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Bees, Wasps, and Ants: The Indispensable Role of Hymenoptera in Gardens
Few insects are more important than bees, wasps, and ants. They maintain the garden’s biological balance, fertilize vegetables, fruits, and flowers, and recycle nutrients within the soil. It’s no exaggeration to say that a garden can’t be understood without an understanding of its insects.
Bees, Wasps, and Ants explores the importance of the Hymenoptera and explains how gardeners can encourage (or discourage) them in the garden. Part One includes a summary of their biology and a tour of what role they play in each part of the garden. Part Two takes a closer look at the individual groups within the family, including sawflies, horntails, woodwasps, parasitic wasps, predatory wasps, bees, and ants.
Bees, Wasps, and Ants is sure to persuade even the most insectphobic reader to invite these fascinating creatures into their gardens.
Bees, Wasps, and Ants explores the importance of the Hymenoptera and explains how gardeners can encourage (or discourage) them in the garden. Part One includes a summary of their biology and a tour of what role they play in each part of the garden. Part Two takes a closer look at the individual groups within the family, including sawflies, horntails, woodwasps, parasitic wasps, predatory wasps, bees, and ants.
Bees, Wasps, and Ants is sure to persuade even the most insectphobic reader to invite these fascinating creatures into their gardens.
335 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 19, 2012
While this book was substantially more in-depth than Grissell's "Insects and Gardens: In Pursuit of a Garden Ecology," it still ends up being more of a list of hymenopteran families with some vignettes. I suppose I should stop looking for the kind of book that doesn't exist and just go look in "the book of the world" for insect-garden interactions. Still, there are plenty of interesting stories here that hit home the fact that the level at which you can observe in the garden is vastly oversimplified compared to the true complexity of insect lives, now slightly shed light on by science.
For instances: the life cycle variations among and between most superfamilies of hymenopterans; the variations in reproductive biology in same; the fact that every superfamily seems to have its own specialist parasites and cleptoparasites that attack and steal from its brethren; the fact that ant species occasionally share nests with other species; that there are not only parasitoid wasps that specialize on nearly every type of insect, but that there are in turn secondary and tertiary parasites that prey on those parasites, and often further inquiline commensalists and cleptoparasites at each step in the web.
The whole thing, as science sees it, is dozens of times more complex than even an observant naive gardener can discern, and the truth of the matter is likely dozens of times more complex in turn. Grissell's main point, echoing other organic and holistic garden writers, is that this complexity is very important to stability and should be respected and cultivated for its own sake. This point was made in a rather pleading way, whereas I feel it should be done with a bit more self-confidence, though without pretension and arrogance, as for instance Michael Phillips does in The Holistic Orchard: Tree Fruits and Berries the Biological Way.
At some points in this book I felt that Grissell was still in the sort of awestruck phase of science, in which a vast amount of data has been collected and organized, and this is so exciting that all of it must be presented in some way at the expense of narrative and broader ecological theories.
For instances: the life cycle variations among and between most superfamilies of hymenopterans; the variations in reproductive biology in same; the fact that every superfamily seems to have its own specialist parasites and cleptoparasites that attack and steal from its brethren; the fact that ant species occasionally share nests with other species; that there are not only parasitoid wasps that specialize on nearly every type of insect, but that there are in turn secondary and tertiary parasites that prey on those parasites, and often further inquiline commensalists and cleptoparasites at each step in the web.
The whole thing, as science sees it, is dozens of times more complex than even an observant naive gardener can discern, and the truth of the matter is likely dozens of times more complex in turn. Grissell's main point, echoing other organic and holistic garden writers, is that this complexity is very important to stability and should be respected and cultivated for its own sake. This point was made in a rather pleading way, whereas I feel it should be done with a bit more self-confidence, though without pretension and arrogance, as for instance Michael Phillips does in The Holistic Orchard: Tree Fruits and Berries the Biological Way.
At some points in this book I felt that Grissell was still in the sort of awestruck phase of science, in which a vast amount of data has been collected and organized, and this is so exciting that all of it must be presented in some way at the expense of narrative and broader ecological theories.
September 21, 2019
I wish I knew it all. I am glad I don't know it all. Because if I now it all there would be a lot in world that no one would know anything about. Before reading this book I had never heard the word sawfly and had no idea what they were. Insects are amazing that's all I can say.
My favorite chapter about the book was the one about planting a garden for Hymenoptera. That's not the exact name of the chapter but, its what the chapter is about.
I wonder how much information entomologists memorize. And how much information that have to look up in a book or on the internet.
Reading articles saying that insects were declining made me want to know more about insects. And I am glad I have read books about insects. Now all I need to do is plant a garden to attract hymenoptera so I can see them up close. I defiantly will need a field guide to identify them.
This was a fun book to read.
My favorite chapter about the book was the one about planting a garden for Hymenoptera. That's not the exact name of the chapter but, its what the chapter is about.
I wonder how much information entomologists memorize. And how much information that have to look up in a book or on the internet.
Reading articles saying that insects were declining made me want to know more about insects. And I am glad I have read books about insects. Now all I need to do is plant a garden to attract hymenoptera so I can see them up close. I defiantly will need a field guide to identify them.
This was a fun book to read.
July 29, 2022
Densely informative, and glowing with the author's dry humor and self-deprecatory wit.
His view on origins, which occasionally pops up, is non-Christian, yet humbly undogmatic, (including the existential questions brought up by the disturbing behavior of parasitic wasps - a doctrine of the Fall would be helpful here). I learned a great deal, (hopefully not enough to make me a social pest) and thoroughly enjoyed it. Also, great photos.
His view on origins, which occasionally pops up, is non-Christian, yet humbly undogmatic, (including the existential questions brought up by the disturbing behavior of parasitic wasps - a doctrine of the Fall would be helpful here). I learned a great deal, (hopefully not enough to make me a social pest) and thoroughly enjoyed it. Also, great photos.
October 16, 2019
Fascinating book, even for total novices to the topic.
Eric Grissell has a wonder sense of humor and his writing style is quite enjoyable and understandable while never forgetting that he is a scientist.
What a wonder is this world !!
Eric Grissell has a wonder sense of humor and his writing style is quite enjoyable and understandable while never forgetting that he is a scientist.
What a wonder is this world !!
February 15, 2018
Nice natural history summary of a big taxon.
September 12, 2023
An informative and user friendly book about Hymenoptera, a fascinating order of insects. I did skip through some of the more esoteric chapters about wasps but learned so much about bees and ants.
May 25, 2014
I feel bad about lowering the total rating of this book because it's a good book. I give good books 3 stars, not 4 stars.
For me, wasps have always been mortal enemies. As a child, I waged war against several yellow jacket nests with various degrees of success, from 0% success to -20% success. At best we got away with no effect and no stings. When things didn't go our way...well, it wasn't good.
This book did nothing for my hatred of yellow jackets, but I feel much better about other wasps now. I had no idea that there is so much diversity among the behaviors of wasps. And I especially liked the "Justin O. Schmidt Pain Scale" of bee, wasp, and ant stings. Now I'm not in such a panic over solitary and paper wasps. But watch out, yellow jackets! I'm still gonna take you out.
For me, wasps have always been mortal enemies. As a child, I waged war against several yellow jacket nests with various degrees of success, from 0% success to -20% success. At best we got away with no effect and no stings. When things didn't go our way...well, it wasn't good.
This book did nothing for my hatred of yellow jackets, but I feel much better about other wasps now. I had no idea that there is so much diversity among the behaviors of wasps. And I especially liked the "Justin O. Schmidt Pain Scale" of bee, wasp, and ant stings. Now I'm not in such a panic over solitary and paper wasps. But watch out, yellow jackets! I'm still gonna take you out.
August 25, 2013
Grissell writes in an easy and conversational style. The first part is a nice overview of hymenoptera followed by a second part that goes into some detail of the groups with several chapters on wasps. The last chapter is one ants and except for one error (Grissell claims that Pogonomyrmex maricopa is only found in Arizona - -they are found in several states, see Taber's book on the genus) and that he neglects the other seed harvesting ant genera, such as Messor, this is a good overview of the importance of ants. Grissell also notes useful books in the chapters and has a list of families and their larval feeding habits, websites, and references.
February 19, 2018
OMG WHERE are the sawfly gardens??!, exactly!
...When people are all like "eew, a bug" -- ovipositor to the face.
Oh yeah -- and review-wise, this was a lovely introduction to Hymenoptera! I think that when you go through your whole biological education without any entomology, you really don't realize how common the things-laying-their-eggs-into-other-things-and-then-those-things-subsequently-getting-eaten-alive is! Good to know, glad I am not a larva, etc.
...When people are all like "eew, a bug" -- ovipositor to the face.
Oh yeah -- and review-wise, this was a lovely introduction to Hymenoptera! I think that when you go through your whole biological education without any entomology, you really don't realize how common the things-laying-their-eggs-into-other-things-and-then-those-things-subsequently-getting-eaten-alive is! Good to know, glad I am not a larva, etc.
December 10, 2012
Excellent information in this book for gardeners, landscapers, land-owners and anyone who cares about ecology. Some of the facts fascinate. Some help me to know how to care for these critters I might not otherwise think about. I think this book can help reduce fear and disgust and increase appreciation.
March 6, 2016
A tad bit on the boring side. Its's a very informative book and would be a good learning tool for many folks but alas I already knew a lot of these things and didn't have bad opinions about wasps or bees. The book was a good read but if you already know about hymenoptera and don't hate bees/wasps then I would suggest a skip for this one.
December 11, 2010
The author is a passionate advocate for Hymenoptera in gardens.
I really enjoyed the author's sense of humor.
The author introduced me to the word "cleptoparasitoid."
I read the library copy, but this is a book worth buying.
I really enjoyed the author's sense of humor.
The author introduced me to the word "cleptoparasitoid."
I read the library copy, but this is a book worth buying.
August 4, 2012
A good overview of the groups and a fascinating read. A good stepping off point for further study.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews