Wasp

Richard Jones is one of the UK’s leading entomologists. He is the author of numerous books on nature including Mosquito (Reaktion, 2012) Extreme Insects: Call of Nature: The Secret Life of Dung (2010) and Beetles (2018) in the New Naturalists series. He lives in East Dulwich, London.

"I was very glad to find a readable, scholarly and interesting book about Wasps. Beekeepers tend to have a negative view of these close bee-relatives, but recently I have begun to realize how very unfair this view may be . . . beautifully illustrated throughout . . . Richard Jones has a rare gift in being able to impart his knowledge to the reader in such a refreshing way." - The Irish Beekeeper"A handy paperback-sized volume, the first thing that struck me about the book was just how lavishly it is illustrated. Few pages are without some kind of figure or photo and in many cases the illustrations are in colour. . . . When it comes to content and readability, the book is no less impressive. With a book like this you want a combination of comforting, familiar content, things you knew at one point but had forgotten, and plenty of material that is new and interesting. Each chapter is loaded with all of the above and the narrative flows along at a great pace without ever getting too technical or too simplified." - Antenna"Leading entomologist Richard Jones redresses the balance in this enlightening and entertaining guide to the natural and cultural history of these powerful carnivores. He delves into their complex nesting and colony behaviour, their unique caste system and their major role at the centre of many food webs. Drawing on up-to-date scientific concepts he successfully shows exactly why wasps are worthy of greater understanding and appreciation." - Pest Magazine"This is a well-researched and enthusiastically written addition to the Reaktion series on Animals. The format is highly distinctive, with a mixture of natural history, science, art and folklore." - British Journal of Entomology and Natural History"In Wasp Jones provides an entertaining look at the fascination and fear that surrounds wasps . . . The book investigates the biology and ecology of wasps, their representation in human culture and attempts to answer the question "what is the point of wasps?" . . . Jones provides good evidence and a well-structured argument as to why the persecution of these wasps must cease. This book is an important contribution to our re-education: we need a better understanding of vespid hymenopterans and their functional value within healthy ecosystems. And it also reawakens the ethical questions surrounding humanity’s right to persecute other species" - Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine"This informative text shows exactly why wasps are worthy of far greater understanding and awareness of their major role at the centre of many food webs. Reading this book will help you to gain far greater appreciation of the roles that wasps play, their natural and cultural history. Like bees, they have highly sophisticated nesting and colony behaviour. Next time someone says to you ‘I love bees but I hate wasps’, you will be able to explain why they ought to adjust that view." - Bees for Development Journal