Wild Bees, Wasps and Ants and Other Stinging Insects

This compact volume opens a window onto the hidden world of Britain’s wild bees, wasps, ants and their kin. While most people only notice the familiar hive bee or the occasional hornet, the author reveals that the countryside hosts some four hundred distinct species, each with its own habits and quirks. Clear, jargon‑free explanations are paired with numerous line drawings and four vivid colour plates that bring the insects’ anatomy and nests to life.

Readers will learn how solitary sand‑dwelling wasps provision their burrows with beetles or caterpillars, how certain ants practice slave‑making, and why some bees line their cells with a glossy glue. The book also touches on the fascinating relationships these insects have with other creatures, such as cuckoo bees and parasitic beetles. Written for nature lovers rather than specialists, it invites anyone with curiosity to observe and perhaps add to the still‑sparse knowledge of these remarkable aculeates.