The Bees in Your Backyard: A Guide to North America’s Bees

“Winner of the 2017 PROSE Award in Single Volume Reference/Science, Association of American Publishers”

“The ultimate bee book for bee enthusiasts and experts alike.” (Bookseller Buyer’s Guide)

“[A] well-written, informative and beautifully photographed reference on North America’s bees.” (The Chronicle Herald)

“If you have ever asked, ‘what kind of bee is that?’ The Bees in Your Backyard is the book for you. It is a must-have for bee lovers of all stripes.”—Wild about Ants blog,

“[A]s folks become more interested in bees, it seemed logical to Wilson and fellow bee biologist Olivia Messinger Carril that people should be more informed as well. The result is their new guide, The Bees in Your Backyard, which offers an introduction to a world of bees that is mostly hidden to people who aren’t entomologists.”—Adrian Higgins, Washington Post

“This book helps identify the bees that you see. It has more than 900 photos of all of the kinds of bees you’ll find, plus the biology of all of the bees included, and how to provide both food and habitat for them. . . . This is probably the best reference on all of the bees in your backyard you’ll find, and the price is right.” (Bee Culture)

“The moment you open this lusciously illustrated new offering from Princeton University Press by Joseph Wilson and Olivia Messinger Carril, you will be captivated by magnificent photos and engaging captions that delight and fascinate. But more than that, you will learn just how beautiful and unexpected is this mightily important group of insects, and how complex and diverse lives. . . . Wilson and Carril’s breathtaking guide introduces you to the roughly 4000 North American bee species without losing the reader through ‘information overload’. . . . One of the loveliest things about The Bees in Your Backyard is the truly stunning photography. This, paired with expertly chosen glossy paper and careful printing, produces images so satisfyingly sharp, colorful, clear, and precise that you can almost see each bee’s personality.”—Cathy Taibbi, Examiner.com,

“As the interest in native bees has grown, resources to learn about them have been developed, and The Bees in Your Backyard is one of the best yet. . . . This is an awe-inspiring and welcome addition to the natural history literature in North America. It is highly recommended for gardeners, naturalists, land managers, and anyone with an interest in these beautiful and hugely beneficial creatures.”—Dan R. Kunkle, Wildlife Activist

“This book is absolutely filled with more than 900 spectacular color photographs of all types of bees, from honeybees to bumblebees to giant carpenter bees. . . . [T]his fascinating book is certainly well worth reading and adding to your library of outdoor reference guidebooks.” (The Blade)

“Comprehensive.” (Houston Chronicle)

“The decline of bees in recent years has led to a growing awareness of the importance of these insects. The Bees in Your Backyard provides a great introduction to the bees of North America and an invaluable aid to anyone learning to differentiate the various kinds. I know of no other book for general readers that describes all the genera to this extent.”–Sheila Colla, coauthor of Bumble Bees of North America: An Identification Guide

“This book provides an easy-to-understand guide to the thousands of bees found in North America. The Bees in Your Backyard is a great place for novice bee enthusiasts to start and an exceptional reference for experts.”–Kelly Allin, contributor to The Bee: A Natural History