The Bumblebee Book offers an easy introduction for those new to bumblebees and also provides the more experienced naturalist with a wealth of information about their fascinating lives. All 27 bumblebee species occurring in Britain and Ireland are illustrated by photographs showing their full range of variation, including the striking island races. Each species has a detailed description with up-to-date distribution maps and notes on the life cycle, flowers visited and habitats used. Further chapters include bumblebee flowers, collecting pollen, cuckoo bumblebees, colours, predation & mimicry, parasites, populations & dispersal and conservation. The Bumblebee Book brings together the author's field experience with current scientific knowledge of these fascinating insects. It is hoped that the book will inspire new generations of enthusiasts and encourage further studies of our beautiful and much-loved bumblebees.
"[...] This is a really engrossing read and an invaluable reference for any avid bumblebee spotter."
– Paul Hetherington , Atropos 68, 2021
"This is the latest book to enter the now relatively crowded marketplace of bumblebee guides, which may leave one wondering what it can offer to the more seasoned hymenopterist – read on! [...] The book is inevitably a blend of old and new: much of the basic species information will be old news to more seasoned students of bumblebees, but there is sufficient augmentation by the author’s own observations and thoughts to provide something for everyone in a very readable format."
– Adrian Knowles, British Wildlife 32(5), April 2021