Sir, I read with interest that conservationists are hoping to reintroduce a bumblebee species believed to be extinct in Britain from New Zealand (“Kiwi cousins may take place of vanished bumblebee”, Nov 11).
It is not generally known that on March 13, 1839, Miss Bumby, a sister of one of the early missionaries, took with her stocks of honeybees from England on the sailing ship James; these were landed at Hokianga, as there were no “known” honeybees (Apis mellifera-mellifera) on either of the two islands of New Zealand.
Other stocks had been brought subsequently from England to New South Wales by Captain Wallace in April 1822 on the ship Isabella, and some of these stocks were landed later in New Zealand in 1842. In a very short time New Zealand was to become a big world exporter of honey and wax owing to the excellent forage available for the pollinating insects. To this day its honey and wax are exported worldwide, especially manuka honey.
Here we have a simple situation of history repeating itself.
Michael Badger
Past President, British Beekeepers’ Association
Leeds