tical advice. It will be welcomed by beekeepers in Asia.
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Honeybee diseases and enemies in Asia: a_ practical guide by Pongthep Akratanakul FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin, 68/5, FAO, Rome, 1987. ISBN 92-5-1025193,51 pages, paperback. Available from FAO sales agents or from IBRA (price on application).
mites and their Honeybee control — A selected annotated bibliography by International Bee Research Association
FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin 68/2, FAO, Rome, 1987. ISBN 92-5-1025207, 141 pages, paperback.
Available from FAO sales agents or from IBRA, price 7 (including postage).
This bibliography gives details of 800 references on mites that are, or may be
parasitic upon honeybees. In the section on Acarapis woodi details of a few relevant historical papers are given, but most of the papers referred to describe the spread, distribution, biology and control of acarine disease. 72 pages of references on Varroa jacobsoni deal with every aspect of this mite: its spread and world distribution, biology, species of honeybees infested, general, chemical and non-chemical methods of control. Compared with Acarapis and Varroa, there is relatively little literature available regarding other mites parasitic upon honeybees: 25 references to Tropilaelaps clareae are cited, reflecting the current relatively limited distribution of this mite species. This Bibliography will provide a most valuable source of information for anyone who needs an up-to-date guide to the literature available on honeybee mites.
(Many of the publications cited in this Bibliography are held in the IBRA library, and subject to normal regulations and charges, photocopies can be obtained from us.)
12
This publication describes concisely the various diseases, parasites and predators which face honeybees in Asia. The situation in Asia is made complex by the existence of at least 3 native species of honeybees, and introduced Apis melliJera, each with its own susceptibility to the range of Asian honeybee diseases and enemies, some of which are unique to the region. This timely book describes the cause, symptoms and control of the commonly encountered diseases and the predatory honeybee mites and insects. The various vertebrates which can prey on honeybees are discussed, and the final paragraphs of Chapter 5 bear repetition here: It
is important to note that
among the primate pests of honeybees, man is probably the most destructive: honey crops may be stolen, or brood and combs consumed on the spot. Occasionally, entire hives are made off with. Finally, it must be borne in mind that in areas where intensive modern agriculture is practised, the losses of bees through man’s misuse of pesticides is probably greater than losses from all other causes taken together. Chapter 6 gives straightforward and unbiased guidelines regarding honeybee introduction to new areas, stressing the importance of ensuring that if bees are to be introduced then they must be disease and parasite free. Chapter 7 concludes the book with advice on how to maintain the strength of honeybee colonies, and thereby reduce susceptibility to disease and attack by parasites and predators. This is a valuable book, well illustrated and easy to read, and full of prac-
CHAPMAN AND HALT
Pheromones of Social Bees by John B Free
Chapman & Hall Ltd, London, 1987. ISBN 0-412-24740-2, 218 pages, hardback. Available from IBRA price 18.80 cluding postage).
(in-
Social insects need to communicate efficiently with other members of their community, and they achieve this by the use of pheromones, chemical substances which when released can influence the behaviour of other individuals. Almost all aspects of honeybee life are governed by the release of pheromones, and to fully understand the biology of a colony of bees, we need therefore thorough knowledge of the pheromone systems involved, and this is what Professor Free’s new book provides. The study of bee behaviour controlled by pheromones is made complex by the fact that each pheromone can have many different functions within the colony. For this reason Professor Free has selected the various colony systems and activities which must be controlled, and for each, described the pheromone mechanisms which govern it. Fourteen of the seventeen chapters of this book are devoted to discussion of the regulatory systems, for example,
communication of a queen’s presence, control of worker ovary development, nest and nestmate recognition, and mating pheromones. Professor Free describes the important factors in each system and the pheromones involved in its control. Whenever possible information on Apis species other than mellifera is given although discussion of tropical honeybee biology is hindered by the fact that relatively little information on the pheromones of tropical honeybees is yet available. The final two chapters of the book discuss the pheromones involved in bumbiebee behaviour. This new publication is highly readable, clearly set out and well illustrated. Students of bee biology will find it an important text to keep beside them, and all who admire bees will find this a worthwhile and interesting read.
