Description
Book SynopsisThis book not only reviews the basic aspects of social behavior, ecology, anatomy, physiology, and genetics, it also summarizes major controversies in contemporary honey bee research, such as the importance of kin recognition in the evolution of social behavior and the role of the well-known dance language in honey bee communication.
Trade ReviewMasterly… Without hesitation I recommend this book to a wide range of potential readers. -- John B. Free * Science *
Mark Winston offers a comprehensive account, covering aspects of anatomy and physiology as well as systematics, ecology and behavior… A useful overview of the biology of an insect that holds considerable interest for both economic and academic reasons. Rich in descriptive detail and well referenced, it will also serve as a basis for more detailed exploration of particular aspects of honey bee biology. -- Sarah Corbet * Times Higher Education Supplement *
This very readable book brings together the wealth of scattered information on the complex honey bee in a way that will serve as a standard for many years. -- Roger G. Bland * Science Books & Films *
Winston’s writing is brisk and enthusiastic and the book’s illustrations clear and informative. This is a delightful study of an odd, yet oddly familiar, creature. -- John R. Alden * Wall Street Journal *
Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. The Origins and Evolutionary History of Bees 3. Form and Function: Honey Bee Anatomy 4. Development and Nutrition 5. Nest Architecture 6. The Age-Related Activities of Worker Bees 7. Other Worker Activities 8. The Chemical World of Honey Bees 9. Communication and Orientation 10. The Collection of Food 11. Reproduction: Swarming and Supersedure 12. Drones, Queens, and Mating 13. The Biology of Temperate and Tropical Honey Bees Reference Author Index Subject Index
