From the jungles of South America to the deserts of Arizona,one thing remains consistent: bees are disappearing.A world without bees would be much less colourful, withfewer flowers. But that’s not all -- bees are responsible for upto one-third of our food supply, and the consequences of nottaking action to protect them are frightening. While the mediafocuses on colony-collapse disorder and the threats to honeybees specifically, the real danger is much greater: all bees are atrisk, whether it be from loss of habitat, pesticide use or disease,among other factors. And because of the integral role these insectsplay in the ecology of our planet, we may be at risk as well.

In Keeping the Bees, Laurence Packer, a melittologist whoselife revolves around bees, debunks many myths about thesecreatures and takes us behind the scenes with scientists aroundthe world who are working to save these fascinating creaturesbefore it’s too late.

Laurence Packer obtained a B.A. in zoology from the University of Oxford and a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. He has been at York University since 1988, where he is currently a professor of biology.

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