• More than half of Ireland’s bee species have undergone substantial declines in their numbers since 1980.  The distribution of 42 species has declined by more than 50%.

 

• A Red List is an internationally recognised method for assessing the conservation status of a species.  In 2006 an Irish Bee Red List was published.  It tells us that 30% of the Irish species are threatened with extinction. Six species are critically endangered, 10 are endangered and 14 species are vulnerable.

 

• Two species have become extinct in Ireland within the last 80 years (Andrena rosae & Nomada sheppardana). One species thought to be extinct (Andrena fulva left) was rediscovered in 2012.

 

 

 

• Ireland has 21 bumblebee species, of which 4 are endangered and 2 are vulnerable.