The team of scientists from NUI Galway is calling on members of the public to report sightings of wild beehives. They say those are most likely to be found in old abandoned houses and castles, outbuildings, residential houses and woodlands.

It is not currently clear whether pure native Irish honey bees still exist in Ireland after decades of mixing with subspecies imported from Europe. “If they do exist, then their gene pool may well prove important in the fight against the varroa mite which is destroying hives all over the world,” the scientists said.

Genotype

While most types of bees must be treated chemically several times a year to survive mite attacks, purebred Apis mellifera mellifera honeybees with unique Irish genotypes remain healthy without treatment.

Bees are crucial pollinators of crops and flowers, but they are under threat from climate change and habitat destruction, with three of Ireland’s bee species becoming extinct in the past 80 years and many others endangered.

If you find a feral beehive on your land, you can email nuigbeeresearch@gmail.com, call 091 494490 or visit the Bee Genes Facebook page to report it.