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[(A Sting in the Tale)] [ By (author) Dave Goulson ] [May, 2014]
Dave Goulson became obsessed with wildlife as a small boy growing up in rural Shropshire, starting with an increasingly exotic menagerie of pets. But bees are where Goulson’s true passion lies—the humble bumblebee in particular.Once commonly found in the marshes of Kent, the English short-haired bumblebee went extinct in the United Kingdom, but by a twist of fate still exists in the wilds of New Zealand, the descendants of a few pairs shipped over in the nineteenth century. Goulson’s passionate quest to reintroduce it to its native land is one of the highlights of a book that includes original research into the habits of these mysterious creatures, history’s relationship with the bumblebee, and advice on how to protect the bumblebee for future generations.One of the United Kingdom’s most respected conservationists and the founder of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Goulson combines lighthearted tales of a child’s growing passion for nature with a deep insight into the crucial importance of the bumblebee. He details the minutiae of life in the nest, sharing fascinating research into the effects intensive farming has had on our bee population and the potential dangers if we are to continue down this path.
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First published April 25, 2013
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About the author
Dave Goulson
20 books344 followersAfter a childhood chasing butterflies and collecting bird’s eggs, I studied Biology at Oxford University, and then did a PhD on butterfly ecology at Oxford Brookes University. Shortly afterwards I got a lectureship at University of Southampton, where I stayed for 11 years. It was there that I began to specialize in bumblebee ecology and conservation. In 2006 I became Professor of Biology and Stirling University. In 2006 I also founded the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, a charity devoted to reversing bumblebee declines. In 2013 I moved to Sussex University.
I have published over 200 scientific articles on the ecology of bees and other insects, and am author of Bumblebees: Behaviour, Ecology and Conservation (2010, Oxford University Press) and A Sting in the Tale (2013, Jonathan Cape), a popular science book about bumblebees. A Buzz in the Meadow (Jonathon Cape) is due to be published in September 2014.
I am a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. In 2010 I was BBSRC "Social Innovator of the Year" and in 2013 I won the Marsh Award for Conservation Biology from the Zoological Society of London.
I have published over 200 scientific articles on the ecology of bees and other insects, and am author of Bumblebees: Behaviour, Ecology and Conservation (2010, Oxford University Press) and A Sting in the Tale (2013, Jonathan Cape), a popular science book about bumblebees. A Buzz in the Meadow (Jonathon Cape) is due to be published in September 2014.
I am a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. In 2010 I was BBSRC "Social Innovator of the Year" and in 2013 I won the Marsh Award for Conservation Biology from the Zoological Society of London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 461 reviews
April 6, 2018
It is humbling to reflect that though a bumblebee has a brain smaller than a grain of rice, it has powers of perception and learning that often put us mammals to shame.
Amazing book.
For one thing, you will learn a ton of information about bees. Goulson focuses on bumblebees but you will learn a few things about honeybees as well.
For another thing, Goulson is HILARIOUS. Oh my gosh, I was laughing like a maniac while reading this book. Everyone was looking at me strangely. Oftentimes people suspiciously asked me what was so funny. They probably thought I was cracked having laughing fits over a non-fiction book about bees. But Goulson is so funny! I can't compare him to Mary Roach, no one will ever be Mary Roach, but still, he is immensely charming and amusing.
The only caveat I'd place on the book is that the prologue deals with Goulson's childhood and specifically his pets growing up. Many met gruesome and horrifying ends. Not because Goulson was a malicious serial-killer-in-training or anything, simply because he was too young to have pets and care for them without any adult supervision whatsoever. He describes his pets' deaths in funny ways that are designed to make you laugh, but for those whom animal deaths are never a laughing matter (especially when unnecessary and preventable) I thought I'd include this little warning. Animals die and they die horribly, often as a direct result of Goulson's neglect or his particular brand of 'caring.' Read the prologue at your own risk, you know your own tolerance levels.
TL;DR - I'd recommend this to ANYONE, it is extremely funny and extremely educational. Who would ever have thought reading a non-fiction book about bees would be this much fun? :D
Amazing book.
For one thing, you will learn a ton of information about bees. Goulson focuses on bumblebees but you will learn a few things about honeybees as well.
For another thing, Goulson is HILARIOUS. Oh my gosh, I was laughing like a maniac while reading this book. Everyone was looking at me strangely. Oftentimes people suspiciously asked me what was so funny. They probably thought I was cracked having laughing fits over a non-fiction book about bees. But Goulson is so funny! I can't compare him to Mary Roach, no one will ever be Mary Roach, but still, he is immensely charming and amusing.
The only caveat I'd place on the book is that the prologue deals with Goulson's childhood and specifically his pets growing up. Many met gruesome and horrifying ends. Not because Goulson was a malicious serial-killer-in-training or anything, simply because he was too young to have pets and care for them without any adult supervision whatsoever. He describes his pets' deaths in funny ways that are designed to make you laugh, but for those whom animal deaths are never a laughing matter (especially when unnecessary and preventable) I thought I'd include this little warning. Animals die and they die horribly, often as a direct result of Goulson's neglect or his particular brand of 'caring.' Read the prologue at your own risk, you know your own tolerance levels.
TL;DR - I'd recommend this to ANYONE, it is extremely funny and extremely educational. Who would ever have thought reading a non-fiction book about bees would be this much fun? :D
March 21, 2024
Given this book's average rating, I've got an unpopular opinion, it seems like. I completely fail to see the point of this book. It introduces a story about a project to reintroduce a once-native bumblebee back to the UK, rambles about bumblebees & overshares about his doctoral students and himself for a hundred pages or so, then finally loops back around to finish that story of reintroduction with the most anticlimactic ending you can imagine.
When he DOES talk about bumblebee science, I was on board. But those discussions were far too few and far between. And who - in GOD'S NAME - starts a nature book with an intro talking about how many creatures he accidentally killed during his childhood?! It was cringey and added nothing.
When he DOES talk about bumblebee science, I was on board. But those discussions were far too few and far between. And who - in GOD'S NAME - starts a nature book with an intro talking about how many creatures he accidentally killed during his childhood?! It was cringey and added nothing.
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April 19, 2022A very likeable memoir / nature book from a bumblebee expert, with possibly more information than you need on bumblebees, entertainingly presented. Read and make your garden bee-friendly.
February 6, 2019
(Nearly 4.5) A wholly engaging tour through everything we know and are still trying to learn about bumblebees. I saw Goulson, founder of the UK’s Bumblebee Conservation Trust, speak at a nature conference in November and found him to be just as enthusiastic and well-informed in person. His occasional anthropomorphisms are unfailingly endearing: “gangs of males can often be seen clustered together, reminiscent of a group of men propping up the bar in a pub.” I also especially liked “Sex has always been difficult for plants, because they cannot move.”
If you think bumblebees and their kin have very little to do with your daily life, think again: “If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos.” (E. O. Wilson)
Related reading: Keeping the Bees by Laurence Packer.
If you think bumblebees and their kin have very little to do with your daily life, think again: “If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos.” (E. O. Wilson)
Related reading: Keeping the Bees by Laurence Packer.
August 31, 2016
A marvelous little book about bumblebees! Non-fiction at its best, entertaining and thought provoking. I thought honey bees were important pollinators, but bumblebees are too. For example tomato plants are only pollinated by bumblebees. Until these were bred for commercial use in the 1990's or so, tomato plants were pollinated by hand - by humans! Sadly many bumblebees are on the verge of extinction due to invading species, disease and loss of habitat.
The author knows his subject intimately and tells about it with a great deal of humor.
I loved bumblebees even before I read this book. I am very mindful of having flowers on the terrace that they enjoy, and that I don't use insecticide on. I love watching them. Until next bumblebee season I must consider what else I can do to help the local population. You should too.
The author knows his subject intimately and tells about it with a great deal of humor.
I loved bumblebees even before I read this book. I am very mindful of having flowers on the terrace that they enjoy, and that I don't use insecticide on. I love watching them. Until next bumblebee season I must consider what else I can do to help the local population. You should too.
July 1, 2014
If this were only a book about British bumblebees, I imagine it would have a fairly limited audience. Fortunately, it offers much more and shares some important insights about the dangers of tampering with the environment without a proper understanding of how all of the parts work together. The author also provides fascinating examples of doing experimental biology in both lab and field and fears not to give accounts of experiments that went seriously wrong. His message is simple and amply illustrated:
Although written with clarity, erudition, and humor, the prose lacks sparkle. Some of the author's comments on his graduate students (although intended to be humorous) verge on bad taste. I would otherwise have given the book four stars. It is definitely worth reading if you have any interest in bumblebees, biology, or ecology, or if you want to know something of the life of a scientist who cares deeply about both his area of specialization and how to apply his knowledge in practical ways to make the world a better place for all its inhabitants.
We have barely begun to understand the complexity of interactions between living creatures on earth, yet we often choose to squander the irreplaceable, to discard those things that both keep us alive and make life worth living. Perhaps if we save a bee today we can save the world tomorrow?
Although written with clarity, erudition, and humor, the prose lacks sparkle. Some of the author's comments on his graduate students (although intended to be humorous) verge on bad taste. I would otherwise have given the book four stars. It is definitely worth reading if you have any interest in bumblebees, biology, or ecology, or if you want to know something of the life of a scientist who cares deeply about both his area of specialization and how to apply his knowledge in practical ways to make the world a better place for all its inhabitants.
February 9, 2022
It doesn’t surprise me that there are academics who specialize in bees, but I would not have imagined there were so many of them. I lost track of how many specialists were cited in this book, but there must have been dozens, not even counting all the graduate students and PhD candidates scurrying around counting burrows and analyzing bee poop. The author of this book, Dr. Dave Goulson, is a bumblebee guy who loves his job and is a fount of knowledge about all things bee-y.
When people think about insect pollinators, it is honeybees that come to mind, but they service only one sector of plants. They are small and have short tongues, so they have to specialize, which means that “honeybees are absolutely hopeless at pollinating some crops such as runner beans or tomatoes, whilst they are good at pollinating others such as oilseed rape or kiwi fruit. Depending on their size, shape, behaviour and the length of their tongues, different bee species are suited to pollinating different types of flowers, and some plants are better pollinated by moths, or flies, or beetles.”
Another interesting fact is that there are an estimated 25,000 species of bees, though the number is declining fast because of humans, and the majority of them are solitary. Bumblebee nests last only one year. At the end of the summer fertilized queens fly out and burrow somewhere to try to survive the winter, and in the spring restart the cycle, but most nests will have only 50-400 bees. Once again, a comparison to honeybees is illuminating: “A single honeybee hive contains 50,000 workers or more, and it is common for beekeepers to put twenty hives in a single place – 1 million bees. A single honeybee nest harvests up to 60 kilograms of pollen and 150 kilograms of nectar per year. At high hive densities, honeybees can harvest up to 22,500 kilograms of honey per square kilometre.”
Tomatoes are pollinated by bumblebees worldwide. Except on mainland Australia, where each flower on every plant is individually pollinated by a person walking around with a vibrating wand to transfer pollen, an expensive and labor-intensive process. Why is this? Because Australia has had bad experiences with introduced species (think cane toads, rabbits, and feral cats) and has decided not to risk the unintended consequences of another one. As Dr. Goulson’s own research has shown, since bumblebees pollinate whatever flowers are available, they will happily do their part to increase the spread of unwanted plants such as weeds. There are, however, bumblebees in Tasmania, which “mysteriously” appeared. “Bumblebees had failed to cross from New Zealand to Tasmania for 100 or so years, but suddenly they managed to do so just after it was discovered that they had huge commercial value. Draw your own conclusions.” No one should be surprised if they also “mysteriously” appear soon in mainland Australia.
Another interesting biological fact is the bumblebees have very high metabolisms. “Hummingbirds are often thought of as having exceptionally high metabolic rates, but a bumblebee’s is roughly 75 per cent higher.” Therefore, “a bumblebee with a full stomach is only ever about forty minutes from starvation.”
Bee genetics is a fascinating subject, but too complex to summarize here. Goodreads no longer allows links to external websites, but an internet search for Haplodiploidy at bumblebee[DOT]org provides an interesting discussion. Basically, daughter bees are only 50% related to the their mother the queen, but they are 75% related to each other, which results in some interesting hive dynamics, especially toward the end of the season as male drones are produced.
Based on DNA comparisons, bees evolved from wasps about 130 million years ago, and the first ones were almost certainly solitairies. But wasps were and are predators, so “When the wasp eventually evolved to feed its offspring purely on pollen, it had become the first bee.”
Bees are in trouble today, as are insects generally. I was thinking about this last summer when I realized that it used to be that cleaning squashed bugs off the windshield was a regular bit of auto upkeep, but these days it rarely happens, and is notable on the few occasions it does. Given the importance of insects in the complex webs of life, allowing them to die off has potentially catastrophic consequences for humans. This book quotes biologist E.O. Wilson, who said “If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos.”
Getting A Sting in the Tale was a spur of the moment decision for me, but I enjoyed it. It is written in a conversational style requiring no special knowledge of biology, and Dr. Goulson’s enthusiasm for his subject is apparent. I am going to put in some bee-friendly plants come the next planting season, and maybe I’ll get lucky. I often see honeybees and bumblebees buzzing around the privet bushes in my neighborhood, so maybe I can entice some into my backyard.
When people think about insect pollinators, it is honeybees that come to mind, but they service only one sector of plants. They are small and have short tongues, so they have to specialize, which means that “honeybees are absolutely hopeless at pollinating some crops such as runner beans or tomatoes, whilst they are good at pollinating others such as oilseed rape or kiwi fruit. Depending on their size, shape, behaviour and the length of their tongues, different bee species are suited to pollinating different types of flowers, and some plants are better pollinated by moths, or flies, or beetles.”
Another interesting fact is that there are an estimated 25,000 species of bees, though the number is declining fast because of humans, and the majority of them are solitary. Bumblebee nests last only one year. At the end of the summer fertilized queens fly out and burrow somewhere to try to survive the winter, and in the spring restart the cycle, but most nests will have only 50-400 bees. Once again, a comparison to honeybees is illuminating: “A single honeybee hive contains 50,000 workers or more, and it is common for beekeepers to put twenty hives in a single place – 1 million bees. A single honeybee nest harvests up to 60 kilograms of pollen and 150 kilograms of nectar per year. At high hive densities, honeybees can harvest up to 22,500 kilograms of honey per square kilometre.”
Tomatoes are pollinated by bumblebees worldwide. Except on mainland Australia, where each flower on every plant is individually pollinated by a person walking around with a vibrating wand to transfer pollen, an expensive and labor-intensive process. Why is this? Because Australia has had bad experiences with introduced species (think cane toads, rabbits, and feral cats) and has decided not to risk the unintended consequences of another one. As Dr. Goulson’s own research has shown, since bumblebees pollinate whatever flowers are available, they will happily do their part to increase the spread of unwanted plants such as weeds. There are, however, bumblebees in Tasmania, which “mysteriously” appeared. “Bumblebees had failed to cross from New Zealand to Tasmania for 100 or so years, but suddenly they managed to do so just after it was discovered that they had huge commercial value. Draw your own conclusions.” No one should be surprised if they also “mysteriously” appear soon in mainland Australia.
Another interesting biological fact is the bumblebees have very high metabolisms. “Hummingbirds are often thought of as having exceptionally high metabolic rates, but a bumblebee’s is roughly 75 per cent higher.” Therefore, “a bumblebee with a full stomach is only ever about forty minutes from starvation.”
Bee genetics is a fascinating subject, but too complex to summarize here. Goodreads no longer allows links to external websites, but an internet search for Haplodiploidy at bumblebee[DOT]org provides an interesting discussion. Basically, daughter bees are only 50% related to the their mother the queen, but they are 75% related to each other, which results in some interesting hive dynamics, especially toward the end of the season as male drones are produced.
Based on DNA comparisons, bees evolved from wasps about 130 million years ago, and the first ones were almost certainly solitairies. But wasps were and are predators, so “When the wasp eventually evolved to feed its offspring purely on pollen, it had become the first bee.”
Bees are in trouble today, as are insects generally. I was thinking about this last summer when I realized that it used to be that cleaning squashed bugs off the windshield was a regular bit of auto upkeep, but these days it rarely happens, and is notable on the few occasions it does. Given the importance of insects in the complex webs of life, allowing them to die off has potentially catastrophic consequences for humans. This book quotes biologist E.O. Wilson, who said “If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos.”
Getting A Sting in the Tale was a spur of the moment decision for me, but I enjoyed it. It is written in a conversational style requiring no special knowledge of biology, and Dr. Goulson’s enthusiasm for his subject is apparent. I am going to put in some bee-friendly plants come the next planting season, and maybe I’ll get lucky. I often see honeybees and bumblebees buzzing around the privet bushes in my neighborhood, so maybe I can entice some into my backyard.
May 22, 2020
A lightly written book that makes the science of bees readable and enjoyable. The chapters on place-location and flower-sensing were intriguing. Much is still not known about bees, especially those outside the beekeeper's hive.
It seems to be a trend among science writers to confuse their CVs with their subjects. This is the third book I have read in the past six months where the author has felt the urge to describe his academic history and turn the book into autobiography. Goulson writes well, no fuss, with an eye on the reader, not the scientific journal, and with a genuine wish to explain his passion. At times, however, the writing collapses into whimsy. Did I want to know that one female assistant was "pretty, from Oxford"; or another female was a typical American with a "very loud voice" and a "wad of cash" for her Ph.D.; or that one male researcher was a "bit of a charmer and a ladies' man"? Less of this and more of how some blue tits have evolved a taste for bee brains would have been welcome.
All in all, a thoughtful look at the mysterious life of bees.
It seems to be a trend among science writers to confuse their CVs with their subjects. This is the third book I have read in the past six months where the author has felt the urge to describe his academic history and turn the book into autobiography. Goulson writes well, no fuss, with an eye on the reader, not the scientific journal, and with a genuine wish to explain his passion. At times, however, the writing collapses into whimsy. Did I want to know that one female assistant was "pretty, from Oxford"; or another female was a typical American with a "very loud voice" and a "wad of cash" for her Ph.D.; or that one male researcher was a "bit of a charmer and a ladies' man"? Less of this and more of how some blue tits have evolved a taste for bee brains would have been welcome.
All in all, a thoughtful look at the mysterious life of bees.
December 10, 2014
Dieses Buch ist unglaublich toll. Bei Gelegenheit muss ich mal eine Rezi dazu schreiben, jetzt nur so viel:
Mr. Bumble und Herr Hummel sind genauso begeistert wie ich ❤️
image:
Mr. Bumble und Herr Hummel sind genauso begeistert wie ich ❤️
image:
October 3, 2022
Creo que al acabar el libro todo lector querrá llenar su jardín, terraza o balcón de flores con las que alimentar a los preciosos y peludos abejorros y ayudar a su conservación.
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December 8, 2023Super great and endearing science memoir - "This book will make you bee-conscious" in a fun and friendly way. Dave Goulson is both an expert and a charming author. The focus is Bumblebees (genus: Bombus) but a great many topics are traversed. Learned tangentially that "Dumbledore" is an old word for 'Bumblebee' (JK Rowling imagined him walking around humming to himself). Plus it sends the (relatively) simple message that we can help native species by shaping our gardens and farms and landscapes to support them e.g. by planting appropriate species that provide habitat and food sources.
June 19, 2019
"Hommels kunnen voor het natuurbehoud overal in het VK en daarbuiten hetzelfde betekenen. Hun directe belang voor mensen, namelijk dat ze gewassen bestuiven, maakt het gemakkelijk om uit te leggen waarom het belangrijk is ze in stand te houden. Daarvandaan is het maar een kleine stap naar uitleggen dat ons voortbestaan en ons welbevinden onlosmakelijk zijn verbonden met de enorme diversiteit van het leven op aarde. We hebben wormen nodig om aarde te produceren; vliegen, kevers en schimmels om mest af te breken; lieveheersbeestjes en zweefvliegen en bladluizen te eten; bijen en vlinders om planten te bevruchten; planten als voedselvoorziening, zuurstof en brandstof en geneesmiddelen om de grond bijeen te houden; en bacteriën om planten te helpen stikstof vast te houden en koeien te helpen gras te verteren.
We begrijpen nog maar nauwelijks hoe complex de interactie tussen de levende wezens op aarde is, maar we kiezen er vaak voor het onvervangbare weg te doen, om datgene wat ons in leven houdt en het leven de moeite waard maakt af te danken. Misschien dat we morgen de wereld kunnen redden als we vandaag een bij beschermen?"
En de Vlaming hij legde verder klinkers, beton, borders, korte gazons achter hekken, dempte de grachten, maaide de grachtkanten, moestuinde zonder te begrijpen waarom er amper nog vlinders of vogels te zien zijn en 'spoot' verder zijn oprit en tuinpad met bocht... Alles voor de schone schijn in een kitch-kneuterige poging om zich heer te voelen in zijn persoonlijke mini Versailles landgoedje.
We begrijpen nog maar nauwelijks hoe complex de interactie tussen de levende wezens op aarde is, maar we kiezen er vaak voor het onvervangbare weg te doen, om datgene wat ons in leven houdt en het leven de moeite waard maakt af te danken. Misschien dat we morgen de wereld kunnen redden als we vandaag een bij beschermen?"
En de Vlaming hij legde verder klinkers, beton, borders, korte gazons achter hekken, dempte de grachten, maaide de grachtkanten, moestuinde zonder te begrijpen waarom er amper nog vlinders of vogels te zien zijn en 'spoot' verder zijn oprit en tuinpad met bocht... Alles voor de schone schijn in een kitch-kneuterige poging om zich heer te voelen in zijn persoonlijke mini Versailles landgoedje.
July 14, 2020
Der Start in das Buch war extrem makaber und trotzdem war der Rest des Buches lesenswert. So irrwitzig über Hummeln kann nur Dave Goulsen erzählen. Während des Lesens habe ich mich bewusst auf dem Balkon platziert, um die Hummeln beim Pollen sammeln zu beobachten.
Der Autor erzählt eine Menge über Hummeln, Bienen und Wespen und welche Rolle sie haben, welche Wirkkräfte Hummeln vertreibt und wie man einige Sorten eventuell wieder in einigen europäischen Ländern heimisch machen könnte.
Auch wenn sie eigentlich rein anatomisch betrachtet nicht fliegen sollte, tut sie es trotzdem. Ein liebevolles Buch, dass einem der liebevollsten Insekten gewidmet ist!
Der Autor erzählt eine Menge über Hummeln, Bienen und Wespen und welche Rolle sie haben, welche Wirkkräfte Hummeln vertreibt und wie man einige Sorten eventuell wieder in einigen europäischen Ländern heimisch machen könnte.
Auch wenn sie eigentlich rein anatomisch betrachtet nicht fliegen sollte, tut sie es trotzdem. Ein liebevolles Buch, dass einem der liebevollsten Insekten gewidmet ist!
March 20, 2017
Between 3.5/4
An enlightening read about the nature and plight of (mostly) British bees and how important they are to us. Dave Goulson is clearly an expert on bees, and incredibly knowledgeable about a lot of other wildlife and insects, and this book is jam-packed with information he has garnered about bees and their behaviour throughout his academic career researching them across the UK and in New Zealand on various research trips with his PhD students. I have always been interested in bees, and have learnt more from this book than I ever thought I would know about them!
My only criticisms of this book are minor ones - it is a tiny bit rambly at times, and I have to admit by the time I got to around 75% I was ready for it to finish, there is a lot of information about academic research projects. But for the most part this was an easy to read glimpse into the life and behaviour of these complex insects!
An enlightening read about the nature and plight of (mostly) British bees and how important they are to us. Dave Goulson is clearly an expert on bees, and incredibly knowledgeable about a lot of other wildlife and insects, and this book is jam-packed with information he has garnered about bees and their behaviour throughout his academic career researching them across the UK and in New Zealand on various research trips with his PhD students. I have always been interested in bees, and have learnt more from this book than I ever thought I would know about them!
My only criticisms of this book are minor ones - it is a tiny bit rambly at times, and I have to admit by the time I got to around 75% I was ready for it to finish, there is a lot of information about academic research projects. But for the most part this was an easy to read glimpse into the life and behaviour of these complex insects!
December 31, 2025
Jag började läsa för att förstå humleboet jag haft på balkongen två år i rad. Nu vet jag att det antagligen handlar om en hushumla.
Att det varit olika individer eftersom drottningar bara lever ett år.
Att den stora humlan som först verkade bo där själv var drottningen och att de små förvirrade biliknande djuren som sen dök upp var hennes arbetare som helt tog över födosamlandet.
Att det är helt normalt drivor av döda arbetate eftersom de bara lever några veckor.
Boken ger också bredare ekologiska och historiska perspektiv och resultat från Daves långa karriär som humleforskare. Allt personligt berättat genom episoder från ett liv som verkligen präglas av att han är Galen i humlor. Rekommenderas starkt!
(Även som godnattsaga för spädbarn. Jag började läsa boken på förlossningen i november och har sen dess läst stora delar högt för lilla Knut som verkar uppskatta det.)
Att det varit olika individer eftersom drottningar bara lever ett år.
Att den stora humlan som först verkade bo där själv var drottningen och att de små förvirrade biliknande djuren som sen dök upp var hennes arbetare som helt tog över födosamlandet.
Att det är helt normalt drivor av döda arbetate eftersom de bara lever några veckor.
Boken ger också bredare ekologiska och historiska perspektiv och resultat från Daves långa karriär som humleforskare. Allt personligt berättat genom episoder från ett liv som verkligen präglas av att han är Galen i humlor. Rekommenderas starkt!
(Även som godnattsaga för spädbarn. Jag började läsa boken på förlossningen i november och har sen dess läst stora delar högt för lilla Knut som verkar uppskatta det.)
August 12, 2023
An excellent bee(ch) read
April 19, 2020
Would never have read this randomly, except I ran out of vacation books and Robyn had a copy out from the library.
What a wonderful little book. Goulson writes about bumblebees with passion, clarity, and great humor. Entirely readable and enjoyable. I learned so much about bees! It has inspired me to queue a book about ants that the author referenced.
What a wonderful little book. Goulson writes about bumblebees with passion, clarity, and great humor. Entirely readable and enjoyable. I learned so much about bees! It has inspired me to queue a book about ants that the author referenced.
April 16, 2016
This is delightful little book about the bumblebee, written by Goulson, one of the few people who are experts on this amazing insect.
In the book he explains about the different species that we have in this country, and outlines some of the research projects that he has been doing on the populations of these bees, re-introduction programmes and other projects that his students have undertaken. He writes about a property that he bought in France, that he is turning the brass back into a wildlife meadow, to disbelief from the locals. He founded the BBCT, and it has grown to have 11 staff and hundreds of members.
The books is written with the authority that you get from someone who is a renowned expert in his field. But more than that, Goulson has rare wit and endless infectious enthusiasm for his little subjects, and this is what makes this such a good book.
In the book he explains about the different species that we have in this country, and outlines some of the research projects that he has been doing on the populations of these bees, re-introduction programmes and other projects that his students have undertaken. He writes about a property that he bought in France, that he is turning the brass back into a wildlife meadow, to disbelief from the locals. He founded the BBCT, and it has grown to have 11 staff and hundreds of members.
The books is written with the authority that you get from someone who is a renowned expert in his field. But more than that, Goulson has rare wit and endless infectious enthusiasm for his little subjects, and this is what makes this such a good book.
August 14, 2023
I love bumblebees, and I liked this book. It was like listening to my dear old grandpop who would go off on tangents and while the asides were often amusing.... what were we talking about? The best thing about the book is Goulson's obvious passion about bees and wildlife. I did learn a lot, but some of what I learned wasn't what I was hoping for. My favorite chapter was how he bought some land in France and has been steadily refashioning it into a wildflower/ bee sanctuary. That's what I'm striving for. If you have time and patience for what feels like a leisurely stroll through a fanciful UK countryside, listening to an expert in love with his work, this is the book for you. 4 buzzing stars
July 1, 2015
Such a fascinating and interesting book about bumblebees. Learned new stuff that I hope will make me a bit less fearful from bees, because as mentioned in the book there are different types and they don't fly around looking for people to sting. I usually read a few lines from introductions/prologue and then skip it, but I highly enjoyed the prologue of this book. I think once we look at insects as creatures that aren't disgusting, we'll find that they're actually far more interesting than we think.
March 26, 2016
I was addicted to this lovely book! Thank You, Dave Goulson for writing this gem.
August 19, 2017
Efter fem sidor ville jag inte läsa mer, Goulson var så babblig och bredde ut sig alldeles för mycket med barndomsminnen och personliga upplevelser för att alls locka mig. Vilken tur att jag fortsatte läsa! Detta är informativt och vackert, han lotsar oss ledigt från 1800-tal på Nya Zeeland till Sverige idag. Och även när han fastnar i England så gör det inget, för det som gäller där gäller i mångt och mycket även här. Pollinatörerna har nämligen problem. När jordbruket förändrades (i princip över en natt) så slutade man med slåtterängar. Dessa är näringsfattiga ängar där blommor får växa under sommaren och som slås med lie efter att de fröat av sig. Eftersom man sedan tar bort höet och inte gödslar så fortsätter här vara näringsfattigt och detta är vad den oerhört artrika floran behöver! Idag har bönder inga slåtterängar, man behöver dem inte längre för att få vinterfoder till djuren och detta har lett till att många växter och djur gått från att vara allmänna (alltså vanliga) till fridlysta på ingen tid alls! På vår utbildning fick vi lära oss att näst efter regnskogen så var slåtterängar de artrikaste miljöerna på planeten, jag har ingen källa på detta men det säger ju ändå en hel del om vad vi håller på att förlora. Så läs den här boken och fascineras av humlorna, dessa små sociala djur, där en hona är närmre släkt med sina systrar än med sina egna söner (jo, faktiskt!) och där framtiden för många är långt ifrån säker.
August 2, 2019
Jag hade väntat mig en bok enbart om humlor, men möttes av en berättelse om Dave Goulsons intresse för humlorna och om hans försök att studera dem. Det krävdes lite justering av mina förväntningar innan jag på allvar började uppskatta de självbiografiska inslagen, men under läsningens gång kom jag att tycka allt mer om hans nördiga pratsamhet.
Galen i humlor handlar om insekter som de flesta av oss känner igen och uppskattar, om hur de lever och hur deras samhällen fungerar, om det hot de står inför och om hur de är sammanflätade med människornas liv, en omistlig del av ekosystemet vi alla är del av. Inspirerande och intressant, lärorikt och underhållande. Rekommenderas till alla med ens ett litet naturintresse, och till alla som har möjlighet att påverka växtligheten i sin omgivning: på balkongen, i trädgården eller på åkern.
Galen i humlor handlar om insekter som de flesta av oss känner igen och uppskattar, om hur de lever och hur deras samhällen fungerar, om det hot de står inför och om hur de är sammanflätade med människornas liv, en omistlig del av ekosystemet vi alla är del av. Inspirerande och intressant, lärorikt och underhållande. Rekommenderas till alla med ens ett litet naturintresse, och till alla som har möjlighet att påverka växtligheten i sin omgivning: på balkongen, i trädgården eller på åkern.
July 23, 2021
Heel leuk boek, of je nu bijen enthousiast bent of niet (hoewel ik vermoed dat je dat sowieso wordt na dit te lezen), leest erg vlot en Dave Goulson kan gewoon zeer aangenaam schrijven.
December 19, 2017
I’m not a big fan of insects. If you know me personally, even a little, you’re probably laughing at the understatement there. So okay, the truth is that insects scare me silly. But so did disease at one point, and now look at me tearing through my degree and thinking of working in a lab to study infectious diseases… All through the power of reading enough about it to really pique my curiosity. So maybe I can do the same with insects, and hence this book. Not that bumblebees frighten me that dreadfully; they’re sort of endearing, at their best. But it’s a place to start, and Goulson’s enthusiasm really sold me on it. I even have another book potentially lined up about bees now…
There’s a lot of personal reflection, including talking about what he did as a kid to get involved with bees, and his place in France where he’s rewilding a field to attract more wildlife. It’s not strictly scientific, by-the-book facts, that’s for sure; for me, that added to the appeal. I could almost get excited about bees, through the eyes of Dave Goulson — and I could definitely get excited about his conservation goals and hopes.
Also, you get to learn fun things like the fact that bees have smelly feet…
Recommended! Even if bees are not exactly your cup of honey-sweetened tea. (And yes, yes, I know, bumblebees do not actually make honey. I did pay attention to that much, I promise.)
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
There’s a lot of personal reflection, including talking about what he did as a kid to get involved with bees, and his place in France where he’s rewilding a field to attract more wildlife. It’s not strictly scientific, by-the-book facts, that’s for sure; for me, that added to the appeal. I could almost get excited about bees, through the eyes of Dave Goulson — and I could definitely get excited about his conservation goals and hopes.
Also, you get to learn fun things like the fact that bees have smelly feet…
Recommended! Even if bees are not exactly your cup of honey-sweetened tea. (And yes, yes, I know, bumblebees do not actually make honey. I did pay attention to that much, I promise.)
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
June 8, 2016
Djupt sympatiskt verk, alldeles uppenbart skriven med kärlek om kärlek till humlor. Det kommer vara med extra innerlig lycka jag möter vårens första humla detta år.
April 10, 2020
So I finally got around to reading one of the books that had been on my "to read" shelf the longest! What a total delight. I sort of want to move to Scotland and do a PhD with this lab (I mean not really and I have zero biology background but perhaps in a different life.) I wish I'd read it sooner so I could have queued up all of Goulson's other books before the library closed.
It is an underrated and extremely rare treat to read a book by a leading academic that is this well-written and engaging. And also maybe I only notice it now because I was a grad student myself, but it is so refreshing when academics write books and actually fully acknowledge their grad students BY NAME.
I have read one other book about bees, regarding North American native bees, so I had a little bit of background on bumblebees before this. This one is mainly about British bumblebees but it doesn't make it any less enjoyable or inspiring for a reader across the pond.
Plant native wildflowers! Put clover in your lawn! Leave a few dandelions around the yard! Stop fertilizing so much! Like Goulson says near the end of the book, it's really sad to hear about endangered mammals such as polar bears dying and also hard to know what to do about it, but bees are just as important and it's actually VERY easy for the average person to make a difference.
Highly recommend!
It is an underrated and extremely rare treat to read a book by a leading academic that is this well-written and engaging. And also maybe I only notice it now because I was a grad student myself, but it is so refreshing when academics write books and actually fully acknowledge their grad students BY NAME.
I have read one other book about bees, regarding North American native bees, so I had a little bit of background on bumblebees before this. This one is mainly about British bumblebees but it doesn't make it any less enjoyable or inspiring for a reader across the pond.
Plant native wildflowers! Put clover in your lawn! Leave a few dandelions around the yard! Stop fertilizing so much! Like Goulson says near the end of the book, it's really sad to hear about endangered mammals such as polar bears dying and also hard to know what to do about it, but bees are just as important and it's actually VERY easy for the average person to make a difference.
Highly recommend!
February 5, 2022
Dużo wiedzy o trzmielach, ich zwyczajach, problematyce ich występowania i tym jak wykorzystywane są przy uprawach roślin. Autor urozmaica przekazywanie swojej wiedzy ciekawymi i nieraz zabawnymi anegdotami i pokazuje nam, że każdy z nas może mieć wpływ na ich liczebność.
Fragment:
„Ochrony przyrody nie powinno się zostawiać innym. Łatwo wpaść w przygnębienie z powodu postępującej zagłady niedźwiedzia polarnego, tygrysa, a także przerażająco rosnącej wycinki lasów w tropikach. Być może rządy, uczeni czy organizacje takie jak WWF mogą coś zdziałać w tej sprawie, ale pojedyncza osoba nie wie, od czego zacząć- wszystko to wydaje się tak odległe i skomplikowane. A w sprawie trzmieli- wręcz przeciwnie: każdy może przyłożyć rękę do ich ochrony. Jeden krzaczek lawendy na patio czy w skrzynce na oknie przyciągnie i wykarmi trzmiele nawet w środku miasta. Właściciele ogrodów mogą naprawdę ogromnie pomóc: zasadzić żywokost, żmijowiec, naparstnicę, szczypior, orlik i inne, a rezultaty- sami zobaczycie- pojawia się niemal natychmiast.”
Fragment:
„Ochrony przyrody nie powinno się zostawiać innym. Łatwo wpaść w przygnębienie z powodu postępującej zagłady niedźwiedzia polarnego, tygrysa, a także przerażająco rosnącej wycinki lasów w tropikach. Być może rządy, uczeni czy organizacje takie jak WWF mogą coś zdziałać w tej sprawie, ale pojedyncza osoba nie wie, od czego zacząć- wszystko to wydaje się tak odległe i skomplikowane. A w sprawie trzmieli- wręcz przeciwnie: każdy może przyłożyć rękę do ich ochrony. Jeden krzaczek lawendy na patio czy w skrzynce na oknie przyciągnie i wykarmi trzmiele nawet w środku miasta. Właściciele ogrodów mogą naprawdę ogromnie pomóc: zasadzić żywokost, żmijowiec, naparstnicę, szczypior, orlik i inne, a rezultaty- sami zobaczycie- pojawia się niemal natychmiast.”
February 20, 2022
a delightful, personal & scientific book about...yes you guessed it!!! b u m b l e b e e s 🐝🐝🐝 dave goulson is passionate about them & wildlife in general and it conveys in his writing.
but...i have to be honest that there are too much facts till my brain cmi HAHAHAH but overall such an educational read and recommend if you would like to know about why bees are so important. ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. i love how it also explains how important it is to conserve enough habitat to help the native bee population survive as they contribute to our environment.
"this is not just about bumblebees, but about creating a future environment for our children to enjoy, where there are still flowers, bees, butterflies and birds, and healthy crops to eat".
would rec this to everyone with an interest in bumblebees!! honestly its hard for me to finish a book thet has way too much info but i think its very well researched written in a light hearted manner, which is probably why i was able to finish this with ease. a great way to intro to non-fic 😁
but...i have to be honest that there are too much facts till my brain cmi HAHAHAH but overall such an educational read and recommend if you would like to know about why bees are so important. ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. i love how it also explains how important it is to conserve enough habitat to help the native bee population survive as they contribute to our environment.
"this is not just about bumblebees, but about creating a future environment for our children to enjoy, where there are still flowers, bees, butterflies and birds, and healthy crops to eat".
would rec this to everyone with an interest in bumblebees!! honestly its hard for me to finish a book thet has way too much info but i think its very well researched written in a light hearted manner, which is probably why i was able to finish this with ease. a great way to intro to non-fic 😁
January 1, 2024
This book is wonderful. Dave Goulson's charm and personality is seen in every sentence, and his passion for bumblebees is incredibly endearing - it really helped keep things light and entertaining, and at no point did I find this book dry or dragging because he makes it all fun!
While Goulson begins the book talking about his work in reintroducing a long lost bumblebee species back into the UK, the majority of it actually deals with the fascinating ins and outs of a bumblebee's lifecycle, their importance to all ecosystems, and also a nice insight into how academics approach problems of study and conservation. I learned so much and will absolutely be checking out Goulson's other books!
While Goulson begins the book talking about his work in reintroducing a long lost bumblebee species back into the UK, the majority of it actually deals with the fascinating ins and outs of a bumblebee's lifecycle, their importance to all ecosystems, and also a nice insight into how academics approach problems of study and conservation. I learned so much and will absolutely be checking out Goulson's other books!
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