Secrets of Bees: An Insider's Guide to the Life of Honeybees

Bees make honey, but the process between the bee buzzing around the garden and the sticky knife in the jar is a mystery. The Secrets of Bees by Michael Weiler answers questions about the bee-hours it takes to make one jar of honey, the waggling dances of honeybees, why bees swarm, and what a house bee is.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 21 February 2019
Publisher: Floris Books

Bees are fascinating creatures that play a crucial role in our ecosystem. They produce honey, a sweet and delicious treat that has been enjoyed by humans for centuries. However, the process of honey production is not as simple as it may seem. Many people wonder how long it takes for bees to make just one jar of honey, what the honeybees' waggling dances mean, why bees swarm, and what a house bee is.

In his book "The Secrets of Bees," expert biodynamic beekeeper Michael Weiler takes readers on a journey to explore the world of bees. He answers these questions and many more, combining poetic observations with scientific detail. Through his writing, Weiler sheds light on the incredible world of these remarkable insects, revealing their life cycle, development, societies, and behaviour.

One of the most interesting aspects of bees is their life cycle. Bees go through four stages of development: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Each stage has its own unique characteristics and plays a vital role in the survival of the hive. Weiler explains how bees mate, lay eggs, care for their young, and defend their hive from predators. He also discusses the role of the queen bee, the most important bee in the hive, and how she controls the behaviour of the other bees.

Another fascinating topic that Weiler explores is the honeybees' waggling dances. These dances are used by the bees to communicate with each other and to locate food sources. Weiler explains how the bees use their antennae to detect the direction and strength of the scent of food, and how they use their bodies to communicate the information to their fellow bees. He also discusses the different types of dances that bees perform, such as the round dance, the waggle dance, and the zigzag dance.

Weiler also delves into the reasons why bees swarm. Swarming is a natural process that occurs when a new queen bee emerges from a queen cell. The old queen bee leaves the hive with a large group of worker bees to start a new colony. Weiler explains how the bees select a new location for the new colony, how they build the new hive, and how they care for the new queen bee. He also discusses the benefits of swarming, such as the ability to produce more honey and the ability to expand the colony.

Finally, Weiler discusses what a house bee is. House bees are the bees that live in a beehive. They are responsible for collecting nectar, pollen, and honey, and for maintaining the health and productivity of the hive. Weiler explains how house bees are different from other types of bees, such as honeybees and bumblebees, and how they are adapted to their environment.

"The Secrets of Bees" is a must-read for anyone who is interested in bees, nature, or the environment. Weiler's writing is engaging and informative, and he provides readers with a deep understanding of the world of bees. Through his book, we learn about the importance of bees in our ecosystem, the challenges that they face, and the ways in which we can help to protect them.

In conclusion, bees are fascinating creatures that play a crucial role in our ecosystem. They produce honey, a sweet and delicious treat that has been enjoyed by humans for centuries. However, the process of honey production is not as simple as it may seem. Many people wonder how long it takes for bees to make just one jar of honey, what the honeybees' waggling dances mean, why bees swarm, and what a house bee is.

In his book "The Secrets of Bees," expert biodynamic beekeeper Michael Weiler takes readers on a journey to explore the world of bees. He answers these questions and many more, combining poetic observations with scientific detail. Through his writing, Weiler sheds light on the incredible world of these remarkable insects, revealing their life cycle, development, societies, and behaviour.

One of the most interesting aspects of bees is their life cycle. Bees go through four stages of development: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Each stage has its own unique characteristics and plays a vital role in the survival of the hive. Weiler explains how bees mate, lay eggs, care for their young, and defend their hive from predators. He also discusses the role of the queen bee, the most important bee in the hive, and how she controls the behaviour of the other bees.

Another fascinating topic that Weiler explores is the honeybees' waggling dances. These dances are used by the bees to communicate with each other and to locate food sources. Weiler explains how the bees use their antennae to detect the direction and strength of the scent of food, and how they use their bodies to communicate the information to their fellow bees. He also discusses the different types of dances that bees perform, such as the round dance, the waggle dance, and the zigzag dance.

Weiler also delves into the reasons why bees swarm. Swarming is a natural process that occurs when a new queen bee emerges from a queen cell. The old queen bee leaves the hive with a large group of worker bees to start a new colony. Weiler explains how the bees select a new location for the new colony, how they build the new hive, and how they care for the new queen bee. He also discusses the benefits of swarming, such as the ability to produce more honey and the ability to expand the colony.

Finally, Weiler discusses what a house bee is. House bees are the bees that live in a beehive. They are responsible for collecting nectar, pollen, and honey, and for maintaining the health and productivity of the hive. Weiler explains how house bees are different from other types of bees, such as honeybees and bumblebees, and how they are adapted to their environment.

"The Secrets of Bees" is a must-read for anyone who is interested in bees, nature, or the environment. Weiler's writing is engaging and informative, and he provides readers with a deep understanding of the world of bees. Through his book, we learn about the importance of bees in our ecosystem, the challenges that they face, and the ways in which we can help to protect them.

Weight: 212g
Dimension: 214 x 139 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781782505808
Edition number: 2 Revised edition