Reviews for Diary of a honey bee

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Documentary filmmaker Wells follows a hive of honey bees living in the Karwendel Mountains in Austria through the seasons, noting the activities that typically occur during each period. The bees go through a hatching cycle, train new bees, process honey, and dance to tell others the locations of flowers. Additionally, if conditions are right, some birth a new queen bee and split off from the main hive. Wells details biological changes that bees undergo during their life cycle as well as their unique genetics and characteristics. Although often perceived as a collective species, Wells examines ways in which bees’ individuality is beneficial for the hive because discrete preferences in foraging habits and temperature can increase biological diversity and survival chances. He also analyzes the effects of climate change and agricultural monoculture on bee populations and notes experiments that uncovered insights into bee behavior. This informative and beautifully illustrated volume, full of fascinating, sharable facts, will appeal to novice bee enthusiasts.