This book explores the life cycle of the most beloved insect in all its glorious, brilliant variety. It contains five chapters: the social life of bees, solitary bees, their body structure, hives and nests, and bees as pollinators of plants. Featuring examples from a wide variety of bees worldwide, including honey bees, bumble bees, leaf cutter bees, mason bees, carpenter bees, killer bees, stingless bees, orchid bees and cuckoo bees. The nearly 200 photographs provide a close-up look at these complex insects in their natural habitat.