BEE IDENTIFICATION SECTION - A comprehensive guide illustrating the bees that occur in north-central and eastern United States and southern Canada
- In-depth profiles of 27 bee genera covering the life cycles, habitats, diet, foraging behaviors, crops pollinated, plant specializations, nesting lifestyles, seasonality, and preferred native forage plants
- 12 additional summary profiles for uncommon genera
PLANT SECTION: WHAT TO PLANT FOR BEES - Comprehensive profiles of approximately 100 native trees, shrubs, and perennials for the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast regions including insect and bird visitation information and bee specializations
- Over 1500 stunning photographs, detailed descriptions, and accessible science
This well-illustrated guide captures the beauty, diversity, and engaging world of bees that occur in north-central and eastern United States and southern Canada, and the native plants that support them. Superbly designed and organized, this is an indispensable source of information with extensive profiles for twenty-seven bee genera, plus twelve summary profiles for uncommon genera, and approximately one hundred native trees, shrubs, and perennials for the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast regions. With over 1500 stunning photographs, detailed descriptions, and accessible science, environmental educator and research assistant Heather Holm brings to light captivating information about bees' life cycles, habitats, diet, foraging behaviors, crops pollinated, nesting lifestyles, seasonality, and preferred native forage plants.
Bees are a singularly fascinating group of insects and this book makes it possible to observe, attract, and support them in their natural setting or in one's own garden. Not only does this guide assist the reader with bee identification in the field or by photo, it also notes microscopic features for the advanced user. The factors impacting bee populations, and the management of farms and public and residential landscapes for bees are also covered. Included in the bee forage (plant) chapters are plant profiles with range maps, habitat information, floral features and attractants, common bees attracted to the particular plant, and details about the ecological connections between the native plant and other flower-visiting insects. Noted also are birds dependent upon the product of the pollinated flowers (fruits and seeds).
This is an excellent reference for amateur and professional naturalists, educators, gardeners, farmers, students, nature photographers, insect enthusiasts, biologists, and anyone interested in learning more about the diversity and biology of bees and their connection to native plants and the natural world.
Winner of Six Book Awards - 2018 American Horticultural Society (AHS) Book Award
- 2018 Midwest Independent Publishing Association (MIPA) Finalist: Nature
- 2017 Independent Publisher (IPPY) Silver Book Award: Environment, Ecology, and Nature
- 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Award (NGIBA) Winner: Regional Non-Fiction
- 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Award (NGIBA) Finalist: Science, Nature, Environment
- 2017 National Indie Excellence Award (NIEA) Winner: Nature
"It would be hard to imagine a book more chock full of the information we need to save our native bees. From helpful ID tips, to body size ranges, to seasonal distribution, to 99 species of the trees, shrubs, and perennials preferred by 27 genera of our most common bees, Heather Holm covers it all. This is the book pollination biologists and homeowners alike have been waiting for!"
Douglas Tallamy, author of
Bringing Nature Home"
Bees: An Identification and Native Plant Forage Guide is a must-have for anyone who has an interest in plants, pollinators, or nature. It is an amazing resource of interesting facts about our native bees and the native plants they visit, accompanied by stunning photographs, presented in an easy to read, engaging way. It will open your eyes to the diversity around us, make you look closer at every flower you pass to see what bees are busy visiting, and have you finding room in your garden to add some of the featured plants that are both beautiful and beneficial for pollinators."
Victoria MacPhail, Pollination Biologist and Co-Chair,
Pollination Guelph"Heather Holm's second book is a tour de force, combining plant knowledge with an intimate understanding of the native bees of Eastern North America. While this is a beautifully produced publication with stunning photographs, it is Holm's genius for organizing information in a way that's clear and accessible that makes it especially valuable."
Kate Harries, Owner of
Return of the Native nursery
"The book is amazingly detailed and so full of information that my expectations have been exceeded. Chapter 1 sets the stage for detail with 30 pages of background on bees: life cycle, anatomy, nesting, their relationship with flowers, and the latest issues that impact bees. All of it is beautifully illustrated with close-up photos. This section closes with a 4-page spread that illustrates key characteristics "at a glance." I love the pictorial illustrations that highlight the sizes; they really help me envision one bee relative to others. Chapters 2 through 6 get up close and personal with bee families: Colletidae, Andrenidae, Halictidae, Megachilidae, and Apidae. Each family is divided into several genera. I didn't know that the Apidae family included the European honeybee as well as the native bumblebees (plus several others). Profiles vary in size but each includes basic information: size, months of activity, presence in the Eastern US, how they collect pollen (if applicable), nest details, life cycle, and common forage plants. Each profile has numerous photos of the bee, often both male and female."
Ellen Honeycutt, author of
Using Georgia Native Plants blog
This book packs in a wealth of practical and scientifically accurate information about North American native bee species and the plants that support them. Judges praised it for emphasizing and explaining the importance of plant-pollinator relationships in an accessible, useable format. Sample comments from the award judges:
- "extremely well-written with beautiful photographs, serving as an excellent resource for identifying the different bees in your garden"
- "outstanding job of connecting native bees to plants"
- "it's hard to imagine a more complete reference on this topic with such a clear and readable format."
2018 American Horticultural Society (AHS) Book Award Summary
