Are bee's in Ireland endangered?

ngcxt6

I often hear how endangered bee's are around the world, and how we literally cannot survive or grow crops without them. I know its a big problem in the USA.

Is there a similar problem in Ireland? If so are the dept of agriculture doing anything about it? Are there grants to start up bee keeping?

Cork boy 55

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TIQ21m1Ks08

magicbastarder

neonicotinoid pesticides have a (temporary) ban in europe, and there's an ever increasing body of evidence pointing at them playing a large part in bee mortality.

if you're interested, i'd recommend 'a sting in the tale' by dave goulson - should be readily available from bookshops.

Jayzesake

I watched a documentary on what they're calling 'colony collapse syndrome' (another syndrome!) about a year ago, although it was focused more on the US, UK and elsewhere, rather than Ireland. In many places it's an absolute disaster, with 90%+ of colonies gone as far as I can remember.

Analysing some of the dead bees, scientists found over 40 man-made chemicals present, anyone of which could be a contributory factor, either acting alone or in combination with some of the others. A parasite may also be involved, its effects perhaps exacerbated due to weakening by the chemicals (?). However, as Magic says, neonicitinoids are generally held to be a principal suspect, and a temporary ban has been put in place in Europe, despite determined resistance from chemical companies, with the support of several governments, including Ireland and the UK, if I'm not mistaken.

Another interesting aspect of the documentary was that bees were found to be doing well in wilder environments and, wait for it... in the cities. Seems that the countryside is now pumped so full of chemicals (fertilisers, pesticides etc., etc.) that the cities are cleaner, despite all the industry, cars and so on.

I think the Irish Wildlife Trust has been running a programme of identifying and counting bees to get a handle on what the situation might be here. That's all off the top of my head; someone else will probably be more knowledgable about all this.

Capercaillie

GLAS scheme has management for solitary bees, don't know if that includes honeybees.
http://www.itba.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/GLAS-Structure-and-Pay-Rates.pdf

michael moran

ngcxt6 wrote: »

I often hear how endangered bee's are around the world, and how we literally cannot survive or grow crops without them. I know its a big problem in the USA.

Is there a similar problem in Ireland? If so are the dept of agriculture doing anything about it? Are there grants to start up bee keeping?

yes due to farm slurry they find their way home and die.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

michael moran wrote: »

yes due to farm slurry they find their way home and die.

Have you anything to support this? It's a new one on me

Half-cocked

Jayzesake wrote: »

of several governments, including Ireland and the UK, if I'm not mistaken.

Another interesting aspect of the documentary was that bees were found to be doing well in wilder environments and, wait for it... in the cities. Seems that the countryside is now pumped so full of chemicals (fertilisers, pesticides etc., etc.) that the cities are cleaner, despite all the industry, cars and so on.

Which shows how important that those of us with suburban gardens plant bee friendly flowers etc.

I read recently about 1 species of bee thought extinct in Ireland since the 20's rediscovered in a Dublin park. Here's a link:
http://www.thejournal.ie/rare-bumble-bee-found-1524005-Jun2014/

Desmo

Planting be friendly plants can certainly help; it is also important that they have places to nest. Carder bees (small orange ones) nest in long grass. Others dig underground nests in the ground.

recedite

There is also a mite which more or less all bees in Ireland are infected with (varroa mite). It weakens the bees. Beekeepers are ironically using pesticide "bombs" themselves in the hives to control the mites.
http://www.irishbeekeeping.ie/index.php/about-us/education/bee-health/fibka-guidelines-on-varroa

Eddie B

Isn't it true that wild honey bees are all but gone from the Irish countryside, mainly due to pesticides and lack of wild flowers?

I read an article on the subject a few years ago, and as said in previous posts, our cities are the only places with good numbers of honey bees.

IMO these pesticides are not only poisoning our wildlife, but us too. The amount of people around here (area sown with crops) with allergies, is unnaturally common.

Sorry for drifting off subject.

Capercaillie

Eddie B wrote: »

Isn't it true that wild honey bees are all but gone from the Irish countryside, mainly due to pesticides and lack of wild flowers?

I read an article on the subject a few years ago, and as said in previous posts, our cities are the only places with good numbers of honey bees.

IMO these pesticides are not only poisoning our wildlife, but us too. The amount of people around here (area sown with crops) with allergies, is unnaturally common.

Sorry for drifting off subject.

Varroa might a major cause as well. Neonicotinoids pesticides presumed a problem as well. Problem most likely multifactorial with numerous interactions between the different variables.

antodeco

I have a very large yearly bumble bee neat in my back garden. I have a large log cabin and they seem to have have used the underground foundations as their home the last 2 years!

They are the largest I have ever seen them. They are easily 1inch long bumble bees.