm-5pm) Location: Graceystown
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Statement against imports

Statement Against Imports

The importation of non-native honey bees into Ireland continues. Beekeepers in Ireland want this practice to end immediately, to protect our native bees from the
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NIHBS Honey Bee & Queen Improvement Open Day Mayo, Sunday 23rd July 2023

Event: NIHBS Honey Bee & Queen Improvement Day Mayo, the Native Irish Honey Bee Society Date & Time: 23rd July 2023, 14:00-16:00 (2pm-4pm) Location:  Breaffy House
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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.

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