The Beekeeper's Problem Solver: 100 Common Problems Explored and Explained

by James E. Tew

Author, experienced beekeeper, and apiary expect James E. Tew explains 100 common problems faced by beekeepers, clearly spelling out their underlying causes and how to solve all of them.

Beekeeping requires understanding, commitment, and attention to detail. Laying the groundwork for a successful hive is essential, and demands a keen appreciation of critical areas like hive management, breed choice, and health requirements.

Bees often disguise problems, though, making recognizing trouble in the crucial, initial stages that much more difficult. Whether you’re a newcomer or an old hand, The Beekeeper’s Problem Solver provides the information you need to nip problems in the bud, or avoid them in the first place.

Each beekeeping problem is tackled in depth, covering a wide range of practical tips and useful insights. The problems are conveniently organized into the following

Beekeeping Basics – My new bees arrived during a cool, rainy period. … Beekeeping Equipment – The beehive smoker will not stay lit. … Biology and Behavior of the Colony – There are many dead drones at the hive entrance. … Managing and Manipulating Hives – The brood nest has been built across multiple boxes. … Queen Production and Maintenance – The queen is not a good egg producer. … Diseases and Pests of Honey Bees – Varroa mites have overrun the colony. … Pollen and Pollination – Too few bees are pollinating the target crop. … Producing and Processing Honey – The honey filter keeps getting clogged. … Beeswax, Propolis, and Specialty Issues – Propolis is difficult to gather and process. …
Don’t lose your hive to something preventable, just use this problem solver!

Genres: Gardening, Reference

Audible Audio

First published March 1, 2015

Reviews

[Quinn Crossley · Rating 3 out of 5]

a great book for learning about beekeeping but mostly for general troubleshooting

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading about honey bees. I liked that this book was a fast read. For most of the book there is a question and then the answer. And on the page opposite it there is a picture with a small amount of text.
I hope I know more about answers to honey bee problems after reading this book. I wish my brain were like a photocopier and could remember everything I read. Its not. I wish books could be downloaded to my brain like software for a computer. It can't. Maybe in the future.
Two answers stood out to me. One was about problems with aunts. In another book I read about putting the legs of the hive stand in cans and filling those cans with motor oil. This book says that the aunts can get past that so that solution does not work all the time. And the other answer was about laying workers. Another book I read said to shake the the workers off the frames away from the hive and the laying workers will not be able to make it back to the hive. This book says that the laying workers will be able to make it to the hive. So shaking the workers off the frames away from the hive does not work. At least I have remembered some of what I have read in other bee keeping books.
I enjoy reading about bees so I enjoyed reading this book. Now all I need to do is remember what I read so that I will have the information when I need it.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a new beekeeper. This book was ok but not the best one I've read about keeping bees. It is easy and fast to read. Each of the 100 problems are limited to one page each. Some of the problems have easy solutions (for example, hive tips over or you drop it when moving it). Some things like varroa mites need much more than a one page discussion to help you overcome the issue. So, possibly a good introduction but not the only bee book you need to have on your shelf.

[Glennis OBrien · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent add-on for additional information. The 100 questions are very good for first-time bee keepers. Chapters 1 thru 10 are basics. Chapters 11 thru 26 are about problems you may have with everything from gloves to actual hive equipment to use or not. Chapters 27 thru 36 are about biology and behavior of the colony. It is a quick read and if you have issues, you can look those up. I really enjoyed problem solver.

[Lily · Rating 2 out of 5]

A brief and simple exploration of problems that come up, some of which are easily preventable and even a little bit embarrassing to befall you, like having the hives top over or killing the bees somehow.

[M D · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an easy read; as you can take on one page at a time, but really lacks the depth to problem solve. There is not enough information on each topic to fully reveal what needs to happen to solve the problems.

[Nicole England · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some helpful information.

[Donald Stockley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great tips for beekeepers and people like me wanting to better understand some of the problems that pop up when considering this new hobby.

[Chris Andrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book that would be very helpful to a new beekeeper.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. My husband had asked about what it takes to raise bees for honey and pollination of plants, so I thought this book could help. It certainly did. While the format of the book is more Q&A than narrative, it was easy to read. The problems are broken down into a few sections, so if you are a beekeeper and have a specific type of problem, it is straightforward to find. The pictures are very helpful, because they show some of the symptoms you might see if your bees have a problem. And it seems fairly comprehensive, but it's hard for me to judge since I don't currently keep bees.

What I liked most about this book is that it contains information about bee behaviour that I can use when interacting with bees in the garden. I was a bit afraid of bees before reading the book, but now I know a bit more about their movements and can avoid upsetting them. For that reason, I think this book is good for anyone who is thinking about keeping bees or has a garden where bees visit, and not just those who already are beekeepers.

[Howard Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I so want to begin raising bees to help sustain our agriculture and also to have some home grown honey. Everyone should read this book. Bee keeping is a serious matter. Without the bees we would have no food.