An Up-Close Look at Pollinators Around the World Bees (Hardback) - Common

by Sam Droege

While we eat, work, and sleep, bees are busy around the world. More than 20,000 species are in constant motion! They pollinate plants of all types and keep our natural world intact. In Bees , you'll find a new way to appreciate these tiny wonders. Sam Droege and Laurence Packer present more than 100 of the most eye-catching bees from around the world as you've never seen up-close and with stunning detail. You'll stare into alien-like faces. You'll get lost in mesmerizing colors and patterns, patches and stripes of arresting yellow or blue. Whether you linger on your first close look at the Western Domesticated Honey Bee or excitedly flip straight to the rare Dinagapostemon sicheli , there's no doubt you'll be blown away by the beauty of bees.

Genres: Nature

Hardcover

First published July 1, 2015

About the author

Note: all of our photography is available on our Flickr site:https://www.flickr.com/photos/usgsbiml/

Reviews

[H (no longer expecting notifications) Balikov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of us like bees; some of us keep bees; almost all of us have some knowledge of bees. This beautiful book will appeal to every one of you. I have never seen such a complete catalog of bees, nor as informative a text about each of the more than one hundred species pictured.

But the prize beyond value consists of the incredibly detailed photographs of these bees. I have a terrible reaction to bee venom, so I am wary of getting up close and intimate with any bee. Having said that, I am simply beyond words at the beauty of these creatures and the variety. The details of multi-faceted eyes; antennae, colorful bodies and unusual structures kept me avidly turning to the next page. This book is a treasure.

PS:
My second trip through the book leaves me as delighted as the first!

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful, informative, fun

[Koen vV · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prachtig uitgegeven kijkboek met toch ook voldoende informatie over bijen uit de hele wereld.

[Sheryl Normandeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

The bees may be from around the world, but the photography is absolutely out of this world in this beautiful hardcover offering from Sam Droege and Laurence Packer. The detail and clarity of Droege’s images are breathtaking, a true celebration of different species of this complex and valuable pollinator. The native bee specimens represented in this book inhabit locations such as Guyana, Chile, Paraguay, South Africa, the United States, India, Thailand, England, and Peru (among others); many come from private or public collections or were personally collected by the authors. It is a delight to armchair travel and learn about the bees that most of us will never be able to see in our lifetimes: the attractive furry white cape (and contrasting nasty hooked spurs) of the Spurred Grappler (Trichothurgus dubius), the Atlas Morning Glory Bee (which, as its name suggests, takes pollen from morning glories – and only morning glories), exquisitely-iridescent Xylocopa (carpenter bees), and the tellingly-monikered Red-Butted Campanula Lover (Melitta haemorrhoidalis) from England. There are the deep blue Osmias from the United States and the Maple Solitary Miner, which takes pollen and nectar in early cold spring from emerging maple trees. The large, metallic green Black-Winged Cuckoo Orchid Bee from Guyana seems almost supernatural, as does the Long-Nosed Sandlover, a bee with a formidably long tongue and head that resides in the Atacama Desert of Chile. The easily-digestible short profiles of each bee offer interesting facts about their habitat, behaviour, and distinguishing features.

While this isn’t the sort of book that gardeners will likely use to identify the bees in their own landscape, the incredible images and fascinating information make it a must-have in your garden library. Macro photographers – particularly those interested in insects – will find it a true inspiration for their own work.

[Blue Weasel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most beautiful books I've ever seen.

I actually purchased one book for my nephew, who is home schooled, and one for myself. Very happy with that decision. This book is truly visually amazing.

The book is divided into different regions with a paragraph of information provided on each bee. It is more of an informational and eye candy book.

[Jamaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a Goodreads giveaway. This books is amazing! I do plan on keeping bees next year and this book gave a beautiful view on bees. The photos in this book are incredible. My kids have spent a lot of time browsing through this book as well. I am very happy to have had the opportunity to read this book.

[Meredith Spidel · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband is a beekeeper and is delighting in this gorgeous book. It's such quality, and a lovely gift for anyone in your life who has an interest in bees. The pictures are amazing!