Irish bees face stress and food shortages due to heat and low rainfall.

On a warm August day, Kieran Harnett’s honeybee apiary in south Dublin is bustling with activity. After 20 years of beekeeping, he became more dedicated to apiculture during the Covid lockdown when his job opportunities diminished. “The beekeeping saved me,” he reflects on how tending to his hives kept him occupied. Harnett now oversees hives across Dublin, a task made more challenging this summer due to one of the hottest and driest Julys on record. The drought has limited pollen collection, as plants struggle to produce due to insufficient rainfall. “If there’s no moisture in the ground, they (plants) shrivel up,” he notes. He observes the pollen intake by watching the hive entrances, where bees are seen with minimal pollen baskets. Pollen is crucial for the bees' protein needs for reproduction. Harnett ensures a nearby water source for the bees, along with sticks or straw to prevent drowning.