Why Ireland's pollinators are important to farming

Their decline is not only a biodiversity issue but also a farming one

Of the 100 species of wild bee that occur in Ireland, one third are threatened with extinction.

Ireland’s pollinators are made up of one species of honeybee, 100 species of wild bees (21 bumblebees and 79 solitary bees), roughly 180 species of hoverflies and other pollinating insects including butterflies, moths, beetles, wasps and ants.

A decline in pollinator population is correlated to the reduction in pollination services, impacting both on the quality and quantity of produce grown. Of the 100 species of wild bee that occur in Ireland, one third are threatened with extinction. This decline is not only a biodiversity issue but also a farming issue.