This book was originally published in Oregon, and deals mainly with North American Hymenoptera.  It is a non-technical (but not dumbed-down) account of the lives and behaviour of the three main representative groups, as it says in the title.  The subtitle says "The indispensable role of hymenoptera in gardens" but it covers far more than that.  For those who want to go into the subject in greater depth, there is a list of references including recommended field guides. The author has a pleasant, easy style leavened with some humour, and I found it fascinating reading.  There are abundant excellent colour photographs, most of living specimens engaged in whatever bees, wasps and ants like to do.If anybody enjoyed the Collins New Naturalist Series on British natural history topics (half-a-dozen of whose titles still grace my shelves), this book is up to that standard.   Aimed at the intelligent amateur naturalist or biology student with some basic knowledge of entomology.

336pp. hardback; references; index; many colour photographs; list of useful websites; table of hymenopteran families