A significant pure population of the dark European honey bee (Apis mellifera mellifera) remains in Ireland

The natural range of the dark European honey bee, Apis mellifera mellifera has been significantly reduced in recent years as a result of importation and replacement of queens with those of other Apis subspecies. Previous studies have indicated that a substantial amount of A. m. mellifera populations throughout Europe are heavily hybridized but that pockets of pure populations do still exist and need to be protected as this subspecies is a highly...