Patch the Solitary Bee

Book excerpt: Did you know most bees do not live in hives and are known as solitary bees? Some make homes in the ground while others prefer holes in rocks and wood. Join Patch as she tries to find out what kind of insect she is and learn a bit about solitary bees along the way. Around 90 per cent of all bee species are solitary bees and do not live in hives. They come in a remarkable number of shapes and sizes, including the world's smallest and the world's biggest bees. Their habitats have been reduced due to human activity but as some of the world's most effective pollinators, we need them far more than they need us. This book also contains a guide to some of the world's solitary bees and how you can help to look after them at home. This book was launched in the summer of 2021 to coincide with Solitary Bee Week. The week is an initiative run by University of Exeter's Environment and Sustainability Institute and Cornish product designers, Green&Blue to raise awareness of these wonderful little animals. It contains 17 original illustrations by Kentucky-based illustrator, K J Khan.