Across Britain, beekeepers are rediscovering the native dark honeybee – Apis mellifera mellifera – and asking a simple but vital question: How native are our bees today?
That’s the focus of Victoria Buswell’s PhD research at the University of Plymouth, presented recently to the international beekeeping foundation SICAMM (The International Foundation for the Protection of the European Dark Bee). Her work is helping to reveal how much of Britain’s honeybee population still carries the genetics of the original dark bee, and how far imported strains have influenced local stock.
The B4 Project: Protecting Cornwall’s Native Bees
Victoria’s study builds on the work of the B4 Project (“Bringing Back Black Bees”), a community interest company based in Cornwall. B4 unites beekeepers who are passionate about protecting and breeding from the UK’s native Apis mellifera mellifera.
In partnership with the University of Plymouth and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Victoria’s research explores how DNA evidence can track changes in local bee populations over time. Using genetic markers known as microsatellites and SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms), her work compares samples from Cornish apiaries between 2015 and 2018 – and the results are encouraging.
The Science Made Simple
Put simply, Victoria looks at tiny DNA changes to see how “pure” or “mixed” our bee populations are.
- Microsatellites reveal broad population differences – helpful for seeing the genetic signature of A.m.m. versus other subspecies like A.m. carnica (Carniolan) or A.m. ligustica (Italian).
- SNPs offer much finer detail, allowing researchers to pinpoint levels of introgression – the mixing of imported bee genetics into local populations.
In the Cornish B4 samples, Victoria found a noticeable increase in the proportion of Apis mellifera mellifera between 2015 and 2018, suggesting that careful breeding and conservation efforts are working. Carniolan influence had decreased, and Italian bee markers remained stable.
Beyond Cornwall: A UK-Wide Picture
With additional support from the Eva Crane Trust, Victoria expanded her study to examine bees from across the British Isles – from Cornwall to Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man. Using a technique called pooled whole-genome sequencing, she analysed 30 bees from each colony to understand the genetic make-up of entire colonies rather than single individuals.
The early results show a complex picture. There are pockets of high genetic purity – especially in Colonsay, Ireland, and parts of Inverness and the Isle of Man, where strict import controls protect local bees. Elsewhere, many colonies show varying degrees of introgression from continental subspecies, reflecting decades of imports and queen replacement.
Collaboration Across Europe
Victoria’s research doesn’t stop at Britain’s borders. She’s now collaborating with teams in Sweden and Norway as part of the Supporting Nordic Brown Bees project. Together, these researchers are pairing genetic data with physical (phenotypic) traits – such as temperament, disease resistance, and overwintering ability – to answer one of beekeeping’s most debated questions:
When does a bee stop being Apis mellifera mellifera?
By comparing traits and DNA across Europe, the project aims to define realistic thresholds for “native” genetics and identify which characteristics truly make the dark honeybee so well adapted to northern climates.
What This Means for Beekeepers
For beekeepers, the message is clear: our choices matter.
Every imported queen contributes to the slow erosion of local adaptation. Native and near-native bees have evolved to thrive in Britain’s unpredictable weather and shorter nectar flows. By selecting and breeding from local, well-adapted colonies, beekeepers can strengthen regional resilience and reduce reliance on imported stock.
As Victoria reminded her audience, conservation and improvement go hand in hand. The goal isn’t just genetic “purity” for its own sake, but healthy, sustainable, locally adapted bees that can survive and flourish without heavy intervention.
Looking Ahead
The enthusiasm among UK beekeepers for protecting Apis mellifera mellifera is growing. Projects like B4, BIBBA’s native bee groups, and new collaborations across Europe all point towards a more sustainable, self-reliant future for beekeeping.
Victoria’s findings highlight both the progress and the challenge ahead: while the dark honeybee’s genes still run through many British colonies, ongoing imports threaten to dilute that legacy. The science shows that careful breeding programmes can make a measurable difference – and that beekeeper cooperation is key.
Buswell, V. (2022) A Phenotypic and Genomic Investigation of the Identity and Variation in the European
Dark Bee (Apis mellifera mellifera). Thesis. University of Plymouth. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/
10.24382/450