Diary of a Honey Bee

By: Dennis Wells

Published by Smithsonian Institution, 2026-04-14

Witness the life cycle of the honey bee with this magnificent entomological guide featuring 120 full-color macro photographs! A team of researchers committed to an extraordinary challenge: portray the life of a honey bee from beginning to end. Over a two-year span, they documented tens of thousands of bees using state-of-the-art macroimaging technology that captures intimate details otherwise invisible to the naked eye. Diary of a Honey Bee chronicles the life of these honey bees as they survive through the changing seasons, featuring more than 120 extraordinary images and illuminating science on their biology and behaviors. As pollinators and honey producers, honey bees are essential to the survival of the planet. They're also highly intelligent—they plan daily routines, use symbolic language, and can count, including understanding the concept of zero. The book explores how worker bees show the queen where to find mates, decide where to establish a new colony and whether to raise a new queen, and work together to forage for food. Honey bees work in impressive harmony in a hive, but they are more than a swarm or collective; they are individuals with their own personalities that come together for the greater good. Blending fascinating science and incredible macro photography, Diary of a Honey Bee is an invitation to experience their bright minds, amazing feats, and dramatic lives.