About 75 percent of the crop plants grown worldwide depend on pollinators like bees, butterflies, birds, bats and other animals for fertilization. Bees alone ?are responsible for pollinating more species of plants on earth than any other animal. And yet bee populations have severely declined in recent years due to diseases, parasites, pesticides and habitat loss. This fascinating guide reviews the status of the world's top pollinators, how they are built, behave and reproduce in the wild and in managed colonies. It also highlights some of the most familiar and unique species and what you can do to help conserve and protect these important creatures. This convenient guide is an ideal, portable reference for bee-lovers and teachers alike.