1. Introduction: 1.1. Is this a bee? 1.2. Bee names; 1.3. The bee lifecycle; 1.4. Where do bees live? 1.5. Bee sociality; 1.6. What do bees eat? 1.7. A bee's enemies; 1.8. A bee's body; 1.9. How to study bees; 1.10. Identifying bees 39 key to the chapters of this book; 1.11. Appreciating bees
2. Promoting bees in your neighborhood: 2.1. Bees as pollinators; 2.2. Providing habitat; 2.3. Providing food
3. Andrenidae: Identification tips; 3.1. Andreninae; 3.2. Protandrenini and Panurgini; 3.3. Perditini; 3.4. Calliopsis; 3.5. Oxaeinae
4. Colletidae: Identification tips; 4.1. Colletinae; 4.2. Hylaeus; 4.3. Diphaglossinae
5. Melittidae: Identification tips
6. Halictidae: Identification tips; 6.1. Agapostemon; 6.2. Halictus; 6.3. Lasioglossum; 6.4. Augochlorini; 6.5. Nomiinae; 6.6. Rophitinae
7. Megachilidae: Identification tips; 7.1. Lithurginae; 7.2. Osmia; 7.3. Hoplitis; 7.4. Other Osmiini; 7.5. Anthidium; 7.6. Other Anthidiini; 7.7. Megachile
8. Api dae: Identification tips; 8.1. Xylocopa; 8.2. Ceratina; 8.3. Exomalopsini; 8.4. Emphorini; 8.5. Common Eucerini; 8.6. Peponapis and Xenoglossa; 8.7. Other Eucerini; 8.8. Anthophorini; 8.9. Centris; 8.10. Bombus; 8.11. Apis mellifera; 8.12. Euglossa
9. Pollen thieves: Identification tips; 9.1. Cuckoo bees: Apidae; 9.2. Cuckoo bees: Halictidae; 9.3. Cuckoo bees: Megachilidae
Appendix: Guide to the pronunciation of bee names
Photographic acknowledgments.