Western Dark Honeybee

Western Dark Honeybee

(Apis mellifera mellifera)

The Dark Honeybee is a subspecies native to Northern Europe. It is adapted to survive in cool climates.

Mainland European populations of the Dark Honeybee have significantly declined. This is due to the impact of other Honeybee subspecies from elsewhere in Europe, as well as Varroa mites, disease, pesticides and habitat loss. Ireland is still home to a large, wild population of the native Dark Honeybee.

The National Museum of Ireland is collaborating with scientists from the University of Galway to understand the past genetics of Irish Honeybee populations.

The Western Honeybee

There are seven different species of Honeybee on Earth but only one species lives in Europe. Honeybees build nests from wax that the workers secrete from special glands in their tail. Only queen Honeybees lay eggs but workers raise the young. They are fed a mix of nectar and pollen, which is stored inside the honeycomb as food for the growing bees.

Honeybee colonies that are managed by beekeepers are called hives. Beekeepers can collect honey and wax from hives.

Honeybees have been managed by humans for thousands of years, but wild honeybee populations are also common across Ireland, where they often nest in tree hollows.