Buzz: The Nature and Necessity of Bees

Lively and entertaining, Hanson's (The Triumph of Seeds) work introduces the world of bees—all bees, not just honeybees, which the author describes as "the chickens of the bee world." (Wild bees are far more common.) Bees have long held fascination for humans; they are mentioned in Shakespeare and found in primitive rock art. Beekeeping began in the Neolithic era, while mead, which is made from honey, is one of the oldest forms of alcoholic beverages. Hanson discusses what is known about bee evolution. The fossil evidence is poor, but it is suspected that bees evolved from sphecid wasps, coevolving with flowers, which have developed various ingenious methods of attracting them. Bees have also played a role in human evolution, with honey providing at least 15 percent of the caloric intake for hunter-gatherer groups. The author also details Colony Collapse Disorder, stating that approximately 40 percent of bee species are in decline, and provides suggestions for farmers and home gardeners in supporting bee populations.