Bees of the World: A Guide to Every Family (A Guide to Every Family, 5)

**A beautifully illustrated introduction to the incredible variety of bees from around the world** When many people think of bees, they are likely to picture the western domesticated honey bee, insects that live in large, socially complex societies inside a hive with a single queen and thousands of workers. But this familiar bee is just one of more than 20,000 species of bees—and almost none of the others is anything like it. In __Bees of the World__, Laurence Packer, one of the world’s foremost experts on wild bees, celebrates the amazing diversity of bees—from size and appearance to nests and social organization. Providing clear, accurate accounts of the seven bee families, __Bees of the World__ presents all the key information on generic characteristics, habits, and habitat, illustrated with incredible and often rare photographs that show bees in their natural habitats—foraging, nesting, raising their young, and more. The book reveals the secrets of these extraordinary insects as well as their importance in the global ecosystem and the ways humans can help protect them. * Provides a richly illustrated exploration of bees from around the world * Examines more than 100 genera of bees, giving a taste of the remarkable breadth of bee appearance and biology * Explores bee anatomy, behavior, classification, evolution, life cycle, and habitats

A beautifully illustrated introduction to the incrediblevariety of bees from around the world When many peoplethink of bees, they are likely to picture the western domesticatedhoney bee, insects that live in large, socially complex societiesinside a hive with a single queen and thousands of workers. Butthis familiar bee is just one of more than 20,000 species ofbees-and almost none of the others is anything like it. In Beesof the World, Laurence Packer, one of the world's foremostexperts on wild bees, celebrates the amazing diversity of bees-fromsize and appearance to nests and social organization. Providingclear, accurate accounts of the seven bee families, Bees of theWorld presents all the key information on genericcharacteristics, habits, and habitat, illustrated with incredibleand often rare photographs that show bees in their naturalhabitats-foraging, nesting, raising their young, and more. The bookreveals the secrets of these extraordinary insects as well as theirimportance in the global ecosystem and the ways humans can helpprotect them.

• Provides a richly illustrated exploration of bees from aroundthe world
• Examines more than 100 genera of bees, giving a taste of theremarkable breadth of bee appearance and biology
• Explores bee anatomy, behavior, classification, evolution, lifecycle, and habitats

"When many people think of bees, they are likely to picture the western domesticated honey bee, insects that live in large, socially complex societies inside a hive with a single queen and thousands of workers. But this familiar bee is just one of more than 20,000 species of bees--and almost none of the others is anything like it. In Bees of the World, Laurence Packer, one of the world's foremost experts on wild bees, celebrates the amazing diversity of bees--from size and appearance to nests and social organization. Providing clear, accurate accounts of the seven bee families, Bees of the World presents all the key information on generic characteristics, habits, and habitat, illustrated with incredible and often rare photographs that show bees in their natural habitats--foraging, nesting, raising their young, and more. The book reveals the secrets of these extraordinary insects as well as their importance in the global ecosystem and the ways humans can help protect them."--Publisher's website CONTENTS Introduction Melittidae Andrenidae Halictidae Stenotritidae Colletidae Megachilidae Apidae Glossary Further reading and useful resources Index Picture credits and Acknowledgments