" Honey bees--and the qualities associated with them--have quietly influenced American values for four centuries. During every major period in the country's history, bees and beekeepers have represented order and stability in a country without a national religion, political party, or language. Bees in America is an enlightening cultural history of bees and beekeeping in the United States. Tammy Horn, herself a beekeeper, offers a varied social and technological history from the colonial period, when the British first introduced bees to the New World, to the present, when bees are being used by the American military to detect bombs. Early European colonists introduced bees to the New World as part of an agrarian philosophy borrowed from the Greeks and Romans. Their legacy was intended to provide sustenance and a livelihood for immigrants in search of new opportunities, and the honey bee became a sign of colonization, alerting Native Americans to settlers' westward advance. Colonists imagined their own endeavors in terms of bees' hallmark traits of industry and thrift and the image of the busy and growing hive soon shaped American ideals about work, family, community, and leisure. The image of the hive continued to be popular in the eighteenth century, symbolizing a society working together for the common good and reflecting Enlightenment principles of order and balance. Less than a half-century later, Mormons settling Utah (where the bee is the state symbol) adopted the hive as a metaphor for their protected and close-knit culture that revolved around industry, harmony, frugality, and cooperation. In the Great Depression, beehives provided food and bartering goods for many farm families, and during World War II, the War Food Administration urged beekeepers to conserve every ounce of beeswax their bees provided, as more than a million pounds a year were being used in the manufacture of war products ranging from waterproofing products to tape. The bee remains a bellwether in modern America. Like so many other insects and animals, the bee population was decimated by the growing use of chemical pesticides in the 1970s. Nevertheless, beekeeping has experienced a revival as natural products containing honey and beeswax have increased the visibility and desirability of the honey bee. Still a powerful representation of success, the industrious honey bee continues to serve both as a source of income and a metaphor for globalization as America emerges as a leader in the Information Age.

Whether you are admiring a butterfly flying high up in the tree canopy or basking on a plant in your garden, butterflies are some of our most captivating and beautiful insects. But could you recognise a Scotch Argus from a Mountain Ringlet? Or distinguish between a Small Tortoiseshell and a Comma? These are just a few of the 57 resident butterfly species that are attracted to the UK's gardens to feed and, in the case of females, lay their eggs. RSPB ID Spotlight Butterflies is a reliable fold-out chart that presents illustrations of all 57 of the UK's resident butterflies by renowned artist Richard Lewington. - Species are grouped by family and helpfully labelled to assist with identification - Artworks are shown side by side for quick comparison and easy reference at home or in the field - The reverse of the chart provides information on the habitats, behaviour, life cycles and diets of our butterflies, as well as the conservation issues they are facing and how the RSPB and other conservation charities are working to support them - Practical tips on how to create a butterfly-friendly garden are also included The ID Spotlight charts help wildlife enthusiasts identify and learn more about our most common species using accurate colour illustrations and informative, accessible text.

For kids who love stickers and bugs, this is the ultimate sticker book. It's filled with creepy crawlies, fluttering butterflies, spindly spiders, and over 250 reusable stickers! Little entomologists will love learning all about their favourite insects and peeling the stickers from the back and sticking them all over the book. The stickers are easy to peel, perfect for little fingers! Explore the Insect World Ultimate Sticker Book: Bugs is the perfect way to engage your child with fun facts and interactive reading. Inside this fun, bug-themed activity book, you'll find: - Over 250 reusable stickers that are easy to peel and stick to pages or other surfaces - Fun facts, puzzles and quizzes for kids to learn about creepy crawlies as they play - Gorgeous photos and illustrations that will captivate and engage children This colourful activity book keeps children engaged and learning about bugs as they play. Bright photos and stunning illustrations transport children into the world of insects. They're challenged to find the right stickers to go with each insect and complete the picture, such as matching wings to butterflies and planting the flowers in the garden. Kids can also get creative and craft their own scenes out of different stickers, there's no end to where their imagination can take them! Alongside the pictures are bite-sized descriptions and information that is easy to read and suitable for children 5 years and up. They will learn about the many types of insects, and what makes each of them unique. Discover how grasshoppers sing, why they have antennae, and how the giraffe beetle got its name. This sticker book inspires little ones to explore the outside world with activities such as follow the bee trail in the garden, and learn where bugs like to hide so they can look out for bugs in their own gardens. There's also a sticker quiz at the end, so you and your pre-schooler can read and engage together. More from DK Books: If you and your child enjoyed the activities in the Ultimate Sticker Book Bugs, and want to play with some more stickers, there are lots of other creatures to learn about! Look out for Ultimate Sticker Book Animals and Ultimate Sticker Book Farm.

Bees is an outstanding collection of photographs showing these fascinating insects in their natural habitat. Honey bees, bumblebees, mining bees, dwarf bees, carpenter, leafcutter and mason bees: bees come in many different types, with more than 16,000 species worldwide. The bees we are most familiar with, bumblebees and honey bees, live in colonies and play a major role in pollinating the crops, plants and flowers around us. And bees produce honey - reputedly the food of the gods - a function of bees' lifecycle, which humans have exploited for millennia. Many bees today are domesticated, and beekeepers collect honey, beeswax, pollen, and royal jelly from hives for human use. A typical bee produces a teaspoon of honey (about 5 grams) in her lifetime. Bees can communicate many ways through the movement of their wings and bodies - most famously, with the 'waggle dance', where they make figure-of- eight circles to let other bees know the direction and distance of nectar. With full captions explaining how bees live, function communally, communicate, feed and reproduce, Bees is an insightful examination in 190 outstanding colour photographs of mankind's favourite insect.

  Calling all budding explorers! The Animal Explorers will inspire you to follow your dreams! Ivy the elephant thought she didn't like bugs, until she discovered how amazing they are! Now Ivy's determined to be a bug hunter, so she can explore the wonderful world of minibeasts. Join Ivy on a fabulous bug safari, then discover the inspiring stories of three real-life bug hunters and scientists. Animal Explorers is a witty, entertaining picture-book series that will inspire children to follow their dreams. Sharon Rentta's glowing illustrations are packed with fabulous characters and funny details to point out and share. Mini biographies at the end of the book tell the amazing stories of three real-life bug hunters and scientist   Praise for Sharon Rentta's books: "Rentta's illustrations are first class . . . destined to become a favourite" Carousel "full of colour and joy . . . great to read out loud" Books for Keeps

A new and improved edition of the popular photographic field guide Britain's Butterflies is a comprehensive and beautifully designed photographic field guide to the butterflies of Britain and Ireland. Containing hundreds of stunning colour photographs, this extensively revised and updated new edition provides the latest information on every species ever recorded. It covers in detail the identification of all 59 butterfly species that breed regularly, as well as four former breeders, 10 rare migrants and one species of unknown status. The easy-to-use format will enable butterfly watchers-beginners or experts-to identify any species they encounter. Produced in association with Butterfly Conservation, this edition features new introductory sections to the main "types" of butterflies; updated distribution maps; a revised species order reflecting the latest taxonomy; revised sections on recording and monitoring, and conservation and legislation; and a new section on climate change. Stunning colour plates show typical views of each butterfly species, including the various forms and common aberrations Detailed species profiles provide information on status and distribution, including up-to-date maps, and cover adult identification; behaviour; breeding habitat requirements; population and conservation; egg, caterpillar and chrysalis; and caterpillar foodplants Photographs of the egg, caterpillar and chrysalis for every breeding species Sections on biology, where to look for and how to identify butterflies, and other essential information

This book is about how to keep bees in a natural and practical system where they do not require treatments for pests and diseases and only minimal interventions. It is also about simple practical beekeeping. It is about reducing your work. It is not a main-stream beekeeping book. Many of the concepts are contrary to "conventional" beekeeping. The techniques presented here are streamlined through decades of experimentation, adjustments and simplification. The content was written and then refined from responding to questions on bee forums over the years so it is tailored to the questions that beekeepers, new and experienced, have. It is divided into three volumes and this edition contains all three: Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced.

Originally published in 1908. One of the earliest books on bee keeping and the natural history of the honey bee. Contents Include: The Ancients and the Honey Bee The Isle of Honey Bee Masters in the Middle Ages The Commonwealth of the Hive Early Work in the Bee City Genesis of the Queen The Bride Widow The Sovereign Worker Bee Anatomy Mystery of the Swarm The Comb Builders The Drone The Modern Bee Farm Bee Keeping and the Simple Life. etc. Illustrated. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Home Farm Books are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

A complete beginner's guide to British moths. Moths are sometimes overlooked compared to the day-flying butterflies, however, many moths are even more colourful, accessible and fascinating. Britain and Ireland are home to an incredible array of moths, with more than 2,500 species known, and increasing numbers of people have discovered the joy in watching, catching and photographing this diverse group. But, where should you start in being able to identify them? British Moths: A Gateway Guide is a wonderful introduction to 350 species of the most common and eye-catching adult moths that you may encounter in the UK. Rather than being grouped in taxonomic order, species are organised by season, and similar-looking moths are placed alongside one another for ease of identification. Concise species accounts include information on key features, making it easy to distinguish between confusion species, seasonality, and when and where to see them; each account is also placed alongside photos that have been carefully chosen to aid identification with clearly-marked top tips. From the author of Much Ado About Mothing, this is the perfect companion for anyone wanting to learn more about these beautiful and remarkable creatures - from hawk-moths to tigers and ermines to emeralds.

The Ultimate Resource for the Beetle Enthusiast: Beetles fascinate hobbyists with their vivid colors and patterns, strange forms, and unusual behaviors. Some species are well-known to beetle breeders, but there are many others that have yet to be kept or bred by more than a handful of dedicated enthusiasts. Orin McMonigle provides detailed husbandry and breeding guides for a wide range of species, from the popular rhinoceros and stag beetles to darkling, diving, and dung beetles. This book is the result of years of experience and experimentation, with unprecedented details in caging, feeding, and environmental requirements for all stages of the beetles' lives. The breeding guides offer the best chance to form healthy ongoing colonies of these incredible creatures. This is the ultimate beetle book for hobbyists, breeders, nature museums, and insect zoos. Welcome to the world of beetles

A gorgeous sticker book that introduces children to the fascinating world of butterflies and moths. Takes a close-up look at how butterflies feed from flowers, fruit and puddles, and follows their life-cycle, from a tiny egg to a caterpillar, and then from a pupa to a beautiful butterfly. Includes over 150 stickers.

After leading a regional office in Africa that studied ticks and tick-borne diseases, Rupert Pegram received a call in 1994 that changed his life. His higher ups wanted him to lead a new program in the Caribbean. The Caribbean Amblyomma Program, known as the CAP, sought to eliminate the Amblyomma tick from the Caribbean region. The stakes were high because ticks transmit terrible diseases. Today, the tropical pest introduced from Africa threatens to invade large areas of the south and central parts of North America. By learning about the progress, setbacks, political and financial constraints, and final heartbreak of failure in the Caribbean, the rest of world can discover how to fight the growing problem. Learn why the CAP program failed and how the Caribbean farmers who were let down by the program suffered. This history and analysis conveys the need to re-establish vigorous research to eradicate tick-borne illnesses. Ticks are invading the larger world, and there are serious implications. They found much of their strength during Thirteen Years of Hell in Paradise.

There are a wide range of insects, arachnids, and other invertebrate species that can be maintained and exhibited alive for the public or small groups. Orin McMonigle has displayed numerous invertebrates since the early '90s, and offers a wealth of experience and practical advice in this book for those who would like to incorporate these spineless wonders into their displays. Husbandry, display, and breeding advice is accompanied by numerous full color images of these species in various stages of their life cycles. This is a fascinating book for teachers, small museums, or even the casual pet lover who would like to add some interesting inverts to their collection.

The first edition of this book rapidly topped the list of bestsellers and has continued to sell well, turning up in places as far away as German schlosses, Brisbane bedsides and Canadian log cabins! This latest edition brings the story of biting midges up to date with new material on the Highland midge, its biology and why it bites. Written in a highly readable but informed way, it describes how and why the midge plays such a dominant role in the ecology and human culture of the Highlands, not least in keeping the worst of human depredations under control. Armed with this book, you should be able to enjoy the splendours of the Highland summer without quite so many bites! Illustrated with cartoons by BAX.

Fifty fun & buzz-worthy ways to "bee" a local hero! Did you know that honey bees pollinate a third of the food we eat, but that a third of them are dying off each year? You have the power to keep them buzzing for years to come, and it couldn't bee easier! Enhance your own life with steps as simple as gardening the right crops, or shopping local! Make a difference in your community, and the world, with these creative and inspiring ideas, such as: *Making your own beeswax lip balm *Planting the right flowers, fruits, and vegetables every season *Keeping your own beehive *Building the right buzz on social media *Creating a "bee bath" for bee-friendly lounging *Letting those weeds grow Help your favorite pollinator with 50 Ways to Save the Honey Bees!

Reaumur (Rene Antoine Ferchault de Reaumur (1683-1757), inventor of the Reaumur thermometer and author of "Memoires pour servir a l'histoire naturelle des insectes." - Translator's Note.) devoted one of his papers to the story of the Chalicodoma of the Walls, whom he calls the Mason-bee. I propose to go on with the story, to complete it and especially to consider it from a point of view wholly neglected by that eminent observer. And, first of all, I am tempted to tell how I made this Bee's acquaintance. It was when I first began to teach, about 1843. I had left the normal school at Vaucluse some months before, with my diploma and all the simple enthusiasm of my eighteen years, and had been sent to Carpentras, there to manage the primary school attached to the college.

A comprehensively updated edition of an identification guide that was named a Guardian Best Nature Book of the Year Now in a comprehensively revised and updated new edition, Britain's Spiders is a guide to all 38 of the British families, focussing on spiders that can be identified in the field. Illustrated with a remarkable collection of photographs, it is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, including those new to spider identification. This book pushes the boundaries of field identification for this challenging group, combining information on features that can be seen with the naked eye or a hand lens with additional evidence from webs, egg sacs, behaviour, phenology, habitats and distributions. Individual accounts cover 404 species-all of Britain's "macro" spiders and the larger money spiders, with the limitations to field identification clearly explained. This new edition includes nine species new to Britain, many recent name changes, updated distribution maps and species information, new guides to help identify spider families and distinctive species, and the latest species checklist. A guide to spider families, based on features recognizable in the field, focussing on body shape and other characteristics, as well as separate guides to webs and egg-sacs Detailed accounts and more than 700 stunning photographs highlight key identification features for each genus and species, and include information on status, behaviour and habitats Up-to-date distribution maps, and charts showing adult seasonality Introductory chapters on the biology of spiders, and where, when and how to find them, including equipment needed in the field A complete list of the spiders recorded in Britain, indicating the ease of identification as well as rarity and conservation status Information on how to record spiders and make your records count, and guidance on how to take your interest further New to this edition: coverage of nine species new to Britain, updated species information and distribution maps, identification guides to spider families and distinctive species, and the latest species checklist

Originally published in 1917, this is a wonderful early work on beekeeping and contains much information and many photos. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Home Farm Books are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork Contents Include: Beekeeping As An Occupation - How The Colony Is Organized - The Complete Hive - Accessory Equipment - Establishing The Colony - Spring In the Apiary - Summer In The Apiary - Fall And Winter Preparation - Queen Management - Diseases And Enemies - Honey Plants - Packing Honey For Market