Featured recently in major national news stories because they are disappearing at an alarming rate, bees are the unsungand absolutely essential heroes of the food chain. Now they get their due in this delightfully illustrated, fact-filled book, courtesy of a professional beekeeper and nature writer who explores: Why honey bees are disappearingand what we can do about it Whos who in the hivethe queen bee, the workers, and the drones The role of bees in our food system Swarming behaviorwhat it is, what it means, and how its controlled Bees by the numbersnumber of bees per hive, number of wing beats per second, and other fascinating facts Bees in folklore, literature, and pop culture And much more