Recommended Reading

The Evolution of the Honey Bee Colony as a Superorganism

• The Buzz about Bees: Biology of a Superorganism (2008), by Jürgen Tautz
  • Accurate portrayal of the lives of bees as individuals and the function of the superorganism
• The World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting (1999), by Eva Crane
• Honey Bee Ecology (1985), by Thomas Seeley
• The Social Behavior of the Bees (1974), by Charles Michener
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Wild Bees

• Bees: An Up-Close Look at Pollinators Around the World (2015), by Sam Droege and Laurence Packer
  • Close-up photography of bees with info on each one
• A Sting in The Tale: My Adventures with Bumble Bees (2013), by Dave Goulson
• The Bees of the World (2000), by Charles Michener
• Bumble Bees of North America: An Identification Guide (Princeton Field Guides) (2014), by Paul Williams, Robbin Thorp, Leif Richardson, and Sheila Colla
  • A guide to bumble bee identification includes distribution maps, photos, bee color diagrams, and handy keys
• The Bees in Your Backyard: A Guide to North America’s Bees (2016), by Joseph S. Wilson and Olivia Messinger Carril
  • A field guide with distribution maps, identification keys, and much more

How Honey Bees Communicate

• Honey Bee Democracy (2010), by Thomas Seeley
  • Learn how swarms "decide" replete with graphic data and qualitative insight.
• Pheromones of Social Bees (2000), by J.B. Free
• The Dancing Bees (1953), by Karl von Frisch

Honey Bee Biology

• The Hive and the Honey Bee (2015), by L.L. Langstroth et al.
• Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping (2013), by Dewey Caron and Lawrence Connor
• Bees and Beekeeping: Science, Practice, and World Resources (1990), by Eva Crane
• The Biology of the Honey Bee (1987), by Mark Winston

Natural History

• Bees: A Natural History (2013), by Christopher O’Toole
  • Beautiful large format photo book with easy to digest info
• Bee (2010), by Rose-Lynn Fisher
  • electron microscope photo book of bees

Pollinators

• The Forgotten Pollinators (1996), by Stephen L. Buchmann and Gary Paul Nabhan
  • describes the interdependence of plants and pollinators throughout the world and the resultant crisis as pollinators are threatened
• Pollinators of Native Plants: Attract, Observe and Identify Pollinators and Beneficial Insects with Native Plants (2014), Heather Holm
  • beneficial insects, pollinators, and native plants presented by habitat type

Beekeeping

• The Beekeeper’s Handbook, Fourth Edition (2011), by Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile
  • Clear, logical how-to beekeeping manual and reference book
• Honey Bee Parasites, Pests and Predators & Diseases (2005), by Penn State College of Agricultural Services
  • small spiral-bound field guide with identification photos and info of many pests & diseases impacting honey bees
• Backyard Beekeeper: An Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Keeping Bees in Your Yard and Garden (2005), by Kim Flottum
  • helpful photos of basic beekeeping techniques