Description
Bees are often thought of as yellow and black striped insects that live in hives and produce honey. However, Australia's abundant native bees are incredibly diverse in their appearance and habits. Some are yellow and black but others have blue stripes, are iridescent green or wasp-like. Some are social but most are solitary. Some do build nests with wax but others use silk or plant material, burrow in soil or use holes in wood and even gumnuts!
A Guide to Native Bees of Australia provides a detailed introduction to the estimated 2000 species of Australian bees. Illustrated with stunning photographs, it describes the form and function of bees, their lifecycle stages, nest architecture, sociality and relationships with plants. It also contains systematic accounts of the five families and 58 genera of Australian bees. Photomicrographs of morphological characters and identification keys allow identification of bees to genus level. Natural history enthusiasts, professional and amateur entomologists and beekeepers will find this an essential guide.
Features
About the Author
Dr Terry Houston has studied Australian native bees for more than 50 years, both in the field and in state museum collections. He served as Curator of Insects at the Western Australian Museum in Perth for 34 years and, although retired, he continues his bee research there in an honorary capacity.
Reviews
"We have all been waiting for Terry Houston's book to provide a holistic, all-encompassing and detailed review of native Australian bees - and, it has been worth the wait... I would thoroughly recommend this book to curious naturalists and all the way to seasoned melittologists like myself. Everyone will learn something, perhaps many new things, from Terry's 50 years of "simply messing about with bees"." -- Ken Walker * Victorian Entomologist, August 2018 *
Book Information
ISBN 9781486304066
Author Dr Terry Houston
Format Paperback
Page Count 280
Imprint CSIRO Publishing
Publisher CSIRO Publishing
A Guide to Native Bees of Australia provides a detailed introduction to the estimated 2000 species of Australian bees. Illustrated with stunning photographs, it describes the form and function of bees, their lifecycle stages, nest architecture, sociality and relationships with plants. It also contains systematic accounts of the five families and 58 genera of Australian bees. Photomicrographs of morphological characters and identification keys allow identification of bees to genus level. Natural history enthusiasts, professional and amateur entomologists and beekeepers will find this an essential guide.
Features
- Discover the extraordinary diversity of Australia's native bees, their natural history and fascinating behaviours
- Includes identification keys and diagnoses for all five families and 58 genera of Australian bees
- Extensively illustrated with photographs of live bees from expert wildlife photographers as well as photomicrographs of diagnostic features for each family and genus
About the Author
Dr Terry Houston has studied Australian native bees for more than 50 years, both in the field and in state museum collections. He served as Curator of Insects at the Western Australian Museum in Perth for 34 years and, although retired, he continues his bee research there in an honorary capacity.
Reviews
"We have all been waiting for Terry Houston's book to provide a holistic, all-encompassing and detailed review of native Australian bees - and, it has been worth the wait... I would thoroughly recommend this book to curious naturalists and all the way to seasoned melittologists like myself. Everyone will learn something, perhaps many new things, from Terry's 50 years of "simply messing about with bees"." -- Ken Walker * Victorian Entomologist, August 2018 *
Book Information
ISBN 9781486304066
Author Dr Terry Houston
Format Paperback
Page Count 280
Imprint CSIRO Publishing
Publisher CSIRO Publishing
