Bring the Beloved Buzz of Bees to your Home

Like many insects, bees are often overlooked and misunderstood. When viewed up close, these small creatures are really quite beautiful. While we tend to lump all bees together, they are an incredibly diverse group of insects and are found in a variety of sizes and colors. They also display a myriad of different behaviors, all of which are fascinating. Closely related to ants and wasps, bees are active fliers that have an exceptional fondness for flowers. With each intentioned visit, they help to ensure a healthy and productive world for all of us.

It’s a common misconception that they all live in colonies. In fact, the highly organized social communities formed by honeybees are an exception, not the rule. While bumblebees and some sweat bees do form small seasonal colonies, the vast majority of native bees worldwide are solitary. As these bees do not have a colony to defend, they are typically non-aggressive or may lack the ability to sting altogether.

Honeybees, of course, are famous for their large colonies, which may comprise tens of thousands of individual bees and which may persist for several years. These are akin to large cities. Members of a colony perform complex tasks; have a clear division of labor; and cooperate in food gathering, offspring care, and nest maintenance.

Despite their small size, honeybees have a monumental impact on the planet. They are critical to modern agriculture, helping ensure food security for an ever-growing population—and contributing billions of dollars each year to our economy. Recent studies also indicate that honeybees are the single most important pollinator in natural ecosystems.

Within the U.S., honeybees are linked to the production of more than 90 commercially grown crops, including cherries, melons, blueberries, and almonds. In other words, without honeybees and other helpful insect pollinators, our daily mealtimes would look and taste much different—and cost a
lot more.

So bring the beloved buzz of bees into your life with Our Love of Bees. Acclaimed entomologist Jaret C. Daniels shares his spectacular images and expert insights as he presents the lives of these insects in a glorious hardcover book―perfectly sized for your end table or to give as a gift. Anyone who appreciates the wonders of nature will treasure this spectacular collection of photographs and information.

Author Jaret C. Daniels, Ph.D., is a professional nature photographer, native plant enthusiast, and entomologist at the University of Florida, specializing in insect ecology and conservation. He has written numerous scientific papers; popular articles; and books on gardening, wildlife conservation, insects, and butterflies, including butterfly field guides for Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Ohio, and Michigan.

His other books include Backyard Bugs and Vibrant Butterflies. Jaret lives in Gainesville, Florida, with his wife, Stephanie.

Also check out our following blogs:
Butterflies—Favorite Visitors to Flowers and Gardens
Honey: Liquid Gold

For more stories about wildlife and nature, sign up for our newsletter now!