The smallest pet of mankind: an exciting, richly illustrated journey of discovery into the world of bees. Bibliophile edition: an ideal gift for bee and garden enthusiasts. The bees of the world in their fascinating diversity: forty species are presented in detail. Around 20,000 bee species buzz and hum on our planet. The western honeybee, for example, the most well-known representative of bees, is the smallest pet of mankind and at the same time of invaluable importance as a pollinator of cultivated and wild plants. It has been used and kept by humans for thousands of years. This book takes us on an exciting journey of discovery into the world of bees, revealing their astonishing abilities and describing the different lifestyles of solitary bees and those like the honeybee that live in colonies. There is an egg.