Synopses & Reviews
While keeping bees certainly isn't rocket science, doing it properly does involve decent levels of understanding, commitment, and attention to detail. Getting the basics right is essential, and this demands a solid appreciation of important areas such as hives management, breed choice, and health requirements. There is plenty to think about for those getting their first bees, and careful planning is the key to a successful initial experience. One thing that complicates matters is the bees' ability to disguise problems. Although this might seem a useful ability, it actually makes recognizing trouble in the crucial, early stages that much more difficult, even for experienced owners. And although bees are remarkably resilient creatures, they remain vulnerable to predators, disease and climate changes. There is plenty of potential for things to go wrong and, unfortunately, it's always the bees that suffer when problems strike.
Whether you're a newcomer or an old hand, The Beekeeper's Problem Solverprovides the information you need to nip probelms in the budâ??and, better still, avoid them in the first place. Let longtime bee keeper and apiary expert James E. Tew guide you thorugh 100 common problems faced by beekeepers, spelling out in clear and simple terms what the underlying cause is and how to solve it. Each one is tackled in depth, with photographs and diagrams, as well as a wide range of practical tips and useful insights. The problems are divided into ten chapters covering the main areas of beekeeping, from health to housing and parasites to predators. A subject-specific index is also included for easy reference.
Synopsis
Beekeeping requires understanding, commitment, and attention to detail. Laying the groundwork for a successful hive is essential, and demands a keen appreciation of critical areas like hive management, breed choice, and health requirements.
Bees often disguise problems, though, making recognizing trouble in the crucial, initial stages that much more difficult. Whether you're a newcomer or an old hand, The Beekeeper's Problem Solver provides the information you need to nip problems in the bud, or avoid them in the first place.
Author, experienced beekeeper, and apiary expect, James E. Tew, explains 100 common problems faced by beekeepers. He clearly spells out their underlying causes, and how to solve all of them. Each one is tackled in depth, with photographs and diagrams, as well as a wide range of practical tips and useful insights. Don't lose your hive to something preventable, just grab your problem solver
Synopsis
Author, experienced beekeeper, and apiary expect James E. Tew explains 100 common problems faced by beekeepers, clearly spelling out their underlying causes and how to solve all of them.
Beekeeping requires understanding, commitment, and attention to detail. Laying the groundwork for a successful hive is essential, and demands a keen appreciation of critical areas like hive management, breed choice, and health requirements.
Bees often disguise problems, though, making recognizing trouble in the crucial, initial stages that much more difficult. Whether you're a newcomer or an old hand, The Beekeeper's Problem Solver provides the information you need to nip problems in the bud, or avoid them in the first place.
With color photography throughout and a glossary of terms at the back, each beekeeping problem is tackled in depth, covering a wide range of practical tips and useful insights. The problems are conveniently organized into the following categories:
- Beekeeping Basics - My new bees arrived during a cool, rainy period. ...
- Beekeeping Equipment - The beehive smoker will not stay lit. ...
- Biology and Behavior of the Colony - There are many dead drones at the hive entrance. ...
- Managing and Manipulating Hives - The brood nest has been built across multiple boxes. ...
- Queen Production and Maintenance - The queen is not a good egg producer. ...
- Diseases and Pests of Honey Bees - Varroa mites have overrun the colony. ...
- Pollen and Pollination - Too few bees are pollinating the target crop. ...
- Producing and Processing Honey - The honey filter keeps getting clogged. ...
- Beeswax, Propolis, and Specialty Issues - Propolis is difficult to gather and process. ...
Don't lose your hive to something preventable, just grab your problem solver
About the Author
James E. Tew has been keeping bees for over 40 years. He has a Ph.D. in Entomology and is currently a Consulting Professor at Auburn University, where he conducts beekeeping educational programs and maintains social media systems that support the Alabama beekeeping industry. Recently retired from The Ohio State University, where he worked for 33 years as an Associate Professor focusing on pollination ecology and the use of honeybees and native bees as pollination agents, James gives lectures and workshops for beekeepers in the US and UK, runs the website One Tew Bee (www.onetew.com), and has written numerous books, including Wisdom for Beekeepers, as well as articles for Bee Culture magazine.