RSPB ID Spotlight - Bees

Watching a garden busy with bees is one of the joys of summer. But can you tell a White-tailed Bumblebee from a Garden Bumblebee? Or confidently distinguish between a Patchwork Leafcutter Bee and a Long-horned Bee? Britain and Ireland are home to more than 270 species of bees, some of which play an important ecological role through their industrious pollination of our crops and wildflowers.

RSPB ID Spotlight Bees is a reliable fold-out chart that presents illustrations of 40 of our most widespread and familiar bees by renowned artist Richard Lewington.

• Species are grouped by family and helpfully labelled to assist with identification.
• Artworks are shown side by side for quick comparison and easy reference at home or in the field.
• The reverse of the chart provides information on the habitats, behaviour, life cycles and diets of our bees, as well as the conservation issues they are facing and how the RSPB and other conservation charities are working to support them.
• Practical tips on bug houses, planting for pollinators and gardening for bees are also included.

The ID Spotlight charts help wildlife enthusiasts identify and learn more about our most common species using accurate colour illustrations and informative, accessible text.

About the Authors

Richard Lewington is an acknowledged leader in the field of insect illustration. His meticulous paintings of wildlife are the mainstay of many of the modern classics of field-guide art, including Pocket Guide to the Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland, Guide to Garden Wildlife, Field Guide to the Bees of Great Britain and Ireland, Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland and Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. Richard has also designed and illustrated wildlife stamps for several countries. In 1999, he was awarded Butterfly Conservation's Marsh Award for the promotion of Lepidoptera conservation, and in 2010 the Zoological Society of London's Stamford Raffles Award for contributions to zoology. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society.

Marianne Taylor is a freelance writer, illustrator, photographer and editor. Marianne worked in publishing for seven years before taking the plunge as a freelancer in 2007. Since then, she has written more than 25 books for adults and children on a range of natural history subjects, including The Pocket Book of Insect Anatomy, RSPB British Naturefinder and The Way of the Hare. A passion for all wildlife, but especially birds, has always been a driving force in Marianne's life.

Bloomsbury Wildlife is the proud home of many of the best and most passionate nature writers around. With books on everything from mushrooms to marine animals and ducks to dinosaurs, readers of all levels and interests are sure to find something engaging among our extensive range of natural history titles.