Honey bees are marvelously charismatic organisms with a long history of interaction with humans. They are vital to agriculture and serve as a model system for many basic questions in biology. This authoritative book provides an essential overview of honey bee biology, bringing established topics up to date while incorporating emerging areas of inquiry.
Honey Bee Biology covers everything from molecular genetics, development, and physiology to neurobiology, behavior, and pollination biology. Placing special attention on the important role of bees as pollinators in agricultural ecosystems, it incorporates the latest findings on pesticides, parasites, and pathogens. This incisive and wide-ranging book also sheds vital light on the possible causes of colony collapse disorder and the devastating honey bee losses we are witnessing today.
The study of honey bees has greatly expanded in recent years and there is more interest in these marvelous creatures than ever before. Honey Bee Biology is the first up-to-date general reference of its kind published in decades. It is a must-have resource for social insect biologists, scientifically savvy beekeepers, and any scientist interested in bees as a model system.
"This book is a treasure trove."—David Skydmore, British Naturalists Association
"[Honey Bee Biology is] chock full of up-to-date science on the biology, reproduction and feeding of honey bees."—Geoff Carpentier, North Durham Nature
"The perfect companion for a honey bee biology class!"—Choice
"Honey Bee Biology will become the new definitive textbook for entomology courses, research scientists, science writers, and scientists interested in bees as a model system. Beekeeping teachers and keen students will buy this book as will the curious beekeeper just wanting to learn new things and be a better beekeeper."—Ann Chilcott, British Beekeepers’ Association News
"A comprehensive compilation of new science."—Lynfa Davies, Bee Craft
"The most comprehensive and up-to-date general reference book on Honeybee biology."—the Buzz
"[A} valuable resource for students interested in a deeper understanding of the biology, functioning, and organization of honey bees."—Arathi Seshadri, The Quarterly Review of Biology
“A detailed and meticulously researched summary of honey bees, covering aspects of physiology, behavior, evolution, and conservation. Honey Bee Biology is a triumph of integrative biology that is notable for its breadth and readability. Highly recommended for biologists and serious bee enthusiasts.”—Elizabeth Tibbetts, University of Michigan
“A tour de force. Honey Bee Biology will be the go-to textbook for college courses and serves as a readable reference for beekeepers who want to learn more about the ‘under the hood’ mechanics of honey bee function, from genomics and neurobiology to foraging and pesticide detoxification. Johnson is to be applauded for assembling and updating centuries’ worth of honey bee science and presenting it as a work of art.”—Marla Spivak, University of Minnesota
“Honey Bee Biology provides an engrossing and comprehensive overview of honey bee biology from a scientist who has dedicated his career to uncovering these mysteries. I thoroughly enjoyed this modern update of an amazing and continuing story.”—James C. Nieh, University of California, San Diego
“With bees in the spotlight, Johnson has produced an important and timely book that covers diverse areas of honey bee biology, with incisive synthesis and comprehensive literature reviews.”—Gene E. Robinson, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
