Ábhair:
While our native Pollinating insects are under threat with about one third of our 101 native bee species being threatened with extinction from Habitat Loss, habitat fragmentation, Lack of forage, Pesticides, Pests and diseases.
Bees are important insects for the pollination of crops and native plant species in Ireland.
Honeybees and managed honeybee colonies are not under threat.
All honeybee colonies manage by beekeepers should.
- Register with the dept of Agriculture.
- Beekeepers should be encouraged to have their bees and comb tested annually with the Dept of Agriculture for pests and diseases such as European Fould Brood and American Foul Brood.
- Beekeepers should not overstock a habitat with honeybee colonies.
- Beekeepers should complete a course in beekeeping before installing a colony of honeybees in a habitat.
- Beekeepers should be encouraged to join a local association.
- Beekeepers should be encouraged to keep only local ecotypes.
- They should maintain all records relating to management of the bees at their apiary. e.g. Treatments /pests and diseases.
- They should be encouraged to take further qualifications and increase their knowledge of beekeeping.
- Carry out weekly inspections to ensure that their bees do not become a nuisance in urban areas e.g., Swarming or aggressiveness’.
- Honeybees should only be located in areas where sufficient forage is available throughout the season.
- It is not unreasonable to suggest that colonies of honeybees in some habitats may have potential to affect some of the objectives of the AIPP which KCC actively support.
- The development plan should take into account any potentially negative impact the placement of honeybees may have in a habitat.
If our motivation is to help conserve bees or biodiversity, the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan does not recommend keeping honey bees. There are lots of other simpler and more effective actions you can take to help.