Killer Bees: The Africanized Honey Bee in the Americas [Paperback]

Mark L. Winston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1993

es have acquired a reputation among the general public that's straight out of a sci-fi movie. Here Winston seeks to restore balance to this picture by examining the biology of the Africanized honey bee and tracing its predicted impact on North American agriculture and beekeeping.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Combining his field experiences with the research of others, bee authority Winston ( The Biology of the Honey Bee , LJ 3/1/87) uses South America as a model for predicting the incursion of "killer bees" into the United States and their possible ecological and economic impact. His suggested strategies for coping with this invasion, based on current Canadian efforts, provide hope for the U.S. honey industry. Scientific comparisons of African and European honeybees illustrate how these insects are adapted to survive under different environmental conditions. Within this context the nature of the "killer bee" becomes clear, meeting the author's goal of educating the public rather than scaring them. This accurate book is essential reading for natural history and beekeeping enthusiasts. For general collections.
-Frank Reiser, Nassau Community Coll., Garden City, N.Y.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Mark Winston encourages the spread of sound information about the Africanized bee by providing a concise, factual introduction to its biology...As a unified account of the biology and impact of the Africanized bee, the book must be reckoned with by anyone involved with the immigration of this insect into the United States. (Thomas D. Seeley Nature )

Killer Bees is the best-written book on bees since Maurice Maeterlinck's The Life of the Bee (1901)...I not only recommend this very well written book but believe it to be essential in the library of all bee scientists. (Warwick Kerr Times Literary Supplement )

Now here is a book that is both fun to read and accurately informative on the history and current knowledge of Africanized honey bees...I recommend this book to beekeepers, students and researchers in bee biology and also to students in general because of its treasury of information handled in such a readable fashion. (E. E. Southwick American Bee Journal )

Mark Winston has written an excellent introduction to these bees...It manages to include a history of the Africanized bee since its debut in Brazil in 1957, a good review of the scientific literature, and a clear prescription of what Winston thinks beekeepers, politicians and even journalists ought to do to adjust to their presence. (Jonathan Beard New Scientist )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Press (September 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674503538
• ISBN-13: 978-0674503533
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #742,453 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative Research & Explanation, June 2, 2006

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KTF (Medinah, IL United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Killer Bees: The Africanized Honey Bee in the Americas (Paperback)

The research on killer bees has advanced a tiny bit more since this book was written. However, this is a great explanation of the Africanized Honey Bee. It dispells a lot of myths and explains a lot of truths since this was written by the person who actually did the field research. I would love to see more research and books written on this topic so that the public would get the correct information about these creatures and we could realize the beneficial traits these bees may offer.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book Explaining the "Killer Bee" phenomenon, September 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Killer Bees: The Africanized Honey Bee in the Americas (Paperback)

This book ranks as one of the best books I have read on the subject of Africanized Honey Bees. (aka Killer Bees) This book is easily understood by the layperson, yet full of great data for the serious student of this exotic pest. From Texas to California, we have to learn how to live with this creature - it is not going away! I strongly recommend this book. While I have been teaching classes on the subject of Africanized Honey Bees for the better part of a decade, I still keep this book handy as a reference, and recommend it to my students.