Contents: 1. Introduction. 2. History of beekeeping. 3. Classification of honeybees. 4. Beginning beekeeping. 5. Honeybee species. 6. Colony organization. 7. Beekeeping appliances. 8. Social behaviour. 9. Bee flora. 10. Manipulation of honeybees colonies. 11. Seasonal management. 12. Mass rearing of queens. 13. Diseases, pests and enemies of honeybees. 14. Honeybees products. 15. Honeybees and pollination. 16. Pesticidal poisoning to bees. 17. Beekeeping and ancillary industries. 18. Conclusions. References. Appendices: 1. Economics of beekeeping. 2. Information sources on bees and beekeeping.

"Beekeeping is a scientific study and for the efficient management of colonies for honey production and pollination, a proper understanding of the behaviour is essential. This book deals with the theoretical and practical approaches in beekeeping. The book contains 20 chapters covering all aspects of beekeeping which include importance and scope, history of beekeeping, systematic position and autonomy, honey bee species, colony organization, beekeeping equipments, social behaviour, bee flora, manipulation of colonies, seasonal management, mass rearing of queens, crop pollination, pesticide management, bee hive products. Diseases and enemies, beekeeping and ancillary industries, information sources, conclusion and strategies.

"This book will be useful to all those interested in bees and beekeeping as a hobby or as a profession. Besides, the information provided in this book will be useful to pollination biologists, students, teachers, scientists of agriculture, animal behaviour, botany, conservation, biology, ecology, entomology, environmental biology, forestry, genetics, plant breeding, horticulture, toxicology, zoology, seed growers and seed agencies." (jacket)