Beebytes has recently taken part in a study in Ireland looking at levels of hybridisation in the native honey bee (Apis mellifera mellifera) due to importation of other sub-species of honey bee (notably Italian (ligustica) and Carniolan (carnica) strains from mainland Europe). The work was carried out in partnership with researchers at the Galway Honey Bee Research Centre based at Galway University.
Ireland has traditionally had very low levels of importation, and subsequently has a well-preserved native honey bee population. However with a growing interest in beekeeping, changes in beekeeping practices, and increasing movement of bees into the UK via Northern Ireland, this native population is under threat of introgression with non-native genetics.
This study was important as it used both genetic and morphometric (physical measurements) in combination to identify changes in the population, and looked for geographical patterns in hybridisation, indicating areas most at risk.
The research showed that while there are still areas with low levels of hybridisation, many traditional conservation areas for the Irish black bee are now under threat. It was also shown that Irish honey bees have several physical differences to populations elsewhere in Europe, in particular
The full paper can be read for free online: