The buzz about bees : biology of a superorganism / Jürgen Tautz ; with photographs by Helga R. Heilmann ; translated by David C. Sandeman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Tautz, Jürgen.

Contributor:

Sandeman, David C.

Heilmann, Helga R.

Standardized Title:

Phänomen Honigbiene. English

Language:

English

German

Subjects (All):

Honeybee.

Insect societies.

Animal colonies.

Physical Description:

284 pages : color illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Berlin : Springer, [2008]

Summary:

With spectacularly beautiful colour photographs and an easy understandable text The Buzz about Bees tells the story of honeybees in a new perspective. Based on the latest data, notably from his own research group, Jurgen Tautz provides a wonderful insight into the realms of bees.

In contrast to the view of bee colonies as perfect societies of selfless individuals ruled by a queen, Tautz introduces them as a "superorganism," a self organizing and complex adaptive system based on a network of communication; a fascinating result of evolution - a mammal in several bodies.

The entire range of astonishing bee activities is described. Remarkable action photographs never shown before present bees busy with cell cleaning, caring for the brood, serving in the queen's court, visiting flowers, receiving nectar, producing honey, comb building, entrance guarding, heating and cooling. Spotlights include bees grooming, swarming, fighting, telephoning, sleeping and communicating by high-toned beeping, scents and dances.

Contents:

Prolog: The Bee Colony-a Mammal in Many Bodies 3

Man's Smallest Domestic Animal-a Picture Guide 11

1 The Inevitable Honeybees 29

2 Propagated Immortality 37

3 Honeybees-a Model for Success 53

4 What Bees Know About Flowers 71

5 Honeybee Sex, and Virgin Brides 115

6 Royal Jelly-Designer Diet in Bee Colonies 141

7 The Largest Organ of the Bee Colony-Construction and Function of the Comb 157

8 Cultivated Intelligence 205

9 Is Honey Thicker than Blood: How Important Is the Family? 235

10 The Circle Closes 249

Epilog: The Future for Bees and Mankind 271.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 273-274) and index.

ISBN:

9783540787273

3540787275

OCLC:

213855655