Backyard Orchard News
Pollinator Gardens Make Us Happy: Get Ready for National Pollinator Week!
Are you ready for National Pollinator Week, June 18-June 24? A spectacular pollinator garden...
This is an overview of part of Kate Frey's pollinator garden at Sonoma Cornerstone. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A pipevine swallowtail, Battus philenor, nectars on on Nepeta tuberosa. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A pollen-packing yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, heads for Stachys bullata. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
This honey bee can't get enough of Scabiosa "Fama Blue." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Milkweed is not only the host plant of monarch butterflies, but honey bees like it, too. This is the showy milkweed, Asclepias speciosa. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Under Attack: European Wool Carder Bee Vs. Male Valley Carpenter Bee
Meet the competitors. In this corner, meet Mr. Teddy Bear. He's a blond, green-eyed carpenter bee,...
Meet Mr. Teddy Bear, a green-eyed blond trying to nourish himself on foxglove nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Meet Mr. Bodyslam, a very territorial European wool carder bee. He patrols the foxgloves. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Mr. Bodyslam targets the unsuspecting Mr. Teddy Bear. "Hey, get away from my flowers and nobody gets hurt." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Mr. Bodyslam is moving so fast, he's a blur. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
And the battle begins! Mr. Bodyslam attacks Mr. Teddy Bear. "Hey, can't a fellow get a bite to eat in peace?" (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Gotcha! The attack turns vicious. Mr. Bodyslam slams into Mr. Teddy Bear, a blow that prompted Mr. Teddy Bear to depart (only to return). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Protecting American Coffee, Wine and Baseball Bats
"Protecting American Coffee, Wine and Baseball Bats Through Areawide Integrated Pest Management...
The panel gathers for a group photo following the congressional briefing. From left are Faith Oi, University of Florida; Lee Van Wychen, Weed Science Society of America; moderator Frank Zalom of UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology and a past president of the Entomological Society of America; Paula Shrewsbury of the University of Maryland; Kelley Tilmon of Ohio State University; and Dave Chun, chief of staff for Rep. Tulsi Gabbert. (Photo by Chris Stelzig)
Italian White Snail Slowly Becoming an Invasive Pest (Again)
Sometimes an invasive pest takes a while to become invasive. The Invasive Species Council of California defines an invasive species as “non-native organisms which cause economic or environmental harm.” So, until a species not originally from the area actually causes harm, it doesn't get the title of invasive.
Take the Italian white snail, also known as the white garden snail. In San Diego, it caused extensive damage to agricultural plants in the early 1900s but was considered eradicated after a massive control program in the 1920s. However, it was found again in San Diego County in the 1980s but it did not damage agricultural crops or gardens. Instead the snails lived off of weeds in neglected fields. Now it appears to be moving slowly from these fields to fruit tree orchards and avocado groves as well as landscapes. The Italian white snail feeds on decaying organic matter and living plants, damaging leaves, flowers, and fruit. Another fear is it being found in cut flower growing areas or in nurseries where it could become an export issue.
White or light tan, the Italian white snail is about the size of a dime or nickel when fully grown. It may or may not have brown markings on the outside of the shell. The inside shell color near the opening is light colored (compared to the milk snail, which looks similar but has a dark inside shell). Italian white snails are most noticeable during the day and when it is hot, because the snails climb up on fence posts, walls, weeds and other vegetation and congregate in large numbers.
In California, the Italian white snail is only officially found in San Diego County. However, it could easily move to new areas because of its small size, which makes it hard to detect, and tendency to attach to many kinds of surfaces such as truck beds. Also, because land snails are hermaphroditic—each snail has both male and female reproductive organs—it only takes any two snails to reproduce!
Californians can help in the fight against invasive species by learning and participating during California Invasive Species Action Week, June 2–10.
What Effect Did the California Drought Have on Butterflies?
Remember the California drought of 2011 to 2015? What effect did that have on butterflies? Newly...
Art Shapiro, UC Davis distinguished professor of evolution and ecology, counting butterflies in Gates Canyon, Vacaville, on Jan. 26, 2014. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)