Die Sprache der Bienen

Exciting and Surprising Insights into Bee Communication

In the history of bee research, scientists have delved deep into the inner workings of bee colonies and learned much about the behavior of these creatures. Their waggle dance has become particularly famous. However, recent findings show that bees are also social insects that communicate with each other outside the hive. Presented in an entertaining manner for both laypeople and professionals, Germany's most renowned bee researcher, Jürgen Tautz, sheds new light in this book not only on the fascinating dance language but also on other intriguing phenomena in the information exchange among bees.

From the author of the bestseller "Honey Bees - Mysterious Forest Dwellers"

The Language of Bees compiles the communication among bees for the first time in its entirety. While communication biology in bee research has previously focused heavily on interactions within the hive, this book also highlights how bees communicate outside of it. Readers will learn about the steps that novice bees take to reach a feeding site that a forager bee advertises with its dance. The book analyzes the state of research published on the bee dance over the last 100 years and organizes its essential components into an overarching concept. Additionally, a historical overview of the research history on "bee language" explains why some contradictory and incomplete hypotheses have persisted to this day.

A Fresh Perspective on One of the Most Remarkable Behavioral Achievements in the Animal Kingdom

This new perspective leads to previously unknown insights. At the same time, it becomes clear how significant our knowledge gaps regarding the language of bees still are and what research efforts need to be initiated to complete the understanding of one of the remarkable behavioral achievements in the animal kingdom.