Bees are the darlings of the insect world. It is a great joy to see these tenacious
insects hard at work, peacefully buzzing from flower to flower on warm and
sunny days. Many people recognise the
worth of bees, as well as that they face many threats. But very few know about
the diversity and importance of our native bee species. There are an estimated
2000 to 3000 bee species in Australia, yet we know very little about the vast
majority of these and there are many that are yet to be described.

Bees of Australia
introduces some of our incredible native bees, many of which, if you look
closely, can be found in your own garden. Open this book wherever you like or
read it from cover to cover. The combination of photography and contributions
from many of Australia's leading bee researchers allows anyone to become
enthralled by our native bees. Don't be surprised if you find yourself looking
closer at every flower that you pass in search of our wonderful native bees.