Backyard Orchard News
Science Café: Ask a Scientist a Question, Such as 'Are There Upper Limits to Human Lifespan?'
If you've ever wanted to ask a scientist a question, here's your opportunity. Ask away at the...
Many senior citizens who develop new hobbies (such as rearing monarch butterflies) believe this keeps their brain active and leads to greater enthusiasm for life. Supercentarian Jeanne Calment of France lived to be 122. One of her interests was playing the piano. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
This Katydid Did
The katydid, as green as the leaves around it, is feeding on a yellow rose. It is paying no...
Honey bees circle a fork-tailed bush katydid feeding on a yellow rose. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Close-up of the fork-tailed bush katydid. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Dorsal view of the fork-tailed bush katydid feeding on a yellow rose. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Fork-tailed bush katydid seems to be saying "This bud's for me."(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Eye-to-eye with a fork-tailed bush katydid. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Oops! Check out the frass. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Ooh, an Ootheca!
Hide and seek. She hides 'em and we seek 'em. We've spotted as many as seven adult praying...
Ms. Mantis, on a redwood stake in a milkweed planter in Vacaville, Calif., is trying to find a place to lay her egg mass, an ootheca. This image was taken Sunday night, Sept. 23. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
This looks like a good spot. This praying mantis, Stagmomantis limbata, is native to North America. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Ms. Mantis begins to work. Note the frothy cream-colored substance. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Close-up of the process. This Stagmomantis limbata did so in the open. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
At dawn the next morning, we found her still on the stake with her hardening ootheca. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The Enemy of the Gardener
Aphids, don't you just hate them? Especially those oleander aphids that suck the very lifeblood...
Oleander aphids clustering on a milkweed stem. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Aphids magnified on a Leica DVM6 microscope, operated by Lynn Epstein, UC Davis emeritus professor of plant pathology.
Visiting Growers from Tunisia
We had the pleasure of hosting citrus growers from Tunisia at the Lindcove REC. Director Beth...