The Principles of Bee Improvement

An important and relevant book aimed at all beekeepers interested in bee breeding with a view to 'improving what we have got' rather than that of constant importation of bees. The author explains how the long-term prospects for beekeeping in the UK will be brighter if this route is taken.

Beekeepers are often tempted by the use of imported stock because of the prolific nature of the queens and the docility of the colonies produced. Other attributes, particularly their hardiness and ability to perform in our conditions are untested, and their docility is often quickly lost in succeeding generations. Further imports are then thought to be necessary in order to raise the standards again. The system of regularly bringing in new queens allows for no local adaptation and no thought is given as to how to maintain any improved quality, other than by repeating the process and importing further new stock.

Instead of the endless battle against the decline in quality of our bees and the experience of high colony losses, we could witness a steady improvement in the quality of our stock if don't import bees but breed our own native strains instead. A more uniform, but genetically diverse, bee could be produced using locally-reared queens with qualities of hardiness, ease of management, productivity and good-temper.

This book deliberately offers a 'low-tech' approach, relevant to, and achievable by, all beekeepers at any level.