Listen to tiny tales from Buzzwing the hardworking honeybee. Combining nonfiction with a splash of fantasy, The Secret Life of Bees is a book to get lost in, time and again.
Bees have always been friends to man, even way back in prehistoric times. They feed on nectar and pollen and transform them into honey, a delicious substance that besides being a tasty food, it's a key ingredient for many beauty products, and a synonym for pleasant and nourishing pampering. But the importance of bees goes far beyond this. These special insects play a role of primary importance in the pollination of flowers and plants, which are at the base of the food chain of a great many animals. This book gives you the chance to get to know them from up close, and to explore their fascinatingly complex society, showing you how everything is perfectly organized, from the cleanliness of the hive to its defence, from gathering nectar to caring for the larvae. The book pays special attention to the dangers these hard-working insects currently face due to pollution and harmful human behaviour that risk interfering heavily with the life of a species that ought to be defended at all costs! AGES: 6 plus AUTHOR: Cristina Banfi Graduate in Natural Sciences at the Universita degli Studi di Milano, she has taught in a number of scholastic institutes. She is a founding member of the Museum Didactic Association (ADM) and ADMaiora, working in the field of education in museums and exhibitions. For over 20 years she has worked in scientific communication and learning through play and boasts a vast editorial experience in both education and popularisation, in particular for children and young adults.
The diversity of lifestyles, behaviors, and life cycles that bees possess is astounding, and Bees of the World is a well-rounded reference to these fascinating creatures. Presenting comprehensive coverage of bee species from around the world in an engaging format, this volume will delight readers and inform them about all aspects of the life of bees. The book first answers the question: What are bees? It then goes on to discuss the different families and distribution of bees. The expert authors also describe solitary bees - miners, masons, leaf-cutters, and carpenters - as well as social bees. Readers gain insight into the intricacies of bees' lives through the authoritative text, with special coverage of bees and their special relationship with flowers. The history of association between humans and bees, especially the honey bee Apis mellifera, is also addressed. Bees of the World is fully illustrated with detailed line illustrations and stunning color photographs, making it an ideal reference source for professional naturalists and amateurs alike.
A gorgeously illustrated flap book that gives a glimpse into the amazing and important world of bees. Why do bees have furry bodies? What happens inside a bee hive? How do bees know where to find flowers? Find out all about the amazing world of bees in this illustrated flap book for young children, with a focus on why bee are so important, and all the jobs they do that keep the planet healthy.
The most up-to-date and authoritative resource on the biology and evolution of solitary bees While social bees such as honey bees and bumble bees are familiar to most people, they comprise less than 10 percent of all bee species in the world. The vast majority of bees lead solitary lives, surviving without the help of a hive and using their own resources to fend off danger and protect their offspring. This book draws on new research to provide a comprehensive and authoritative overview of solitary bee biology, offering an unparalleled look at these remarkable insects. The Solitary Bees uses a modern phylogenetic framework to shed new light on the life histories and evolution of solitary bees. It explains the foraging behavior of solitary bees, their development, and competitive mating tactics. The book describes how they construct complex nests using an amazing variety of substrates and materials, and how solitary bees have co-opted beneficial mites, nematodes, and fungi to provide safe environments for their brood. It looks at how they have evolved intimate partnerships with flowering plants and examines their associations with predators, parasites, microbes, and other bees. This up-to-date synthesis of solitary bee biology is an essential resource for students and researchers, one that paves the way for future scholarship on the subject. Beautifully illustrated throughout, The Solitary Bees also documents the critical role solitary bees play as crop pollinators, and raises awareness of the dire threats they face, from habitat loss and climate change to pesticides, pathogens, parasites, and invasive species.
Filled with more than 150 beautiful, crystal-clear photos and bee fun facts, The Book of Bees is the ultimate guide for kids to explore the lives of these stunning insects and learn about their critical role in fostering a sustainable, healthy Earth. Did you know there are blue bees and green bees? Or that one species of bee nests in snail shells? Or that many bees don’t live in hives? With more than 20,000 species of bees worldwide, there’s more to bees than just honey! The Book of Bees gives curious kids a close-up view of busy buzzers from around the world. From the familiar Western honeybee to the extra-large Himalayan giant honeybee and Australia’s vibrant neon cuckoo bee, these pages are packed with detailed photos and fascinating facts on more than 50 species of bees. In-depth species profiles help you identify bees, learn about bee-havior, and find your favorites! And special features examine topics like hive life, nest cells, and other pollinators. The world of bees is exciting and surprising—and The Book of Bees will leave you buzzing!
Seeley, a world authority on honey bees, sheds light on why wild honey bees are still thriving while those living in managed colonies are in crisis. Drawing on the latest science as well as insights from his own pioneering fieldwork, he describes in extraordinary detail how honey bees live in nature and shows how this differs significantly from their lives under the management of beekeepers. Seeley presents an entirely new approach to beekeeping--Darwinian Beekeeping--which enables honey bees to use the toolkit of survival skills their species has acquired over the past thirty million years, and to evolve solutions to the new challenges they face today. He shows beekeepers how to use the principles of natural selection to guide their practices, and he offers a new vision of how beekeeping can better align with the natural habits of honey bees.
An incomparable illustrated look at the critical role bees play in the life of our planet Bees pollinate more than 130 fruit, vegetable, and seed crops that we rely on to survive. Bees are also crucial to the reproduction and diversity of flowering plants, and the economic contributions of these irreplaceable insects measure in the tens of billions of dollars each year. Yet bees are dying at an alarming rate, threatening food supplies and ecosystems around the world. In this richly illustrated natural history of the bee, which includes more than 250 color photographs and illustrations, Noah Wilson-Rich and his team of bee experts provide a window into the vitally important role that bees play in the life of our planet. Earth is home to more than 20,000 bee species, from fluorescent-colored orchid bees and sweat bees to flower-nesting squash bees and leaf-cutter bees. This book provides an unmatched account of this astounding diversity, blending an engaging narrative with practical, hands-on discussions of such topics as beekeeping and bee health. It explores our relationship with the bee over evolutionary time, examining how it originated and where it stands today—and what the future holds for humanity and bees alike. Provides an accessible, richly illustrated look at the human–bee relationship over time Features a section on beekeeping and handy guides to identifying, treating, and preventing honey bee diseases Covers bee evolution, ecology, genetics, and physiology Includes a directory of notable bee s Presents a holistic approach to bee health, including organic and integrated pest management techniques Shows how you can help bee populations