This is the title of a new book by Jurgen Tautz and Diedrich Steen. Quite
readable. Here are few bits I particularly liked:
In the introduction they mention one reason bees are fascinating is we are
still learning about them. A quote from experienced beekeepers: "They've never
done that before!"
When they come to talk of framed hives, there is no mention of Langstroth.
Looking further I realised that (because this book is written by Germans) there
is no reference to Anglosphere pioneers, which has a pleasing symmetry to
English language texts which never mention e.g. [Petro
Prokopovych](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petro_Prokopovych) etc and pretend
everything was invented by us. I always knew that Europe, particularly Eastern
Europe led in beekeeping research until maybe 1900, but this is the first time
I've seen the Anglo contributions ignored as minor / irrelevant / poorly
researched. Refreshing!
My favourite bit so far has been where they discuss bees' sleeping habits.
Whereas old foragers settle down on comb edges away from the bustle for some
decent kip, young bees just fall asleep when and where they are exhausted, like
babies or puppies. They've been seen sleeping head stuffed into empty cells
(you can tell they're sleeping from the motionlessness and the way they
breathe), or even wedged in the gap between two combs, head and bum squidged
against opposite combs, antennae and legs dangling loosely in exhaustion.
Paul
