Bees for Development Journal 129 December 2018
BOOKSHELF Honey from the Earth – beekeeping and honey hunting on six continents Eric Tourneret and Sylla de Saint Pierre (Translation by Mark Pettus) Edited by Leo Sharashkin 2018 352 pages Hardcover
Eric Tourneret, the internationally acclaimed photographer of honey bees spent 15 years travelling the world to produce this book. Over 300 colour photographs depict the diversity of bees and beekeeping he has witnessed in 23 countries within six continents. The book has an excellent synergy with the work of Bees for Development. Professor Tom Seeley, BfD Trust Patron says: “Honey from the Earth is an immense accomplishment. I cannot think of a beekeeper or nature lover who would not be delighted to own this stunning book”. Available from the Bees for Development shop in Monmouth – price £50 (US$64; €56) (Postage costs apply depending on destination)
Handbook of the Bees of the British Isles George R Else and Mike Edwards 2018 Hardcover Volume 1: pp 1-332 Volume 2: pp 333-775
The two volumes of this mammoth publication include colour photographs, black and white drawings and colour distribution maps of over 270 bee species that can be found in Britain. Volume 1 provides information about the bees, the terms used to describe the species and keys to genera and species. Volume 2 describes the ecology, profiles and distribution of each species and uses many images of bees in their natural habitats (a DVD-ROM provided with the books makes it possible to examine these images in greater detail). It is a shame that the entry about Apis mellifera is dominated by information about parasites and diseases rather than information about the ecology of wild honey bees, but perhaps this is inevitable given the honey bee’s almost unique status as being both a managed and wild endemic insect. An invaluable reference text.
Planting for honeybees – the grower’s guide to creating a buzz* Sarah Wyndham Lewis 2018 142 pages Hardcover This prettily designed grower’s guide tells us about the best garden plants for honey bees, and where and how to grow them in the UK. The selected plants are those that provide honey bees with the nutrition (nectar and pollen) they need to be healthy. The recommended plants are listed according to different planting spaces from small balconies to large gardens and by the UK seasons. Lists include the best flowers, climbers, shrubs and trees. There is a chapter with interesting facts about the honey bee. An index of Latin and common names, bee friendly gardens to visit in the UK and other resources come together to provide a very attractive and useful book for both beginner and experienced gardeners.
Bees of Australia – a photographic exploration James Dorey 2018 207 pages Softcover This book is a photographic delight with beautiful and perfect pictures of 70 species of Australia’s bees, shown in high resolution and clarity. It is estimated that there are between 2,000-3,000 bee species in Australia and of these 1,600 species have been described and named. James Dorey explains why bees are important to us and hints on where to find them. Further information describes the importance of bees, their use as crop pollinators, their behaviour, and how to attract them to gardens. 17
