Backyard Orchard News
How to Have a Rice Day
Rice farmers in southeast Asia don't "have a rice day" when the dreaded brown planthopper is...
This photo shows sesame and the grass, Leersia sayanuka, planted together along a rice field edge in China. Sesame is important because it provides pollen and nectar for the parasitoids. (Photo courtesy of Zhongzian Lu)
So, Sweet! The Inaugural California Honey Festival in Historic Downtown Woodland
It promises to be...oh, so sweet! The inaugural California Honey Festival, to take place from 10...
A taste of honey. From the comb to the bottle, that's the route of honey to the California Honey Festival on Saturday, May 6. (Photo by Kath
A honey bee foraging on almond blossoms in Yolo County. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Celebrating Roses, UC Davis-Style, Just in Time for Mother's Day
Back in May of 2013, we headed over to the California Center for Urban Horticulture (CCUH)...
A honey bee heads toward the Sparkle and Shine rose, related to the Julia Child Rose. This one was purchased in 2013 at the CCUH Rose Days. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Although honey bees prefer such flowers as lavender, borage, bee balm, catmint and zinnia, they cannot resist the Sparkle and Shine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Entomologists Know How to Bug Ya!
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what is a bug worth? That question was neither asked nor...
Up, up the steps to Briggs Hall, where the bugs are. (Photos by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A crowd circulates around the maggot art tables, where participants could dip a maggot into non-toxic, water-based paint, let it crawl around, and create art.
Maggot art--Picasso would have been proud? Take a piece of paper, dip a maggot into non-toxic, water-based paint, and let it crawl around to create art. No maggots were harmed in the making of the art.
Entomologist Steve Dreistadt of the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM) answers insect questions.
Anne Schellman of the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM)relays information about the program.
Insect specimens drew lots of interest at Briggs Hall. (Most of the insect specimens--nearly eight million--are at the Bohart Museum of Entomology)
Entomology graduate student Ralph Washington Jr., holds forth as "The Bug Doctor." The doctor was always in, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Forensic entomologist Robert Kimsey holds forth as "Dr. Death," answering forensic questions. At the microscope next to him is nematologist Corwin Parker.
Maia Lundy, president of the UC Davis Entomology Club, creates a face painting. She drew scores of monarch butterflies and caterpillars.
Graduate student Brendon Boudinot, chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology's Picnic Day Committee, poses in one of the popular cutout boards.
Spectators root for their favorite cockroach. No one asked "Can I take one home?"
Bigger, Better, Buglier: Impressive Science
Oh, the bugs! Bigger. Better. Buglier. It was Saturday, April 18, the 103rd annual UC Davis...
Robbin Thorp, UC Davis distinguished emeritus professor of entomology, chats with Adne Burruss, 6, of Irvine. (Photos by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A close-up of a male Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa varipuncta, held by Robbin Thorp, distinguished emeritus professor of entomology at UC Davis.
Future entomologist? Julianna Amaya, 10, of Martinez is fascinated by an Australian walking stick.
Entomologist and Bohart Museum associate Jeff Smith talks butterflies to Ted Swift and his daughter Grace Swift, 10, of Davis.
Fran Keller, assistant professor at Folsom Lake College, staffs the Bohart Museum gift shop.