Bug Blog
Almonds a' Bloomin'
Almond pollination season in California traditionally begins around Valentine's Day. This year, however, thanks to the unseasonably warm weather, almond trees began blooming in late January in some...
Benicia resident Gordon Hough stops to check for honey bees at the Benicia State Park. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Delicate almond blossoms exuding "perfume" at Benicia State Park. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
An ant crawls on an almond blossom in Benicia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Taking on the Tachinids
They're hairy. They're bristly. They're attention-getters. They probably draw more "yecchs!" than most insects. All the more reason to love 'em. Frankly, the tachinids (family Tachinidae, order...
Tachinid fly "in the pink." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Tachinid fly foraging. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A 'She Bee' on a Hebe
A "she bee" on a hebe.That has a nice ring to it.It was Jan. 7, an unseasonably warm day for winter and we decided to take advantage of it by driving to the Loch Lomond Marina in San Rafael.Gardeners...
Honey bee foraging on hebe. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A "she bee" leaving the hebe. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
'P' Is for Pollinators
It's good to see the growing number of seminars, lectures and workshops on pollinators.The more we know about our pollinators, the better we'll be able to protect and sustain them. Bee scientists...
Honey bee foraging on lavender. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Squash bee (genus Peponapis) on squash. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
What Governs the Quality of Pollen?
If you're interested in pollen and pollinators, you'll want to attend the UC Davis Department of Entomology seminar at 12:10 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 1 in 122 Briggs Hall.That's when T’ai Roulston,...
Female sweat bee in the genus Lasioglossum, on a rock purslane. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
T'ai Roulston at State Arboretum of Virginia.