Bookshelf

BEEKEEPING, THEORY AND PRACTICE

Donald Rugira Kugonza 2009 282 pages £15 (€19) Code K900

This is a welcome new text on African beekeeping. Part one (six chapters) covers all the background information concerning bee biology, anatomy and social behaviour that a beekeeper might wish to know.

Part two (nine chapters) describes beekeeping itself. Local style hives, top-bar hives and frame hives are described and there is much useful information and advice, with plenty of helpful diagrams, illustrations and photographs. While most of the text is relevant, it does describe several practices without mentioning that they are not practised in tropical Africa — for example Chapter 8 describes how to ‘install package bees’ — a concept familiar only to beekeepers in America. It is admirable to see efforts made to estimate returns on investment, however predicting average yields of 80 kg from Langstroth (frame) hives is unrealistic. Bees for Development would be interested to hear fram any beekeeper in tropical Africa who has achieved such yields! These few comments aside, this text has much to commend it, and is a useful new addition to the range of books available on African beekeeping.

INSECT BEHAVIOR

Robert W Matthews and Janice R Matthews 2010 (2nd edition) 514 pages Hardcover £66.99

An academic text appropriate for those needing scientific appreciation of how insect behavioural systems function, that provides considerable detail on honey bee and other social insects’ bioiogy. Therefore a useful text for college libraries, but not essential reading for beekeepers.

MANAGEMENT OF VARROA DESTRUCTOR

O P Chaudhary 2007 96 pages price to be announced

Varroa destructor arrived in North India in 2004. It rapidly killed tens of thousands of the European Apis mellifera colonies upon which large-scale beekeeping operations are based in this region. At first Indian beekeepers endeavoured to follow Varroa control methods that had provided effective elsewhere. Yet these often proved impossible in India because of differences in equipment and climate. This book describes the life cycle and methods for detection of Varroa. It then addresses biotechnical, organic and chemical methods for control of Varroa that fit well with prevailing conditions. In the long term, the only satisfactory solution is that beekeepers select Varroa tolerant honey bee colonies, and this is discussed, together with integrated approaches to Varroa management. This is an excellent and useful text for beekeepers in India and neighbouring countries who are keeping Apis mellifera honey bees.

FIREFLIES, HONEY AND SILK

Gilbert Waldbauer 2009 233 pages Hardcover £18 (€27) Code W920

This is an exquisitely produced book whose presentation entices the reader within. The author is a Professor ot Entomology retired from the University of Illinois, USA, obviously enjoying his retirement to produce learned and beautiful explanations of the ways in which insects enrich our lives. He focuses on just a few species — those ‘insects people like’ and naturally the list includes honey bees. The enjoyable text visits history, mythology, literature, ecology, and slowly reveals the mind-blowing complexity of plant and animal communities. We like the foundation-embossed inner cover of this beautiful book!

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE HONEY BEE

E Readicker-Henderson 2009 164 pages Hardcover £15 (€22) Code R145

Another beautiful book, this has fantastic full and double page colour photographs of bees, flowers, beekeeping and bee products. Accompanying these pictures is an extended essay that explains some history of honey, how nectar is transformed into honey, and what beekeeping entails. Surely, a wonderful introduction for non-beekeepers who would like to understand more about bees and honey.

BOOK OF HONEY

Stefan Bogdanov

Information on the properties and composition of honey, honey for health and honey trade.

Accessible online at www.bee-hexagon.net/en/honey.htm

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIODIVERSITY AND LIVELIHOODS CONFERENCE: Coonoor, The Nilgiris, India

edited by Rajyashree Dutt, Janet Seeley, Pratim Roy

This new book is one output from the three year project Bees, Biodiversity and Forest Livelihoods in the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve that was funded by the UK Darwin Initiative and implemented by Keystone Foundation (India), the School of International Development (University of East Anglia, UK), Bees for Development and the Centre for Agri-Environmental Research (University of Reading, UK). These Proceedings contain a wealth of information achieved during the three years of the project. Much data and discussion are provided, with rich information available here for future researchers in this field. The 236 pages are beautifully designed and lavishly illustrated with pictures of life in the Biosphere Reserve: the mountains, wildlife, people and their ways of life, and of course the various bee species.

BfD has copies available for distribution to projects and beekeeping organisations in Asia

BEEKEEPING AND DEVELOPMENT GUIDES

Guide 1: Market access for beekeepers

Bees for Development 2010 (2nd edition) 28 pages £10 (€15) Code B&DG1

This Guide, intended for tropical Africa, explains the importance of creating direct links between beekeepers and honey buyers and how these can be achieved. it is not about harvesting and processing honey, nor is it a beekeeping manual. The focus of the Guide is how to make beekeeping a business, for which effective marketing of bee products is essential. There is emphasis on scale: developing an industry in which thousands of people can participate. This emphasis requires locking at trade beyond the local area of the beekeeper, towards the wider market system and the way it works. The Guide considers three main themes: beekeeping as a business: industry for thousands of beekeepers; and trade to distant markets.

Guide 2: Information for honey packers

Bees for Development 2010 (2nd edition) 32 pages £10 (€15) Code B&DG2

This Guide intended for tropical Africa addresses the packing of honey for wholesale or retail sale and contains information useful for people planning to start a honey packing business. African honey industries are often fragmented. The local market for packed, table honey is growing due to expanding urban populations with growing wealth within some sections of society. Challenges faced by honey packers include weak supply chains, lack of finance, and poor availability of good quality containers. Unless local businesses adequately and efficiently supply the urban markets, honey imports will increase.

REARING BUMBLE BEES IN THE LABORATORY

limir Ptacek in Czech

Instructions for laboratory rearing of 14 species of bumble bees. The technique used for Bombus terrestris served as a model, and experience gained with Bombus pascuorum was applied for several other species. The list of enemies noted during rearing is included as well as basic recommendations for using bumble bees for pollination. The simple guide allows recognition of Czech species of bumble bees and cuckoo bumble bees.

111 colour photos illustrate the text. See e-shop www.librix.eu/en/books/detail/chov-cmelak-v-laboratori-473

A review in English and picture appendix is available through the Journal of Pollination Ecology website (see page 5).

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