A fascinating guided tour through the history, folklore, and function of the endangered honeybee.

Featured recently in major national news stories because they are disappearing at an alarming rate, bees are the unsung--and absolutely essential--heroes of the food chain. Now they get their due in this delightfully illustrated, fact-filled book, courtesy of a professional beekeeper and nature writer who explores:

• Why honey bees are disappearing--and what we can do about it
• Who's who in the hive--the queen bee, the workers, and the drones
• The role of bees in our food system
• Swarming behavior--what it is, what it means, and how it's controlled
• Bees by the numbers--number of bees per hive, number of wing beats per second, and other fascinating facts
• Bees in folklore, literature, and pop culture
• And much more