This book review is supplied by the talented Kat Shiffler - who knows a thing or three about bees.
There is no shortage of books about bees. The eusocial honey
bee has mesmerized scientists, philosophers, political scientists, artists and
curious laypeople alike since the time of the ancient Egyptians. Apis mellifera, is often said to be the
most-studied species, after Homo sapiens.
But vastly overlooked are the world’s 20,000+ other fascinating bee species,
most of which are solitary. That is precisely the unique contribution of Noah
Wilson-Rich’s fabulous book, The Bee: ANatural History.
Wilson-Rich and other
contributors have put together a rich reference; an engaging narrative
explaining the big picture as well as practical hands-on discussions on hive
management and bee health. The Bee
goes further than any other bee book to explain and display in full-color, the
astounding diversity that exists in this corner of the animal kingdom.
The book’s directory of notable
bee species alone makes this a worthwhile purchase for any naturalist’s
library. Never before have I seen such wonderful photographs and complete
descriptions of the world’s species organized as solitary, stingless, bumble
and honey bees. The Bee makes visible
for the first time, lesser-known bee species that normally buzz just under our
radar. They don’t make honey, but are vitally important for pollination and the
health of the planet.
While the book’s scope is without
precedent, some sections are more robust than others. The sections on bee
evolution, ecology, genetics and physiology are wonderfully summarized, while
explanations of the human-bee relationship over time could be more developed
for my taste – indeed warranting another book.
Rich and his co-authors have made
an important and unique contribution to a body of knowledge that seemingly has
no end.
“The bee’s life is like a magic well: the more you draw from
it, the more it fills with water.” – biologist Karl von Frisch
