Book Review - The Language of Bees - Princeton University Press

 

     I was delighted when I noted that Princeton University Press had published yet another title in its unrivalled coverage of bees over the last several years.

     A veritable who's who of the world of bees has been included - Chitka, Grozinger, Packer, Seeley, Tautz (and others), and they are now joined by James C. Nieh.

     This fascinating book is both a personal account of Nieh's ascendancy in this select group, and an insider's glimpse into research hitherto not undertaken - or pursued minimally. In the classic way of good scientists, Nieh writes about events that initially seemed like failure, or conditions that developed to thwart his carefully staged experiments, turning them into first rate opportunities for other avenues of research. 

     It was Karl von Frisch, of course, who discovered the now famous waggle dance, whereby foraging bees direct their sisters to food sources, but much additional knowledge has been gained over the years (see, for example, Tautz (2021). The means of communication among bees are diverse and multi-faceted, involving scent, movement, vibration and sound. 

     In a series of elegant experiments Nieh explores the intricacies of communication among bees in myriad ways. A really helpful tool is the provision of a QR code to take the reader to a series of YouTube videos showing the signals and behaviours discussed in the book.

     This is a commendable use of technology to improve the learning experience.

     A series of full colour plates also enhances the text.

     Nieh's prose is not without humour. I chuckled mightily over his description of riding a bicycle after being stung on his tender parts!

     

     Life on Earth is threatened by the climate crisis; bees no less than other living things. Global warming is significant in this regard, with the potential disruption of plant cycles. This has the ability to hit bees that utilize one plant especially hard. The principal function of honey bees has ceased to be the production of honey; rather they are used as pollination tools, shipped over vast distances to facilitate food production for humans. The California almond crop, for example, would fail without this intervention. There are indications that this practice may be harming bees in ways unthought of. Rampant (and in some jurisdictions almost uncontrolled) use of pesticides, especially neonicotinoids, has the potential to seriously impact the foraging efficacy and breeding success of bees.

     We tamper with natural cycles at our peril - yet we keep doing it. We seem to lack will when it is needed most.

     This book is an important addition to the canon of literature on bees. It should be essential reading for everyone concerned with our future life on Planet Earth.

The Language of Bees - Princeton University Press

James C. Nieh

Hardcover - US$29.95 - ISBN 9780691204895

288 pages - 6.125 x 9.25 inches (15.31 x 23.125 cm)

16 colour and 31 black-and-white illustrations

Publication date: 15 September, 2025