The buzz about bees: biology of a Superorganism

The Honey Bee Inside Out (Paperback)

By Celia F. Davis

Complex problems, theories and biological and scientific concepts are presented in a simple way - understandable to non-beekeepers, new beekeepers and those studying modules.

Probably most useful to those studying modules 4, 5, 6 & 7 and beekeepers who want an insight to the biology and behaviour of the honeybee. It cannot be emphasised what an art it must be to be able to describe such complex theory & information in such readable language. The books form one of the most used books for use in studying for the BBKA modules.

Would be worthwhile reading for BBKA Modules 4, 5, 6 & 7

Best Suited for: Beekeeping Club Libraries. Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Beekeepers who are considering studying modules as above. 

The Honey Bee Around & About (Paperback)

By Celia F. Davis

The book gives the scientific theory behind most situations that practical beekeepers will come across. Honey & Pollen, Diseases and where does the Honey bee "fit in" amongst the insect world to name but a few.

Complex problems, theories and biological and scientific concepts are presented in a simple way - understandable to non-beekeepers, new beekeepers and those studying modules.

Would be worthwhile reading for BBKA Modules 1, 2, 3 & 7

Best Suited for: Beekeeping Club Libraries. Beginners and intermediate beekeepers who want a well researched, in-depth insight to topics such as Disease, Honey & Breeding. Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Beekeepers who are considering studying modules as above.

Queen Bee - Biology, Rearing and Breeding

by David Woodward.

Haven't read it yet! - come back soon!

In search of the Best Strains of Bees

By Brother Adam

Bad Beekeeping

Ron Miksha

A glimpse into the world of professional beekeeping in Canada and the US. A great book that I've read twice - you find new things each time you read it. Should be compulsory reading for anyone considering increasing their beekeeping enterprise. The author, Ron Miksha has a dry humour and it is a part beekeeping book, part autobiography and part look at running a business with the inherent rules, and restrictions that are associated with it.

Best Suited for: Anyone who things it might be fun to be a professional beekeeper. Someone who wants a "fun" read that deviates away at times from just beekeeping.

Anatomy and Dissection of the Honeybee

by H A Dade

‘Dade’ was first published in 1962 but is still a ‘must read’ for any serious beekeeper. The first part is a clearly written description of honey bee anatomy with excellent illustrations that are clearly captioned. The second part explains some of the techniques for dissecting bees.  This is a book for an existing beekeeper who would like a better understanding of the inner workings of his charges. Be prepared for a barrage of terminology as you journey from the suboesophageal ganglion to the protocerebrum; but persevere and you will find a new and deeper fascination with this most amazing creature.

Best Suited for: Beekeepers with a few seasons under their belts will find it fascinating to dip into this book. It is essential reading for anyone studying the BBKA biology modules and for those who wish to take the BBKA microscopy exam.

NOTE: It is worth noting that the last pages of the book feature some superb illustrations of honey bee dissections. The book is in A5 format but the International Bee Research Association ( www.ibra.org.uk ) have recently produced a laminated set of these illustrations at A4 size – well worth having beside your microscope.

NOTE: Cover has changed in recent printings.

Practical Beekeeping

by Clive de Bruyn

I used this book weekly for the first few years of beekeeping. It's an invaluble reference to every aspect of beekeeping that you will come across in your first few years. Written by the well known beekeeper (and comedian!) Clive de Bruyn, he brings his global beekeeping experience and authority to explain every situation you will come across with plenty of excellent supporting photographs. Makes an excellent reference manual for someone who has started beekeeping.

Guide to Bees and Honey

by Ted Hooper

A bit of bible amongst beekeepers, this books is an excellent reference. In partnership with the Clive de Bruyns book (above) or standalone it contains a wealth of well presented, well written material. 

It has solutions to most beekeeping problems, and details all the work and activites that need to take place in the beekeeping year. Over and over again this comes out as the book every beekeeper has on their bookshelf - as higher recommendation as needed!

Best Suited for: Beginner and intermediate beekeepers (with hives). Anyone studying the BBKA General Husbandry Module, and/or modules 1 / 2 /3

Beekeeping study Notes (Modules 1, 2, 3 & 4)

by J.D & B.D Yates

A great introduction to the BBKA Modules, although do not be fooled into thinking you can use this book alone. It makes an ideal introduction, and indeed comprehensive overview of every aspect of the modules, on a detailed line by line cross reference basis with the syllabus*. However the BBKA are looking for a breadth of knowledge, and a wider range of reading is needed. Having said that, its an indispensable manual, to which an incredible amount of research has been undertaken. It contains a range of information that is not easily found in a single point source, such as relevant legislation and will save those studying from hours of work. I've found the ideal way to use it is to read large sections, and on the basis of the initial knowledge gleaned, to go and use other books for a more in-depth view. I consider it to be as close to a mandatory text as it's possible to have**

Best Suited for: Those studying BBKA modules, and every Beekeeping club library should not be without a copy.

*Note the syllabus have changed slightly.

**It is not a "BBKA" book, and the actual recommended book list can be found here

Queen Rearing Simplified

Vince Cook

Breeding Techniques and Selection for Breeding of the Honey Bee

by Frederich Ruttner

A very technical book, detailing much of the science of breeding of honeybees. It's greatest strength is the broad knowledge that author has of making these techniques operate in a practical sense. Drone producing colonies, isolation apiaries etc and experience gleaned from successes (and mistakes) over many many years.

Best suited for: Advanced beekeepers looking to understand the theory behind breeding methods in honeybees. Anyone studying BBKA module 7. 

 The Honeybees of the British Isles

by Beowulf A. Cooper

 Honey Days - A year in the life of a country beekeeper

by Oliver Field

 Honey by the Ton

by Oliver Field

 Pollen Identification for Beekeepers

By Rex Sawyer

 Breeding the Honeybee

By Brother Adam

 The Dance of the Honey Bee

Robert B. Park

 The Social Organisation of Honey Bees

John B. Free

 The Biology of the Honey Bee

Mark L. Winston

Anatomy of the Honey Bee

by R E Snodgrass

This is a book for serious students of honey bee anatomy. Anyone looking for an ‘easier read’ would be better advised to look at The Honey Bee Inside Out by Celia Davis. That said, a wealth of detailed information is contained in this book and the illustrations are exceptional. Unfortunately, these beautiful illustrations are captioned in Snodgrass shorthand. The suboesophageal ganglion becomes a SoeGng, a sensory plate becomes SPl and so on. When you are trying to get your brain around all these anatomical names, the abbreviations are a hindrance – rather like an english speaker learning russian from a german text book!

 
Best Suited for: This book should be in the collection of any student working on the BBKA biology modules – and anyone else who delights in exquisite anatomical drawings.

Beekeeping Study Notes - Modules 5, 6, 7, & 8

J.D. & B.D Yates

Like the review of the study Notes for Modules 1-4 above, this book alone is not of sufficient depth to satisfy the exam requirements. A personal observation is that the modules become increasingly complex as you work through them. As such, I found this book less used than the previous version as, for example, the biology is better studied direct from either Dade, Snodgrass or Davis (reviews above).

Like the other version, it contains a range of information that is not easily found in a single point source and will save those studying from hours of work.On that point alone it is well worth purchasing.

A useful reference manual, but much material is published fairly concisely elsewhere, e.g. Dade/Snodgrass, Pheremones of Social Insects etc**

Best Suited for: Those studying BBKA modules, and every Beekeeping club library should not be without a copy.

*Note the syllabus have changed slightly.

 Beekeeping - A Seasonal Guide

by Ron Brown

 For the Love of Bees - The story of Brother Adam of Buckfast Abbey

by Lesley Bill

 Beekeeping and the Law - Swarms and Neighbours

David Frimston and David Smith

Medical Aspects of Beekeeping

Harry Riches

A book written by a Doctor and beekeeper who has also suffered from allergic reactions to bee stings. Covers all aspects of beekeeping related medicine - propolis, etc. but I bought this book after suffering an allergic reaction to bee stings. Red eyes, itchiness, red arm pits and itchiness in the groin - and a trip to the local accident and emergency for some anti-histamines left me needing to know more about allergies to bee stings. This book had plenty of details, and left me with the understanding about differences between types of reaction, local, systemic and anaphylaxis (or anaphylactic) and armed with a better understanding, I had the confidence to continue beekeeping and suffered no further reactions.

Recommended for: Anyone interested in the benefits of honey, pollen, propolis etc. Anyone who has reactions to stings.Beekeeping club safety officers etc.

The Pollen Loads of the Honey Bee

by Dorothy Hodges

The 1974 facsimile reprint of Dorothy Hodges ‘The Pollen Loads of the Honeybee’ contains two drawings and 13 pages on methods of melissopalynology that are not in the 1952 edition. A comparison between the pollen colour charts, for which this book is justly famous, shows only the most subtle differences in hue between the first edition, where large sheets of accurately reproduced colour were cut into small squares and stuck onto the pages and subsequent editions where they were reproduced as part of the general printing process. Dorothy Hodges was an artist – she would have noticed – most beekeepers will not. A student of beekeeping will get enough information from the later editions (plus the extra text) and the more expensive first editions are probably more appropriate for bibliophiles.

Unfortunately currently out of print. Typical second hand prices vary from £50+. Earlier versions, with hand painted pollen colour plates cost more ~£100. To obtain a copy, search google for second hand book suppliers.

The Dark European Honey Bee

Frederik Ruttner

 Background to Bee Breeding

John H. Atkinson

 Sweetness & Light

Hattie Ellis

 The Hive

by Bee Wilson

A case of Hives

Edited by Len Heath

Contains contributions from a host of respected beekeepers including the editor. Each beekeeper makes the case for a particular hive design from the popular national and WBC through all the other Hives available, including the use of long hives and Skeps! For the new beekeeper it is an invaluable source of information on the different hive designs that should help with the key first decision of which hive to go for. For both beginners and the more experienced the book gives an interesting insight into the factors that should be considered when deciding what hive to use and the importance of particular choices for particular situations. For example the WBC has a distinct advantage in an exposed site where its double wall provides extra protection from driven rain and summer heat, the further north ones goes the requirement for a larger brood area declines with the weather, thus the preference for the Smith hive in Scotland. I was surprised that such reasonable cases could be made for most of the hive designs but always in the contact of particular circumstances. Effort necessary, climate, Queen strain, cost are all key factors when making the decision on a particular design. There are a couple of very interesting charts detailing the relative costs of hives and more interestingly the cost index per square inch of brood and super comb which reveal contrasting results on the cost of setting up an apiary with the different designs.

Useful for: Beginners, those yet to start beekeeping, anyone studying BBKA Module 1

NOTE: Out of print and I wouldn't consider it to be worth more than £10.