Bookshelf

The bees in your backyard

Joseph S Wilson and Olivia Messinger Carril 2015 288 pages US$29.95 Princeton University Press

This is a high quality, comprehensive reference book on the bees of North America – approximately 4000 species. The clear text and excellent photographs make the book extremely user-friendly. Non-specialists will have no difficulty using the species identification guidance, while experts will find this invaluable as a reference text. The biology and ecology of each bee family is presented clearly, and covers diet, nesting habits, distribution and behaviour. The chapter on how to attract bees to your own garden includes activities for carpenters – how to build a bumblebee nest box – and activities for the rest of us – leave areas undisturbed, and much more besides. The photographs are wonderful and will delight anyone with an interest in the indigenous bees of United States of America and Canada.

Beekeeping in Zimbabwe with top bar hives

Mike D Schmolke 2016 220 pages

Mike Schmolke has been working with bees and beekeepers for fifty years and his great experience shines through this excellent new book, full of extremely helpful, practical information. Mike favours the use of top-bar hives, which he describes as simple, cheap, easy to manage and profitable bee hives. Mike acknowledges that most readers will not implement all the advice given in this book, but those who read it will learn much and realise what they can do if they devote time to their bees. The Chapters on processing honey and beeswax will be very helpful for beekeepers using either fixed comb or top-bar hives. It is good too to see the Greek basket hive being promoted as a simple, low cost way to get started in beekeeping, ideal for people who want to study bees in uncomplicated and natural surroundings.