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On Gossamer Wings
"Gossamer" means something sheer, light and delicate, as in gossamer fabric.
You can also apply it to the wings of a carpenter bee.
We captured this image of a male carpenter bee (Xylocopa tabaniformis) nectaring on lavender.
The wings look sheer, fragile and airy. Note the thorax brushed with pollen.
On Gossamer Wings
Honey Bees: 'Are Things Really That Bad?
You won’t want to miss the seminar on “Bee Problems and Colony Losses” on Wednesday, May 13 in 122 Briggs Hall, UC Davis.
If you can’t make it in person, you can listen to it live via Webinar.
Guest lecturer Richard Fell of the Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech, will speak on "Bee Problems and Colony Losses - Are Things Really That Bad?" from 12:10 to 1 p.m.
His presentation, sponsored by the UC Davis Department of Entomology, is hosted by entomology professor Michael Parrella, associate dean of the Division of Agricultural Sciences, UC Davis
Fell's lecture is part of a series of noonhour seminars being held through June 3. They are Webcast in an innovative project spearheaded by professor James Carey, chair of the UC Systemwide Committee on Research Policy.
Newborn bee
Smoking Gun
A honey bee newsletter, "From the UC Apiaries" newsletter, written by Cooperative Extension Apiculturist Eric Mussen of the UC Davis Department of Entomology Faculty, provides linformative and educational information for beekeepers and those interested in the plight of the honey bee.
In his latest edition, Mussen writes:
"Since years of study on colony collapse disorder (CCD) of honey bees have not produced the smoking gun (a single cause) for the malady, scientists are turning to potential multiple causes. The studies are designed to try to find synergistic interacttions of chemicals in the hive that may be damaging the bees. The dictionary definition of synergism is: interaction of discrete agencies or agents such that the total effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects. In other words, one plus one equals more than two. The question is: Can pesticide residues, infectious agents, and/or malnutrition combine to be much worse for the bees than simply the additive effect of each alone?"
To read how he answers this key question, see the March-April edition on his Web site.
Honey Bees
Queen Bee
These Walking Sticks Are Insects
Brian Turner, outreach coordinator at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, UC Davis campus, is used to walking around with a walking stick.
Not just any walking stick. The Giant New Guinea Walking Stick and the Vietnamese Walking Stick.
Although the Bohart Museum houses more than seven million insect specimens, some are quite alive, thank you. They include the walking sticks, Madagascar hissing cockroaches, giant cave cockroaches, black widow spiders, and the rose hair tarantulas.
All are taking a brief "vacation" from the Bohart and are now housed in the floriculture building at the 134th annual Dixon May Fair, being held May 7-10.
When Turner delivered them to the fair Wednesday afternoon, the insects drew excitement from exhibitors setting up floral displays. They marveled at the size of the spiny Giant New Guinea Walking Stick (Eurycantha calcarate), which can reach 6 inches in length.
The male has large spikes on its back femurs. The female has what looks like a large stinger, but it really is an ovipositer (egg-laying structure).
These insects dine on bramble, rose and guava.
They do not dine on fairgoers.
Brian Turner
Close-up
Insects Are Nearly Everywhere
"Insects are the most successful animals that have ever existed on Earth and have been around for just over 400 million years," writes George Gavin in Insects, an American Nature Guide published by Smithmark Publishers, N.Y.
"Of the nearly one and a half million described species of all animals, just over 930,000 of them are insects," Gavin points out. "Thousands of new insect species are described every year and recent estimates from work in the world's diminishing rainforests indicate that there are maybe several million undescribed species."
Yes, insects are nearly everywhere--even at California's oldest fair. When the 134th annual Dixon May Fair opens May 7, continuing through May 10, you'll see a honey bee observation hive--with the queen bee, workers and drones--inside the floriculture building. Also in the floriculture building: Madagascar hissing cockroaches, Vietnamese walking sticks and other arthropods.
Honey bee specialists from the UC Davis Department of Entomology and insect experts from the Bohart Museum of Entomology will be there at various times to answer questions.
Elsewhere on the fairgrounds, you'll see insect photography and insect motifs on quilts, aprons, birdbaths, flower pots and other items. Interior Living Showcase superintendent Debee Lamont (who works year-around as gifts and records management specialist in University Relations, UC Davis) says insect images adorn numerous quilts at the fair. Insects include honey bees, butterflies and dragonflies.
Sorry, no quilts with Madagascar hissing cockroaches or Vietnamese walking sticks.
Debee Lamont
Close-up
Dragonfly Quilt
Dragonfly and Cat
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