I hear the band cuing the music in celebration of another volume in the "Lives of" series of books, detailing nature in all its splendid and life-affirming diversity. This one is about bees, those interesting and essential insects, found everywhere but Antarctica, so vital to pollination, yet threatened by anthropogenic poisons of unrelenting toxicity, accompanied by habitat loss and a warming Earth; they are indeed facing life on the edge.
Christina Grozinger and Harland Patch have done a masterful job of presenting bees in every phase of their lives. The text is highly instructive and the illustrations are a study in excellence.
I am sure that it comes as a surprise to some people that there are so many different kinds of bees, most of which are stingless, and even those species capable of stinging are reluctant to do so. In many ways, bees have had a bad rap, yet they are integrated into our lives as producers of honey, and as pollinators of many of our food crops - apples, watermelons, cucumbers, tomatoes, coffee, most berries, almonds, cashews...and many more.
Despite this dependence on bees, we have done a pretty thorough job of trying to exterminate them by degrading their habitat, and attacking them with a whole arsenal of poisons. Neonicotinoids have proven to be the most deadly, and their use has now been banned or greatly restricted in Europe; sadly in North America we have not been as wise.
In so many ways bees are ambassadors for the insect world at large. Hazards for one species are hazards for all, and we tamper with them at our peril. The wise words of E.O. Wilson, one of the greatest biologists of all time, are as true now as when he uttered them: "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."
This book can teach you so much about bees in all their glorious diversity, and in the process you will learn, at the very least, to respect and cherish them for their ecosystem services, and at best to love them for their incredible beauty and myriad lifestyles, that contribute so greatly to an appreciation of the diversity of life on Earth.
Thank you Christina Grozinger and Harland Patch for a job very well done. This book should act as a springboard to further study. Knowledge is everything.
Perhaps there is still hope for a brighter future for these beleaguered creatures. I hope so!
The Lives of Bees: A Natural Histor of Our Planet's Bee Life - Princeton University Press
Christina Grozinger and Harland Patch
Hardcover - US$35.00 - ISBN: 9780691247298
288 pages - 7.5 x 9.5 inches (18.75 x 23.75 cm) - 150+ colour illustrations
Publication date: 04 June, 2024
Unlike you, I have been stung several times on my arms and even my big toe! Aaargh!!!
ReplyDeleteI only recall having been stung by a bee once. Wasps are a different story entirely!
Delete...and our lives would be bleak without bees!
ReplyDeleteThe way we are going we may find out, Tom.
DeleteI too have been stung many times in my life, from sweat bees to yellow jackets, honeybees, wasps, once by a bumblebee, and once by a hornet. It's not pleasant, but thankfully I am not allergic, and I must taste delicious because bugs of all kinds gleefully bite me. But that does not deter me from being outdoors, or from appreciating the work these magnificent insects do. Just this morning I watched a small bumblebee pollinating a tomato plant, and the white clover we have mowed carefully around was full of honeybees. These is nothing like being in the garden, surrounded by the hum of insects and birdsong. Makes my heart happy.
ReplyDeleteI pass on your reviews to my local library, and they have added several. Will pass this one on too.
That’s wonderful that you recommend them to your local library. Bravo, Granny Sue!
DeleteBy the way, that quote really struck me. Yes, the world might be a better place without humans. How sad.
ReplyDeleteIf insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos....and we human will disappear in no time.
ReplyDeleteLa vida de las abejas, tiene una buena relación con la vida de nuestro planeta.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo.
They do indeed, and the sooner we accept that the better.
DeleteBees are so important David, and we would starve very quickly if they disappeared. I don't use any poison in my garden. The bees have been very few this spring. I'm very worried about it. I'm sure it's a very important book. Hugs and kisses, Marit
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing that we know this, Marit, yet we still don't take adequate measures to protect bees - and other pollinators for that matter.
DeleteGreat book
ReplyDeleteBees are such fabulous creatures, and so important. Sounds like another great book! Hugs, Valerie xxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteI share the hope in your final sentence, but worry. A lot.
ReplyDeleteBee stings do bad things to me, but I still love and admire them.
I hope that you stay away from stings, Sue.
DeleteVery good presentation of the book David!
ReplyDeleteHe really seems to have amazing photos!
Bees are just so important.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the book review.
All the best Jan
They are in fact critical to human survival.
DeleteI have been trying to remember the book I read not too long ago about Bees... It was so interesting. When I remember I will let you know. Chances are that I read about it here.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Catarina. A lot has been written about bees recently, and we can only hope that knowledge translates into action to save and protect these vital insects.
DeleteHello, dearest David!
ReplyDeleteI love the glorious bees, ove them very much. I try to take care of them, i'm planting flowers so they come 🐝💛🍯
Poor things,
the damage we do to it with chemicals, smoke, pollution, pesticides is sad. we must protect them. Beautiful book with gorgeous photos.
Have a spectacular midsummer night's dream
Bye, bye
Your comments are always so much fun, Carolina.
DeleteJaja XD :D
ReplyDeleteHi David - these Princeton books are amazing - and it's wonderful we can get the knowledge out there ... I too very much hope we look after all life - take care - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteAs you say, Hilary, all life not just bees.
DeleteIf there are no more bees, people will die out too.
ReplyDeleteBees are of the utmost importance.
Greetings Irma
I'm scared of bees and wasps, but I know how much we need them. :)
ReplyDeleteBees are disappear here too...Pesticides, herbicides and Asian wasp are the cause...
ReplyDeleteBooks show us the beauty and importance they have on our planet...
Have a shinny day !
Anna
Oh how we do need bees in our lives. Looks a nice little box.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I'm afraid of bee stings too, David. But in truth, wasps bite more often because they are angrier than bees. Unfortunately the environment is changing for the worse for bees, you are right.
ReplyDeleteIn my experience bees are very reluctant to sting, whereas wasps sometimes seem downright mean.
DeleteBeautiful and useful species. Besieged, unfortunately, as you say.
ReplyDeleteI'm often thinking how wonderful it would be for the Earth if we humans disappeared. I believe it could still save this amazingly beautiful planet.
ReplyDeleteOf bees, bumblebees are my favourites, easily observed and photographed because buzzing around everywhere near the house.
Thank you for your comment today. A rhubarb sauce served with chicken sounds really delicious.
Another wonderful book, David.
ReplyDeleteVulture bees!! Underground no less!!!
ReplyDeleteLast year I found an underground nest under one of my shrubs.. The shrub was dying and I was digging it out... Fortunately I did not get stung. That's not uncommon around here. My stepdaughter and her husband had about eight Hives and used to harvest the honey. Then they fell victim to colony collapse and found that her husband is deathly allergic to bee stings so they no longer raise bees.
Something else that needs protection from humans!
You just broadened my horizons. I did not know some bees were stingless.
ReplyDeleteBees of all kinds are such an essential part of the environment. It seems that this book gives them the respect they are due.
ReplyDeleteUna preciosidad de libro, me encanta. Besos.
ReplyDeleteUn libro muy interesante de una especie que hay que proteger, gracias por compartir David. Un fuerte abrazo desde el norte de España.
ReplyDeleteThis is another that looks beautifully written and illustrated. I am quite tolerant of bees. Wasps and hornets, not so much!
ReplyDeleteBees are wonderful insects. I don't even want to think what would happen if bees stopped existing.
ReplyDeleteDavid, excellent review.
Hugs and greetings.
I share your hope, that you expressed in your last sentence, David. It seems, it's mainly the European honey bee that is on people's radar, if at all. But there are so many kinds of native bees that we can support. I am always amazed how many different kinds of bees I discover in my garden beside the European honey bee. I have a hard time correctly identifying them, maybe one day I will be able to do so. For the moment I enjoy their happy humming when they fly around and sit on my plants. Hugs - Carola
ReplyDeleteThey are amazing insects and so true that we can't do without them and do not do enough to protect them. We have aa guy in the village who installed a hive in our bush area. He looks after them and has all the gear. He gives away the honey to residents. I went to take photos of him collecting and got chased by one even though I was still at first and walked slowly. luckily it gave up after a while. I have a photographer fb friend she has an amazing video of bees in Utah.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/share/r/b8JgCDjH4EHXZCVy/