Stephen A. Marshall’s natural history titles — Insects: Their Natural History and Diversity (2017, ISBN 978 177085 962 3), Beetles: The Natural History and Diversity of Coleoptera (2018, ISBN 978 02281 0069 0) and Flies: The Natural History and Diversity of Diptera (2012; ISBN 978 177085 100 9) — are among the most respected books on the insect world published in the last 20 years. More admirable than the books’ rigorous science, however, is that they are wholly suitable for a lay audience, including high school students interested in entomology. The books have been adopted as classroom texts at the university level and are on the reference shelves of many practicing entomologists. In Hymenoptera, Marshall has again applied his broad knowledge of insects to the world of wasps, bees and ants. The subject of this book is an enormous one, since Hymenoptera is arguably the largest order of living things. Comprehensive and packed with richly illustrated keys and thousands of colour photographs identified with help from nearly 100 of the world’s best hymenopterists, this volume provides the reader with a colourful and enjoyable introduction to a huge group of organisms, along with an overview of the diversity of fascinating families included in the group. Marshall opens with a description of what makes a wasp a wasp, and then introduces the diversity, importance and natural history of the order with copious examples and explanations. Topics include the life histories of wasps, hymenoptera and plants, hymenoptera in history, culture and fiction, kleptoparasitism, and many more. Part two of Hymenoptera is a guided tour of the diversity of the order, with fascinating stops for almost all of the world’s 100 or so families of wasps as well as most of the significant subfamilies. Thousands of photographs, almost all taken in the field by the author, are used to capture the range of form and function in each family, with pages of photographs of the popular groups — such as bees, hornets and ants — but also with little-known groups ranging from pincer wasps to fairyflies. Essential information about importance, range, behaviour and biology is provided for each group, and easy-to-use photographic keys to most families are provided for those wishing to use the book as an identification guide. Like Marshall’s companion titles, Hymenoptera will be welcomed by the scientific, academic and naturalist communities, as well as the next generation of entomologists.

(starred review) Perhaps only an entomologist would find a book on the natural history of wasps, bees, and ants interesting. Not so with this fascinating work that skillfully addresses scientific concepts in a way that is accessible. And then there are the photos! Even in part one, when discussing the biology or ecology of the Hymenoptera, there are numerous brilliantly clear and upclose pictures of different species. These images aren't randomly chosen but instead support the biological concepts under discussion. Part two reviews the life histories of the superfamilies or suborders for the wasps, bees, and ants. A general introduction describes the key biological characteristics of each family within a superfamily before transitioning to pictures of individual species. These include defining features or interesting characteristics. Finally, part three discusses how to study the insects, including how to collect and photograph them. The majority of this section also includes keys to identify families; again, with many colorful pictures to assist. The author, a renowned entomologist, has done a marvelous job making the frightening and diverse Hymenoptera worth studying. Highly recommended. -- Kevin McDonough * Booklist *
After writing massive texts on flies, insects, and beetles, entomologist Marshall... tackles hymenopterans in his latest book... Exquisite photographs fill the pages. There are also handy comparison guides to help aspiring entomologists distinguish between look-alikes. Readers will likely appreciate the anecdotes from the field, especially the encounters with venom. The book also describes how pollination relates to people's lives... Verdict: Purchase where this author's wonderfully thorough books continue to thrive. -- Elissa Cooper * Library Journal *
In the introduction to the book, Steve compares the exploration of biological diversity to exploring the world through travel. When we travel, it is often the small, unexplored corners of the world that make the trip worthwhile. The same is true for biological diversity. It is the bizarre, weird, enigmatic oddities that make being an entomologist (especially a systematist) so much fun. This book is a roadmap to the order Hymenoptera, and no corner of the Hymenoptera tree of life is left unexplored. -- Bryan Danforth * American Entomologist *
Marshall is certainly more interested in the life history of wasps, bees and ants than most specialists of this group, which is a big advantage. There are many barely understandable books on the ecology of insects, which focus more on mathematical application than the science of living creatures. This book is like a very colourful flower in a green meadow. My thanks to the author for this book and I recommend to other authors that popular-scientific texts should look and read like Marshall's Hymenoptera. -- P. Bogusch * European Journal of Entomology *
Despite the amount of information, the writing is lucid, and includes a few personal anecdotes as well as some delightful phrases, for example, 'adaptive constipation' to describe the lack of defecation by larval Apocrita. The book ends with nine pages of references that are sparingly cited in the text, which seems about right for a more general audience. This sumptuously illustrated volume that synthesizes a broad area of research will be very useful to entomologists, field biologists, and anyone interested in our planet�s biodiversity. -- Paul Hanson * Quarterly Review of Biology *
Marshall is to be congratulated on yet another signal achievement in both entomological literature and the ongoing building of bridges between the worlds of professional and citizen scientists. Anyone interested in Hymenoptera will benefit from reading this marvellous--and marvel-filled--book and using it in further study of an amazing part of life on this planet. -- Barry Cottam * Canadian Field-Naturalist *

Stephen A. Marshall is a Professor Emeritus at University of Guelph, Ontario. He has discovered hundreds of taxa new to science and published over 200 papers on insect systematics and biodiversity. When he is not working at the University of Guelph Insect Collection, he can usually be found in his bug-rich backyard on the banks of the Grand River, Ontario.