It has claimed that half of Ireland's honeybee population has been wiped out since last winter.

Disease, poor breeding and bad weather are being blamed for the depletion of the numbers - along with pesticides that beekeepers say are harmful to stocks.

According to the Irish Independent, hive numbers have dropped from 20,000 to 10,000 since before winter 2012.

The Federation of Irish Beekeeper's Association is calling for an urgent review of the crisis.