NEEPS North East Eco-friendly People's Site    FAQ   Search   Memberlist   Usergroups   Join! (free) >   Profile   Log in to check your private messages   Log in  New life for the ancient black honeybee          NEEPS Forum Index -> Bee Keeping View previous topic :: View next topic   Author Message wildgarlic Site Admin Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 8305 Location: Alford-ish Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 11:03 am    Post subject: New life for the ancient black honeybee Quote: For decades, Britain's native black bee has been an outcast. The Victorians threw Apis mellifera mellifera out of hives in favour of more industrious foreign species. Modern beekeepers brand it lazy and aggressive. Now, the nation's original honeybee is coming in from the cold. Scientists believe the insect that made honey for the tables of medieval kings could reverse the collapse of bee numbers that has imperilled the annual pollination of crops worth £165m. The Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders' Association (Bibba) believes the black honeybee, which has a thicker coat, could be hardy enough to survive the 21st century. Its researchers hope to map wild populations across the British Isles with a view to reintroducing it to commercial hives, which produce 5,000 tonnes of honey a year. People are asked to take pictures of it whenever they see it. Read More _________________ Neeps Flickr Group - check out some of the fab photos from other Neepsters and share some of your own. Back to top wildgarlic Site Admin Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 8305 Location: Alford-ish Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 11:04 am    Post subject: Has anyone seen any of these? _________________ Neeps Flickr Group - check out some of the fab photos from other Neepsters and share some of your own. Back to top BikeOnBye Neepster Joined: 05 Jul 2007 Posts: 301 Location: Aberdeenshire - Nae far fae Inverurie Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 9:44 pm    Post subject: Yep, there is a few around, but not in huge numbers. Normal Bee Black Bee A Bee with a short fuse! _________________ Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First         NEEPS Forum Index -> Bee Keeping All times are GMT Page 1 of 1   Jump to: Select a forum Welcome to Neeps----------------Say HelloSite Stuff What's in the area----------------What's on TV/RadioWhat's on?Meet Up DetailsNeeps Food Co-opScottish ProducersLocal Links The Green bit----------------Views on the newsGreen BuildingRRRR - refuse, Reduce, Reuse, RecyclePermaculture & TransitionGreen ParentingGlobal Warming, Climate Change etcGreen Health & BeautyThe Debating Chamber The Great Outdoors----------------GardeningWeather 2006 - archiveGo Wild In The CountryPetsSheep, Goats, Pigs and Horses etcPoultryweather 2007 - archiveWeather Diary 2009Weather Diary 2008 ArchiveBee Keeping Make, Do and Mend----------------The North Eats........The GarageGadgets, Gizmos and Techie StuffThe Frugal FoodieBetter Than Bought Arts & Crafts----------------Crafty StuffPhotographyPoetry & WritingsArt & HistoryDressmaking The Fun Bit----------------A Wee BletherUnder The Hammer - The Neeps Auction RoomThe Neeps EmporiumReviewsFun & GamesThe Neeps Arms  You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum Card File  Gallery  Forum Archive Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group