Backyard Orchard News
Seeing Spots: 12 of Them!
Most of the time, I see red. Occasionally, I see spots. Red? The flameskimmer dragonflies...
The 12-spot dragonfly, Libellula pulchella, perches on a bamboo stake in Vacaville, Calif. on July 16.
Look Out, Franklin's Bumble Bee, They're Coming for You!
Look out, Franklin's bumble bee, they're coming for you! The question is: Where are you? Have you...
Bumble bee expert Robbin Thorp of UC Davis with his computer screen showing a photo he took of Franklin's bumble bee, now feared extinct. He last saw it on Aug. 9, 2006 in a meadow near Mt. Ashland. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
This is the Western bumble bee, Bombus occidentalis, found Aug. 15, 2012 by Mt. Shasta. It is on the endangered list. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Of Termites, Bed Bugs and Cockroaches
We're all going to miss him. The termites, bed bugs and cockroaches--not so much. "Him" is Vernard...
UC ANR urban entomologist Vernard Lewis stands by his Villa Termiti, built just for termite research. (UC ANR Photo)
Madagascar hissing cockroaches at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, UC Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Fusing Art with Science: 'I'd Like a Faster Maggot'
"I'd like a faster maggot." So said a little boy working on his maggot art project last Sunday...
Forensic entomologists and NAFEA members (from left) Royce Cumming of Salinas Valley, Bob Kimsey of UC Davis and Greg Nigoghosian of Purdue engage in a maggot art activity. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
UC Davis graduate student Alexander Dedman (left), who studies with major professor Robert Kimsey, watches as NAFEA member Greg Nigoghosian of Purdue dips a maggot into its "bath": non-toxic, water-based paint. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Maggot art in action. Sometimes it's a short wait while the maggot crawls around. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Close-up of maggot art by Neel Fulde, 7, of Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
NAFEA member Royce Cumming of Salinas Valley and 6-year-old Olivia Storms of Davis show their maggot art paintings. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
One of the forensic entomology displays at the Bohart Museum of Entomology open house. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
This poster shows the life cycle of a fly. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
In Pursuit of the California Dogface Butterfly
Few people have seen California's state insect in the wild, but now thousands will this week--on...
Bohart Museum of Entomology associate and dogface butterfly expert Greg Kareofelas (left) shows a California dogface butterfly to Rob Stewart of "Rob on the Road" at the Shutamul Bear River Preserve. (Photo by Fran Keller)
The Shutamul Bear River Preserve near Auburn, Placer County, encompasses 40 acres and is considered "the" best habitat for the dogface butterfly. (Photo by Fran Keller)
Rob Stewart of "Rob on the Road" takes a selfie with a California dogface butterfly. (Photo by Greg Kareofelas)
Bohart Museum of Entomology associates Fran Keller (left) and Greg Kareofelas pose with Rob Stewart of "Rob on the Road." Keller, an entomologist with a doctoral degree from UC Davis, is an assistant professor at Folsom Lake College, and Kareofelas is a naturalist/photographer.
This is the group, including UC Master Gardeners, who toured the dogface butterfly habitat. Rob Stewart of "Rob on the Road" is kneeling, front left. Many wore butterfly shirts. Justin Wages, Placer Land Trust manager, is back row, fourth from left.