The Honey Trap

"Written in a clear and accessible style, this is convincing, evidence-based myth-busting at its best. Readers will come away from this wonderful book with an understanding of common misconceptions related to honey bees and conservation of wild bees (including deliberate 'bee-washing'), along with a deep appreciation for the nuances and complexities of truly saving the bees."

-Lorraine Johnson, co-author of A Garden for the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee.

"The Honey Trap reveals a bitter and counter-intuitive truth: everywhere but in their native Europe, the honey bees we revere are actually an invasive species, living in unnatural concentrations that spread disease just like in factory farms--with dangerous consequences to our native bees and to the plants they pollinate. Bee expert Dana Church writes with calm wisdom, and each page is full of her respect and affection for all bees. Such wondrous, varied animals! But my sympathy is especially with our wild bees, whose numbers are crashing. May we heed her words in time to save our native pollinators."

-Sy Montgomery, New York Times bestselling author of The Soul of an Octopus and The Good Good Pig.

"The topic of Honey Trap may seem specific, but this book broadened and deepened my perspective on big topics from biodiversity and symbiosis to human history and agriculture. I learned something new and interesting on almost every page! The narrative is both nuanced and bold, pulling no punches yet acknowledging the limits of our current understanding."

-Danna Staaf, author of Monarchs of the Sea and Nursery Earth.

"An important and engagingly written book, drawing attention to the under-appreciated scandal of 'bee-washing'"

-Dave Goulson, entomologist and conservationist, author of Silent Earth: Averting the Insect Apocalypse.

"After years of misinformation around pollinators and bee declines in media, schools, and other mainstream sources, this book is a refreshing resource for people to learn about an environmental issue where good intentions have not lead to the desired outcome of biodiversity conservation and agro-ecosystem resilience."

-Dr. Sheila Colla, York University.