This book on blue orchard bees (BOBs) is designed for the person who primarily looks at pictures and labels, rather than text, when reading the National Geographic. When the reader feels compelled, this book provides options for reading beyond the pictures. Four groups of readers are targeted:California almond growers Learn how to use BOBs to cut risk and increase production. The book describes an approach that uses honeybees, supplemented with BOBs. Topics include:*Cutting your risk when your honeybees fail to show in January*Knowing when to place BOBs *Saving money and gaining control by keeping BOBs in your refrigerator*Determining where BOBs give you the greatest gain*Measuring the effect of BOBs in your orchardBackyard keepers of Osmia beesBOBs in California almonds is the context of this book, but whether the reader lives in Canada, China, England, or Japan; the practices generally are adaptable for other Osmia bees in other ecosystems. Topics include: *Predicting if a pear, apple, or cherry tree responds well to Osmia pollination *Making reed nests that collect heat*Determining if supplemental mud is required *Matching the blooming tree with the emerging bee*Building anomalous nesting space to increase the number of female progenySolitary bee researchersLearn of new areas to explore. Topics include: *Creating anomalous nesting space to manipulate progeny gender*Using endothermy to explore putting Osmia bees into the air sooner*Inducing and measuring yield gradientsProponents of agricultural sustainabilityLearn how a wild bee is adapted into a large agricultural monoculture. Topics include:*The fragility of an agricultural system that depends on a single insect for survival*How the environment is manipulated around a wild insect to benefit man's ends*Up close look at one of the larger agricultural monocultures in California

This book on blue orchard bees is designed for the person who primarily looks at pictures and labels, rather than text, when reading the National Geographic. When the reader feels compelled, the book provides options for reading beyond the pictures. Six groups of readers are targeted:CALIFORNIA ALMOND GROWERS-Learn how to use BOBs to cut your risk and increase your production. Although the book specifically targets Fresno County almond ranches, growers though out the region will require minimal adaptation. The emphasis is on using honeybees, supplemented with BOBs. Topics include:Cutting your risk for the time when your honeybees fail to show up in JanuaryTaking your honeybee hat off and handling BOBs uniquely Knowing when to place BOBs in the orchardSaving money and gaining control by keeping BOBs in your refrigeratorDetermining where BOBs will give you the greatest gainMeasuring the effect of BOBs in your orchardBACKYARD KEEPERS OF OSMIA BEES-Learn how to grow Osmia bees. BOBs in California almonds is the example used in this book, but if the reader lives in Canada, China, England, or Japan; the practices generally are adaptable for other Osmia bees in other ecosystems. Topics include: Predicting if a pear, apple, or cherry tree responds well to Osmia pollination Making reed nests that collect heatUsing Dan Brown's method to determine if supplemental mud is required Matching the blooming tree with the emerging bee4H and FFA LEADERS-Learn how to guide a BOB pollination project. Topics include: How to raise BOBs and make nestsEssentials of fruit and nut tree pollinationHow to evaluate the BOB outcome and the pollination outcomeSOLITARY BEE RESEARCHERS-Learn of rich, new areas. Topics include: Creating anomalous nesting space to manipulate progeny genderUsing endothermy to explore getting Osmia bees flying in colder airInducing and measuring Osmia bee associated yield gradientsPROPONENTS OF AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY- Topics include: The fragility of an agricultural system that depends on a single insect for survivalHow the environment is manipulated around a wild insect to benefit man's endsHow a new pollinator can supplement the work of a traditional pollinatorUp close look at one of the larger agricultural moncultures in CaliforniaBACKYARD SCIENTISTS- For a naturalist, the Osmia bee can become the focus of a fascinating study. Topics include:Methods of obtaining thousands of data points with little effortExamples of some potentially rewarding systems to study

"Examines the history of the British fire service from 1800-1980, embracing certain key themes of modern British history: the impact of industrial change on urban development, the effect of disaster on political reform, the growth of the state, and the relationship between masculinity and trade unionism in creating a professional identity"--Provided by publisher.

The most up-to-date and authoritative resource on the biology and evolution of solitary bees While social bees such as honey bees and bumble bees are familiar to most people, they comprise less than 10 percent of all bee species in the world. The vast majority of bees lead solitary lives, surviving without the help of a hive and using their own resources to fend off danger and protect their offspring. This book draws on new research to provide a comprehensive and authoritative overview of solitary bee biology, offering an unparalleled look at these remarkable insects. The Solitary Bees uses a modern phylogenetic framework to shed new light on the life histories and evolution of solitary bees. It explains the foraging behavior of solitary bees, their development, and competitive mating tactics. The book describes how they construct complex nests using an amazing variety of substrates and materials, and how solitary bees have co-opted beneficial mites, nematodes, and fungi to provide safe environments for their brood. It looks at how they have evolved intimate partnerships with flowering plants and examines their associations with predators, parasites, microbes, and other bees. This up-to-date synthesis of solitary bee biology is an essential resource for students and researchers, one that paves the way for future scholarship on the subject. Beautifully illustrated throughout, The Solitary Bees also documents the critical role solitary bees play as crop pollinators, and raises awareness of the dire threats they face, from habitat loss and climate change to pesticides, pathogens, parasites, and invasive species.