The Biology of the Honey Bee

by Mark L. Winston

Overview

From ancient cave paintings of honey bee nests to modern science’s richly diversified investigation of honey bee biology and its applications, the human imagination has long been captivated by the mysterious and highly sophisticated behavior of this paragon among insect societies. In the first broad treatment of honey bee biology to appear in decades, Mark Winston provides rare access to the world of this extraordinary insect.

In a bright and engaging style, Winston probes the dynamics of the honey bee’s social organization. He recreates for us the complex infrastructure of the nest, describes the highly specialized behavior of workers, queens, and drones, and examines in detail the remarkable ability of the honey bee colony to regulate its functions according to events within and outside the nest. Winston integrates into his discussion the results of recent studies, bringing into sharp focus topics of current bee research. These include the exquisite architecture of the nest and its relation to bee physiology; the intricate division of labor and the relevance of a temporal caste structure to efficient functioning of the colony; and, finally, the life-death struggles of swarming, supersedure, and mating that mark the reproductive cycle of the honey bee.

The Biology of the Honey Bee not only reviews the basic aspects of social behavior, ecology, anatomy, physiology, and genetics, it also summarizes major controversies in contemporary honey bee research, such as the importance of kin recognition in the evolution of social behavior and the role of the well-known dance language in honey bee communication. Thorough, well-illustrated, and lucidly written, this book will for many years be a valuable resource for scholars, students, and beekeepers alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780674744202
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	04/01/1991
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	293
File size:	6 MB

About the Author

Mark L. Winston is Professor and Senior Fellow at Simon Fraser University’s Centre for Dialogue and Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. The Origins and Evolutionary History of Bees

3. Form and Function: Honey Bee Anatomy

4. Development and Nutrition

5. Nest Architecture

6. The Age-Related Activities of Worker Bees

7. Other Worker Activities

8. The Chemical World of Honey Bees

9. Communication and Orientation

10. The Collection of Food

11. Reproduction: Swarming and Supersedure

12. Drones, Queens, and Mating

13. The Biology of Temperate and Tropical Honey Bees

Reference

Author Index

Subject Index

Editorial Reviews

Masterly… Without hesitation I recommend this book to a wide range of potential readers.

Science - John B. Free

Mark Winston offers a comprehensive account, covering aspects of anatomy and physiology as well as systematics, ecology and behavior… A useful overview of the biology of an insect that holds considerable interest for both economic and academic reasons. Rich in descriptive detail and well referenced, it will also serve as a basis for more detailed exploration of particular aspects of honey bee biology.

Times Higher Education Supplement - Sarah Corbet

This very readable book brings together the wealth of scattered information on the complex honey bee in a way that will serve as a standard for many years.

Science Books & Films - Roger G. Bland

Winston’s writing is brisk and enthusiastic and the book’s illustrations clear and informative. This is a delightful study of an odd, yet oddly familiar, creature.

Wall Street Journal - John R. Alden

Winston's writing is brisk and enthusiastic and the book's illustrations clear and informative. This is a delightful study of an odd, yet oddly familiar, creature.
— John R. Alden

Wall Street Journal

This very readable book brings together the wealth of scattered information on the complex honey bee in a way that will serve as a standard for many years.
— Roger G. Bland

Science Books & Films

Mark Winston offers a comprehensive account, covering aspects of anatomy and physiology as well as systematics, ecology and behavior...A useful overview of the biology of an insect that holds considerable interest for both economic and academic reasons. Rich in descriptive detail and well referenced, it will also serve as a basis for more detailed exploration of particular aspects of honey bee biology.
— Sarah Corbet

Times Higher Education Supplement

Masterly...Without hesitation I recommend this book to a wide range of potential readers.
— John B. Free

Science