Bees, wasps, and ants: We praise their benefits as pest controllers, fruit tree pollinators, and forest enforcers. Yet, we fear them and their painful sting. The sting is the most important invention of this group of insects and the basis for the enormous diversity of species and life strategies. This richly illustrated book, featuring unique macro photography, delves into the contradictory aspects of wasps, bees, and ants. It explains how and why the sting is used, the role pain plays in the evolution of these insects, and what we humans can learn from the behavior of these social hymenopterans.