One third of Ireland’s wild bee species could go extinct by 2030. You can facilitate by taking a photograph One third of Ireland’s wild bee species could go extinct by 2030. You can help by taking a photograph Bees might conjure images of flying insects feeding on flowers, but most wild bees spend part of their lives in the soil. In Ireland, most of the country’s 80 solitary bee species burrow into the ground to nest. On south-facing banks, compact holes in moss or soil mark the entrances to these underground burrows. These nesting sites are vital for bee survival, yet they are easily overlooked or disturbed by human activity. Scientists Dr Úna Fitzpatrick and Dr Tomás Murray conducted a systematic survey of every county in Ireland for bees starting in 2004. They expected the project to take two years but quickly realized something was wrong. Drawing on historical records from early bee observers like Arthur Stelfox and Prof John Breen, they found widespread decline. Stelfox, who worked at the National Museum of Ireland in the 1920s, was the first to scientifically record bees in Ireland. Breen, a bee enthusiast from Tipperary, once found nine species on a single roadside patch but would now be lucky to find two or three. Fitzpatrick surveyed the south and east of Ireland, including the Clare coast, where she searched for the Great Yellow Bumblebee—a species Breen had regularly seen. She found the habitat had vanished due to urbanisation and golf course development. Murray encountered similar losses in Roscommon, where bee numbers were critically low. Their combined findings showed that half of all bee species were already in decline by 2006, leading to the projection that a third of Ireland’s bee species could be extinct by 2030. The threat extends beyond wild bees. Beekeepers across Ireland have raised alarms about the native Irish honey bee (Apis mellifera mellifera), which they say is at grave risk of extinction due to hybridisation with imported non-native bees. Thousands of queens were imported in 2020 and 2021, leading to aggressive offspring and loss of the native bee’s unique traits. This bee, which evolved over 6,500 years to thrive in Ireland’s cool, wet climate, is hairier, more frugal, and produces high-quality honey. It is considered Europe’s last bastion of this subspecies. While commercial honeybees compete with wild bees for food, simple actions can help. Leaving dandelions uncut, preserving bare soil patches, and avoiding pesticides support bee habitats. Observing and photographing bees in their natural environments—especially nesting sites—contributes to citizen science efforts that track populations and inform conservation. Every image helps scientists understand where bees are thriving and where they need protection.
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