Miss January, Miss May, Miss August and Miss December aren't like their counterparts gracing other calendars.

First, they never gave their consent. Second, only a few have social skills because most are solitary. Third, they have three body parts: head, thorax and abdomen.

And, fourth, none of these pin-ups will ever run for Miss America or promote world peace.

These pin-ups are North American bees and the calendar, affiliated with University of California scientists and graduates, is appropriately titled the "North American Bee Calendar." Miss January is a honey bee; Miss May, a sweat bee; Miss August, a squash bee; and Miss December, a cuckoo bee.

“It’s our second annual calendar, a project aimed at protecting pollinators, raising public awareness and generating funds to carry on the work of The Great Sunflower Project and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation,” said native bee enthusiast and calendar project coordinator Celeste Ets-Hokin of the San Francisco Bay Area.  “Most of these bees are commonly found and important pollinators.”

The calendar, measuring 9x12, features close-up photos by noted insect photographer Rollin Coville, who received his doctorate in entomology from UC Berkeley. He has been photographing insects and spiders for more than 25 years.

The calendar spotlights a different bee genus each month, with notes on preferred plants, nesting needs, and guidance on how to identify the genus, said author Ets-Hokin, who holds a degree in zoology from UC Berkeley. (Preview calendar)

Bees appearing in the calendar and the scientific names are:

• January: Honey Bee (Apis)
• February:  Bumble Bee (Bombus)
• March: Digger Bee (Habropoda)
• April: Mason Bee (Osmia)
• May:  Sweat Bee (Lasioglossum)
• June:  Utra Green Sweat Bee (Agapostemon)
• July:  Leafcutter Bee (Megachile)
• August:  Squash Bee (Peponapis)
• September: Long-horn Bee (Melissodes)
• October:  Carder Bee (Anthidium)
• November: Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa)
• December: Cuckoo Bee (Epeolus)

Matthew Shepherd, senior conservation associate of the Xerces Society, and Ets-Hokin served as editors, and Miguel Barbosa as the graphic designer. Four scientists shared their research expertise: Neal Williams of UC Davis; Gordon Frankie and Claire Kremen of UC Berkeley; and Rachael Winfree of Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J. In addition, Shepherd and Ets-Hokin, along with Kathy Keatley Garvey of the UC Davis Department of Entomology, contributed photos.

Calendars are $15 each, which includes shipping anywhere in the United States. The international price is $18, shipping included. Those who order a calendar by Oct. 15 will receive the calendar by late October, Ets-Hokin said.  The deadline to submit all orders is Nov. 30. Calendars will arrive by early December. Orders may be placed by accessing the Xerces website or The Great Sunflower Project website.

For more information or discount rates for 25 calendars or more, contact Ets-Hokin at celeste.ets@comcast.net.