Photographs show life among the Gurung people and the techniques they use in gathering honey from cliffside hives

In the plain of the Ganges in southern Nepal, Eric Valli has discovered the existence of a fascinating nomadic tribe. Known as the bee people, the Rajis survive by harvesting wild honey and by fishing; a way of life that seems to have remained unchanged for centuries. In a forest overwhelmed by the humming of the bees, they collect wild honey from immense hives perched high in gigantic trees. The honey is a source of food, but is also used to treat wounds, and is a valuable commodity.

From the perspective of local scientists, this book provides insight into bees and bee management of Asia, with a special focus on honey bees. Asia is home to at least nine honey bee species, including the introduced European honey bee, Apis mellifera. Although A. mellifera and the native Asian honey bee, Apis cerana, are the most commonly employed species for commercial beekeeping, the remaining non-managed native honey bee species have important ecological and economic roles on the continent. Species distributions of most honey bee species overlap in Southeast Asia, thus promoting the potential for interspecies transmission of pests and parasites, as well as their spread to other parts of the world by human translocation. Losses of managed A. mellifera colonies is of great concern around the world, including in Asia. Such global colony losses are believed to be caused, in part, by pests and parasites originating from Asia such as the mite Varroa destructor, the microsporidian Nosema ceranae, and several bee viruses. Taking advantage of the experience of leading regional bee researchers, this book provides insight into the current situation of bees and bee management in Asia. Recent introductions of honey bee parasites of Asian origin to other parts of the world ensures that the contents of this book are broadly relevant to bee scientists, researchers, government offi cials, and the general public around the world.

Are you ready to learn something new? The 2nd volume in the Knowledge Stew Guide series continues the quest to find the most interesting facts in the world. Take a journey through topics that range from science, history, and geography to food, entertainment, and business and learn the facts behind the facts. Discover things you might not have known about the moon, or why we're taller in the morning and shorter at night. Find out about a strange amusement park, a secret vault at Mt. Rushmore, or the world's most expensive coffee. These things, plus plenty more, are waiting for your brain to take them in. Just don't forget your spoon. For even more facts, check out Volume 1 of Knowledge Stew: The Guide to the Most Interesting Facts in the World.

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They work hard, are devoted to family, love sex, and know the importance of a good piece of real estate. Honey bees, and the daily workings of their close-knit colonies, are one of nature's great miracles. And they produce one of nature's greatest edible bounties: honey. More than just a palate pleaser, honey was once an offering to the gods, a preservative, and a medicine whose sought-after curative powers were detailed in ancient texts . . . and are being rediscovered by modern medical science. In Letters from the Hive, Prof. Stephen Buchmann takes us into the hive--nursery, honey factory, queen's inner sanctum--and out to the world of backyard gardens, open fields, and deserts in full bloom, where the age-old sexual dance between flowers and bees makes life on earth as we know it possible. Hailed for their hard work, harmonious society, and, mistakenly, for their celibacy, bees have a link to our species that goes beyond biology. In Letters from the Hive, Buchmann explores the fascinating role of bees in human culture and mythology, following the "honey hunters" of native cultures in Malaysia, the Himalayas, and the Australian Outback as they risk life and limb to locate a treasure as valuable as any gold. To contemplate a world without bees is to imagine a desolate place, culturally and biologically, and Buchmann shows how with each acre of land sacrificed to plow, parking lot, or shopping mall, we inch closer to what could become a chilling reality. He also offers honey-based recipes, cooking tips, and home remedies--further evidence of the gifts these creatures have bestowed on us. Told with wit, wisdom, and affection, and rich with anecdote and science, Letters from the Hive is nature writing at its best. This is natural history to be treasured, a sweet tribute that buzzes with life.