Apis through the Looking Glass

This book is based on a lecture “Honeybee Anatomy” which was first given at the BBKA Spring Convention 2009 held at Stoneleigh.  It provides a close up look at the external and internal structures of the honeybee. The majority of the photos were taken using a digital camera mounted on a trinocular dissection microscope. Dissection of the bee to study the internal anatomy has to be carried out with the bee immersed in dissection fluid which provides support for the soft internal organs. Dissection is not a difficult skill to acquire but it does require patience and steady hands. The techniques are fully described in the excellent book by H. A. Dade “Anatomy and Dissection of the Honeybee”.