The Natural History of Bumblebees

by Kearns, Carol Ann; Thomson, James

• ISBN13: 9780870816215
• ISBN10: 0870816217
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-08-01
• Publisher: Univ Pr of Colorado

Summary

Can insects be charming? Even people who generally dislike 'bugs' make exceptions for bumblebees. Their bright colours and intriguing behaviours can engage the curiosity of anyone from schoolchildren to accomplished scientists. And because one can usually study their behaviours without the use of elaborate equipment, valuable information can still be discovered by the simple technique of observation. This book gives amateurs and professionals alike the basic knowledge to pursue the joys of observing and investigating these attractive and amenable subjects. Packed with information on bumblebee colonies, bee honeypots, bee development, foraging behaviour, as well as instructions for maintaining bumblebees in captivity, this lively and colourful book also includes an easy-to-use photographic field guide to aid in the identification of over fifty species of North American bumblebee. The book fills a gap in the literature and provides amateur enthusiasts, educators, and scholars the information to develop their own projects in bumblebee biology.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	viii
Acknowledgments	ix
Foreword	xi
Introduction	1	(20)
Annual Life Cycle	21	(8)
Foraging Behavior	29	(10)
Predators and Parasites	39	(8)
Bumblebee Conservation	47	(10)
Raising Bumblebees	57	(20)
Research Projects	77	(36)
Appendices
1: Sources of Information	91	(2)
2: Suppliers	93	(2)
3: Photographic Field Guide to the Bumblebees of North America	95	(18)
References	113	(10)
Index	123