Bees of Costa Rica Book Article

In this richly illustrated guide, Bees of Costa Rica, leading bee experts showcase the diversity of bees in Costa Rica and the multitude of ways in which they interact with flowers and people. Thoughtfully compiled and designed for a wide variety of audiences, Bees of Costa Rica is based upon years of biological research of the native bee species of the tropical country. Originally published in Spanish by The Universidad de Costa Rica as Abejas de Costa Rica in 2021, this newly updated 2023 edition has been translated into English and is published through Cornell University Press. With identification keys and more than 150 high-definition color photographs, Bees of Costa Rica is essential for anyone looking to learn about and protect these important pollinators in Costa Rica and beyond. 
Costa Rica is home to 117 bee genera and approximately 700 bee species. Focusing on the five bee families present in Costa Rica, the authors describe the bees' general physical traits, foraging and mating behavior, and nest characteristics. Chapters cover the relationships between bees and other insects, profiles of plants pollinated by bees, and practical suggestions for bee conservation. 

Chapters 1, 2, 4, and 5 cover general topics about bees including their importance, biology, behavior, nest associates, and relationships with flowers. Chapter 3 provides detailed profiles of the 5 families of bees found in Costa Rica and includes an informative look at the 51 most common Costa Rican bee genera out of the 117 known within the families. The amazing colored images are invaluable tools to aid the reader in bee identification. 

​Chapters 6 and 7 present rich information on the plants known to attract bee visitors. Chapter 6 provides an overview of wild and ornamental type plants, while Chapter 7 covers crop plants. There are thousands of plants known to attract the almost 700 bee species recorded in Costa Rica, but the ones selected for the book serve to illustrate the variety of plant types that are well known to have consistent associations with bees. 

Chapter 8 presents readers with case histories of how human activity has both positively and negatively impacted Costa Rican bee populations. Examples of privately inspired projects to conserve bees and their plants are described, providing inspirational models for others to copy and follow in future endeavors. 

The authors acknowledge the diverse contributions of numerous Costa Rican and foreign researchers who have published scientific information used in the preparation of this volume. 

​Credit: Cornell University Press, Gordon Frankie ([email protected]), Rollin Coville ([email protected]), Sara Witt ([email protected]), Jerid Vega ([email protected])

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