This is an in-depth look at the many fascinating aspects of social insects, from how they communicate with each other to the ways in which they protect their nests. It comes with stunning images by top wildlife photographers, plus superb illustrations and detailed cross-sections. You can discover how insect bodies work, from a termite's fearsome jaws to the lethal stings of wasps and bees. It includes special picture sequences that zoom in closer still to focus on topics such as how a Saxony wasp builds its nest and the carefully tended gardens of leafcutter ants. It is perfect for home and classroom use by 8- to 12-year-olds, supplementing school studies on life processes in the natural world. Ants, bees, termites and wasps are some of the world's most intriguing insects, because they depend on one another for survival. They live in complicated societies with hundreds, thousands or even millions of others, all working together. This book introduces the different types of creature that can be found in one colony - the queen, males, workers and soldiers - and looks at their special adaptations, from wings to stings. Authoritative text and breathtaking close-up photographs reveal all the secrets of these industrious invertebrates.