Beekeeping is a sixteen-billion-dollar-a-year business. But the invaluable honey bee now faces severe threats from diseases, mites, pesticides, and overwork, not to mention the mysterious Colony Collapse Disorder, which causes seemingly healthy bees to abandon their hives en masse, never to return. In The Quest for the Perfect Hive, entomologist Gene Kritsky offers a concise, beautifully illustrated history of beekeeping, tracing the evolution of hive design from ancient Egypt to the present. Not simply a descriptive account, the book suggests that beekeeping's long history may in fact contain clues to help beekeepers fight the decline in honey bee numbers. Kritsky guides us through the progression from early mud-based horizontal hives to the ascent of the simple straw skep (the inverted basket which has been in use for over 1,500 years), from hive design's Golden Age in Victorian England up through the present. He discusses what worked, what did not, and what we have forgotten about past hives that might help counter the menace to beekeeping today. Indeed, while we have sequenced the honey bee genome and advanced our knowledge of the insects themselves, we still keep our bees in hives that have changed little during the past century. If beekeeping is to survive, Kritsky argues, we must start inventing again. We must find the perfect hive for our times. For thousands of years, the honey bee has been a vital part of human culture. The Quest for the Perfect Hive not only offers a colorful account of this long history, but also provides a guide for ensuring its continuation into the future.

The Quest for the Perfect Hive: A History of Innovation in Bee Culture

Science & Math

Kritsky, Gene

Biological Sciences

Oxford University Press

According to Egyptian mythology, when the ancient Egyptian sun god Re cried, his tears turned into honey bees upon touching the ground. For this reason, the honey bee was sacrosanct in ancient Egyptian culture. From the art depicting bees on temple walls to the usage of beeswax as a healing ointment, the honey bee was a pervasive cultural motif in ancient Egypt because of its connection to the sun god Re. Gene Kritsky delivers a concise introduction of the relationship between the honey bee and ancient Egyptian culture, through the lenses of linguistics, archeology, religion, health, and economics. Kritsky delves into ancient Egypt's multifaceted society, and traces the importance of the honey bee in everything from death rituals to trade. In doing so, Kritsky brings new evidence to light of how advanced and fascinating the ancient Egyptians were. This richly illustrated work appeals to a broad range of interests. For archeology lovers, Kritsky delves into the archeological evidence of Egyptian beekeeping and discusses newly discovered tombs, as well as evidence of manmade hives. Linguists will be fascinated by Kritsky's discussion of the first documented written evidence of the honeybee hieroglyph. And anyone interested in ancient Egypt or ancient cultures in general will be intrigued by Kritsky's treatment of the first documented beekeepers. This book provides a unique social commentary of a community so far removed from modern humans chronologically speaking, and yet so fascinating because of the stunning advances their society made. Beekeeping is the latest evidence of how ahead of their times the Egyptians were, and the ensuing narrative is as captivating as every other aspect of ancient Egyptian culture.

The Tears of Re: Beekeeping in Ancient Egypt

History & Philosophy

Darwin's On the Origin of Species stands as a cornerstone of modern biology. Unfortunately, many readers of this important work have difficulty following Darwin's arguments due to the nature of his writing and to the mass of evidence included in the work. Instant Origin is designed to help the reader follow Darwin's thesis by focusing on the major points and important evidence. It also illustrates why Darwin's ideas still hold such sway and why Darwin is considered as important to biology as Einstein is to physics.

Instant Origin: A Guide to Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species

iUniverse

A Survey of Entomology is a concise, highly readable introduction to the study of insects. Included in this text are chapters detailing the structure, biology, behavior, evolution, and classification of insects, as well as a review of insect orders that places special emphasis on the most familiar insect families. A discussion of the importance of insects reveals the crucial role that they play in both natural and human contexts. Techniques of collection and preservation are fully described, and an easy-to-use key enables readers to identify the orders of insects without difficulty. Information is presented in clear, straightforward language, and a full glossary is provided to clarify scientific terms. This is an ideal book for students of all backgrounds who are taking an introductory entomology course, or for anyone wanting to learn more about the most successful creatures on Earth.

A Survey of Entomology

Young Jr., Frank N.

Writers Club Pr

Every seventeen years, millions of cicadas rise from the soil of the eastern United States to fly, mate, and fill the air with their noisy song. Periodical Cicadas: The Brood X Edition examines how the study of Brood X cicadas shaped our understanding of these “bugs of history.” First documented in Philadelphia in 1715, Brood X was and is the largest of the 17-year cicada broods, occurring in 15 states that include several major cities. Periodical Cicadas: The Brood X Edition discusses the natural history, evolution, behavior, and distribution of periodical cicadas and provides an overview of the nineteen emergences, including 2021, that have occurred since the brood was first reported. It offers a perfect starting point to learn about these insects and to enjoy them as one of the wonders of our natural world. Gene Kritsky, Ph.D., is Dean of the School of Behavioral and Natural Sciences at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is the author of several books, including The Quest for the Perfect Hive and The Tears of Re: Beekeeping in Ancient Egypt (both published by Oxford University Press). He has researched periodical cicadas for over 45 years, publishing 33 papers and three books on the insects.

Periodical Cicadas: The Brood X Edition: Color Version

Ohio Biological Survey

Every seventeen years, millions of cicadas rise from the soil of the eastern United States to fly, mate, and fill the air with their noisy song. Periodical Cicadas: The Brood X Edition Black and White edition provides a less costly examination of how the study of Brood X cicadas shaped our understanding of these "bugs of history." First documented in Philadelphia in 1715, Brood X was and is the largest of the 17-year cicada broods, occurring in 15 states that include several major cities. Periodical Cicadas: The Brood X Edition Black and White discusses the natural history, evolution, behavior, and distribution of periodical cicadas and provides an overview of the eighteen emergences that have occurred since the brood was first reported. It offers a perfect starting point to learn about these insects and to enjoy them as one of the wonders of our natural world.Gene Kritsky, Ph.D., is Dean of the School of Behavioral and Natural Sciences at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is the author of several books, including The Quest for the Perfect Hive and The Tears of Re: Beekeeping in Ancient Egypt (both published by Oxford University Press). He has researched periodical cicadas for over 45 years, publishing 33 papers and three books on the insects.

Periodical Cicadas: The Brood X Edition: Black and White edition

A Survey of Entomology Second Edition is a concise, highly readable introduction to the study of insects, including their structure, biology, behavior, evolution, and a review of the insect orders with special emphasis on the major insect families. This new edition features information about fossil insects and on using applied insect ecology to control insect pests. A detailed guide describes techniques of collection and preservation, and an easy-to-use key enables readers to identify the orders of insects without difficulty. Information is presented in clear, straightforward language, and a full glossary is provided to clarify entomological terms. This is an ideal book for students of all backgrounds who are taking an introductory entomology course, or for anyone wanting to learn more about the most successful creatures on Earth.

A Survey of Entomology, Second Edition

A Survey of Entomology: Third Edition

Independently published

A Dinosaur Primer

A Tale of Two Broods: The 2024 Emergence of Periodical Cicada Broods XIII and XIX

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Kritsky, Gene. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Kritsky, Gene