There are around 16,000 species of bee. Only seven of these are responsible for creating the world's sweetest treat -- honey. Combining Ilona's gorgeous photography and E. Readicker-Henderson's engaging text, A Short History of the Honey Bee follows the journey from flower to hive to honey throughout history.
A Short History of the Honey Bee starts with the story of the honey bee -- why it is named Apis mellifera , how it has evolved from a solitary creature to one that travels in groups, why it stings, and how pollination really works. Readicker-Henderson then moves on to the honey, detailing its history from a wild food foraged for on cliffs to the many varieties available for purchase today. But it is the everyday importance of the bee that remains the central message. Forty percent of the world's food supply -- including apples, tomatoes, and strawberries -- is dependent on pollination by honeybees. Colony collapse, when the worker bees suddenly disappear and leave behind the queen and the hive, is an ecological and agricultural crisis. For this reason alone we need to be more aware of the significance of bees.

images by Ilona; text by E. Readicker-Henderson

E Readicker-Henderson; Ilona McCarty

Ed Readicker-Henderson; Ilona

Portland: Timber Press

United States, United States of America

1st Edition, First Edition, PT, 2009

Portland, Or, Oregon, 2009

Includes bibliographical references.

163 p. : 21 cm
Includes bibliographical references (p. 161-163)
The first taste -- The magic -- In the hive -- Dancing with bees -- From nectar to honey -- Living with bees -- The sting -- The danger -- The fragrant work -- Beyond honey -- The taste of the world

"A Short History of the Honey Bee weds Ilona's gorgeous photography to E. Readicker-Henderson's information-rich prose about the alchemy of bees, flowers, and honey, while underscoring the impending threats to this incredibly valuable insect."--Inside jacket

2023-06-28