In Issue 48

Dear friends

Regular readers know that Beekeeping Development is not afraid of sparking controversy. In this edition Werner Lohr writes tough critique of beekeeping projects. He believes that too many beekeeping projects fail, and in his article on page ten he tells us the reasons why.

From India we bring the story of apple farmers who just cannot get enough bees to pollinate their crops. The farmers and the government are taking drastic steps to alleviate the problem.

It is well-known that Varroa jacobsoni, the mite that is the scourge of Apis mellifera beekeeping, enjoys normal host-predator relationship with the Asian hive bee, Apis cerana. How does Apis cerana manage to survive in the presence of Varroa jacobsoni? On pages four and five Otto Boecking reveals Apis cerana’s excellent defence mechanisms.

On the opposite page we show how to make cost-free battery completely from waste. Perhaps you have good access to electricity, but what an excellent demonstration and talking point this could make at your next beekeepers’ meeting.

With information about one of the world’s big honey producing trees Melaleuca, and “Zooming into Papua New Guinea”, we are sure that you will find plenty of stimulating reading in this edition!

Nicola Bradbear

Bees for Development

1 Agincourt Street, Monmouth NP25 3DZ, UK Tel: +44 (0)1600 714848 info@beesfordevelopment.org www.beesfordevelopment.org

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