Bees/or Development Journal 79
AVAILABLE FROM B/D NOW AT WWW.BEESFORDEVELOPMENT.ORG
ASIAN HONEY BEES BENJAMIN
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OLDROYD ANG
ASIAN HONEY BEES Biology, conservation and human interactions
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Benjamin P Oldroyd and Siriwat Wongsiri
2006 360 pages Hardback
40
(€60)
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Code 0200
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This is an important new text summarising in one volume current scientific knowledge about the Asian species of Apis. Apis mellifera, the honeybee species indigenous to Africa, the Middle East and Europe has been studied intensively, to the extent that even its genome sequence is known. However, the genus Apis, evolving over 35 million years, consists of more than just me/lifera. at least eight more species exist, and these are in Asia. During only the past 20 years has the world's bee research community focussed on these Asian species, interest first being aroused when the predatory mite Varroa was introduced to Apis mellifera populations, and it became important to understand how the mites’ natural host species (Apis cerana) copes with these predators.
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The first Chapter is ‘To be a honey bee’, and introduces the genus Apis. The next describes the three subgenera: Micrapis (Apis florea and Apis andreniformis), Megapis (Apis dorsata and Apis laboriosa) and Apis (Apis cerana, Apis koschevnikovi, Apis nuluensis, Apis nigrocincta, and Apis mellifera), their distribution and distinguishing features. Chapter 3 describes their evolution: Chapter 4 covers speciation and biogeography; Chapter 5 describes dance communication and foraging; Chapter 6, Reproduction, swarming and migration, expiains that tropical races of bees abscond and migrate. The migration of the Megapis bees is one of nature's mysteries: microsatellite DNA fingerprinting has shown that colonies of Apis dorsafa in Borneo return to the same building or tree where they nested in previous years; how they do it is not yet known, although possible explanations are outlined here. Chapter 7 discusses worker sterility, kin selection and polyandry, and Chapter 8 covers nesting biology and defence, an area in which the different species have adopted markedly different strategies. Chapter 9 is named ‘Parasites, pathogens, predators and a plant’ - the plant in question being a Cymbidium orchid that attracts Apis cerana drones, yet provides them apparently with no reward for the pollination
they bring about. Chapter 10 describes human interactions with these bees, and Chapter 11 discusses their conservation: including interesting explanation of how to estimate whether honey hunting might be sustainable. The final Chapter outlines future research directions, and a useful key for identification is also provided.
As Seeley puts it in his foreword to the book: ‘We humans now recognize that our own species is exquisitely adapted to the razor-thin biosphere covering the planet: hence our own survival depends on understanding and protecting the rest of life.’ This excellently researched, well-written and readable book will help everyone interested in the biology and behaviour of honeybees to understand and appreciate much more about how these amazing insects have evolved to suit different environments.
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BEES BESIEGED Bill Mares 2005 220 pages Soft cover
22
(€33)
Code M205
in the spring of 1996 Bill Mares found 100,000 dead bees inside and outside his five hives. During 25 years of beekeeping Bill had become ‘deeply attached to these marvellous and endlessly fascinating creatures’. Now, after years of minor ups and downs, he had to recover from this huge loss: all his bees. His local bee inspector Steve Parise came to the conclusion that it was a combination of Acarapis and Varroa mites that killed the bees. A positive outcome of the experience was Bill writing this book, in which he examines the ‘two products of beekeeping! - pollination and honey production,
but never for one moment forgets that interesting ‘ingredient’
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the beekeeper!
POLLEN IDENTIFICATION FOR BEEKEEPERS Rex Sawyer 2006 reprint first published
in 1981 111
pages Soft cover 12
(€18)
Code S005
BfDJ 77 we reviewed the CD, Pollen identification for beekeepers. Northern Bee Books have published a facsimile edition of the original book by Rex Sawyer, which prompted the CD's production. It was written for the observation and identification of the many varied forms of pollen grains, and for in
the students, naturalists, beekeepers, allergists and others who need a practical guide for pollen identification. The identifying features of the main pollen types found in the UK are described, forming
a key by which they may be recognised. The set of punched cards referred to in the preface has not been reprinted: this is now replaced by the CD mentioned above.
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