- Author: Andrea Peck
- Editor: Noni Todd
Is It A Bird? Is It A Plane? It's a Bumblebee!
By Andrea Peck
They look like a blimp, fly like a helicopter and have a faster metabolic rate than a hummingbird. Did you know they can fly up to 10 miles per hour? How can this be? They look like they are perpetually late.
Everybody loves a bumblebee. With their rotund bodies and fuzzy pile (hair), they are the teddy bears of the insect world. Recently I found a few lingering near me in the garden. It took a minute of floundering investigation before I realized I was not being surrounded (though the thought of the Africanized bee did cross my mind.) In fact, they were circling downward towards their in-ground nest. The site of their humble abode lay in the soil near the corner of two connecting raised beds – a stylish spot with its own fenced yard that blots out high winds and acts as a warming element.
Bumblebees are social insects that live in a colony with one queen. Usually there are less than 50 occupants in a colony. The female bee travels up to two miles collecting honey to bring back to the nest. She may visit up to 100 flowers in an effort to fill her honeystomach.
Honeystomach?
You heard that right. The bumblebee doesn't mess around with proper sounding words like ‘honey bladder' or the like. Terminology is as colorful and fuzzy as the real article. It seems they have their own language, kind of like couples who wear matching outfits. It could be worse – consider ‘honeytummy.'
Despite the funny descriptors, bumblebees work really hard. It is estimated that a teaspoon of honey equates to approximately 80 foraging trips, 320 flight miles and 80,000 flowers. A moment of pause may be necessary before you take your afternoon tea with honey.
Pollen is collected in the pollen basket. Why not? I'd love to hear the jokes those researchers come up with when they are giddy from lack of sleep. The pollen basket is located on the hind legs of the females, since they are the ones who are collecting the pollen. Across all those miles. Single handedly. Ahem.
We won't broach that subject.
The wing of the bumblebee creates an electrical charge that pushes pollen from the flower onto the legs of the bee. The bee has three pairs of legs. On the back legs, hairs that act as combs brush pollen into the pollen baskets. These giant pockets make the females easy to spot. With pollen, the baskets look yellow, red or orange, depending on the pollen and without pollen, the baskets are a shiny black.
Despite what you may think, honeybees are not idling about in a bubble-headed manner. They are utilizing sophisticated bee tools to determine where they can get the best pollen (protein) and nectar (carbohydrates) combination plate. They use a variety of methods to this end. Flower color, fragrance, petal texture and air humidity are taken into consideration. They are like black and yellow tuning forks. Of late, another tool in their cadre has been discovered: electricity. It seems that the bumblebee is deciphering information (such as a recent visit by another bee) from the electrical charge present in the flower.
Do they sting? Female bumblebees do sting, but they don't show much interest in it. Their main defense is their aposematic or bright warning, coloring. Distinct from honey bees, the bumblebee is capable of pulling its stinger out and reusing it multiple times. A honey bee has a barbed stinger that when connected to our soft, stretchy skin makes a quick exit nearly impossible. The desire to leave the scene causes the honey bee to pull with such ferocity that the stinger, attached to the abdomen, comes off and the bee, when disengaged, flies off to die.
Bumblebee's flight muscles must be 86 ° Fahrenheit in order to fly. The bee is able to raise their temperature by shivering in a similar way that humans do. Bees that have adequate supplies of food in storage generally have no need to brave cold temperatures. If you find a downed bee, you can often help it by placing it in a warm spot.
Bumblebees are important agricultural and natural pollinators. Unfortunately, their numbers have been declining to the point that some experts believe they should be listed as endangered. Disease, habitat destruction and pesticides are some of the major causes. Researchers are aware that the honey bee has been subject to a number of devastating diseases; they are now finding that the native bumblebees may not be immune to these same confounding disorders.
Don't forget to welcome these pleasant creatures into your yard – they, along with all bees, are doing the arduous job of providing us with flowers, food and enjoyment.
- Author: Tami Reece
- Editor: Noni Todd
8th Annual Tomato Extravaganza and Plant Sale
By Tami Reece UCCE Master Gardener
This year's Tomato Extravaganza and Plant Sale will be on Saturday, September 6, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, at the Garden of the Seven Sisters, 2156 Sierra Way, San Luis Obispo. The festival will include informative workshops, tomato and basil tastings, activities for kids and an opportunity to meet the UCCE Master Food Preservers of SLO County!
The workshops will begin at 10:00 with Managing Gophers and Squirrels. At 11:00, learn about Winter Vegetable Gardening. At noon, we'll discuss rain barrels and show you how to save water in the garden. The always popular tomato and basil tasting will feature over 20 varieties. You just might discover new favorites to plant next year!
The plant sale will showcase water-wise California natives and Mediterranean climate varieties that require less water once established. Basil, the same varieties as in the basil tasting and fruit trees will also be available for purchase. Master Gardeners and the California Rare Fruit Growers will be on hand to help you pick the right plant for the right place in your landscape.
This is a free event and is open to the public. The garden gates will open at 10:00 am sharp. For more information, contact the Master Gardeners' helpline at (805) 781-5939, visit our website - http://ucanr.org/sites/mgslo/ - or email us at mgsanluisobispo@ucdavis.edu.
The Garden of the Seven Sisters was developed and is maintained by UCCE Master Gardener volunteers as an educational demonstration garden. More than 20 different plots make up the garden, each with a different theme - native, home orchard, rain catchment, children's garden, kitchen garden, fire landscape, composting and many more. The garden is open to the public on the third Saturday of the month from noon to 2:00 pm after our monthly Advice To Grow By workshops. Docent led group tours are also available by request. Call 781-5939 for more information.
- Author: Andrea Peck
- Editor: Noni Todd
Landmines
By Andrea Peck
If you are a Gambian pouched rat and you live in Belgium, you are treated with respect. You are given a stylish harness and instructed to find evidence of landmines and tuberculosis. You are employed. Your vision is poor, but this heightens your sense of smell and hearing. You get treats for doing what a rat does best. Ah, the life.
Not all rats are so lucky. Most rats are vilified as opportunistic scavengers. The average rat, though equipped with legendary acrobatic skills, is an untrained hooligan who leaves black rice-sized feces. Wild rats are described as sleaze bags that carry suitcases full of disease like a traveling salesman totes hardware.
Vermin! The word is not uttered – it is spit out in disgust.
The idea that rats are crafty and clever is generally included in any discussion regarding the animal. Whether they actually have a measurable “general intelligence” has been studied, but not consistently established, however. One study found that rats are pro-social by nature. (Check out the link below for an interesting and entertaining article that includes rats, cages and chocolate chips).
I address the subject because my own home was besieged during the course of one weekend with the capture of a juvenile rat on a sticky trap and two rat sightings which ended in one death and one escape.
You know, I am not scared of rats. The one I saw in my bathroom could have been the template for a stuffed animal or the main character in an animated movie. With that cute and fuzzy demeanor it seemed worthy of the bathroom. How adorable are those ears as it rounded the toilet paper basket and stood up on its hind legs in order to assess the human/house situation? It is the diseases that they have the potential of carrying that concerns me. Otherwise, I'd probably name them and feed them out of little bowls. I somewhat ignore them when they are in the garden. But, when they are using my 47-year-old Snoopy doll as a latrine I have to draw the line. In this story, Snoopy is hanging on the headboard of my 5-year-old daughter's bed. Death with a severe tone is imminent.
No, rats and mice are no laughing matter. They are able to transmit a number of very serious diseases through direct contact – either biting or scratching – or simply through contact with urine or feces. In San Luis Obispo County you are most likely to run into either the Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus or the roof rat, R. rattus. Both rats can cause quite a bit of damage if allowed to proliferate. The Norway rat tends to favor ground level areas, while roof rats prefer elevated locations such as roofs and attics. Both find food on the ground. The Norway rat often burrows in wood piles, deep shrubbery or ivy, or compost piles.
Interestingly, rats avoid new foods and traps. They didn't get their crafty reputation for naught. But, their intelligence is limited – if you think like them, low to the ground, myopic and desperate, you will eventually catch them eating the Havarti right out of your trap. Hopefully it's the last bite they eat.
The primary way to beat rodent infestations is sanitation. Your mom didn't appear shocked when she caught you eating a sandwich in bed for nothing. Rodents (and other pests) survive on our sloppiness. Dog food left sitting in bowls is an invitation for a rat feteʹ. Keep the dogs fed on a schedule and then lock and clean the kitchen. Any accessible food is problematic. Water is another resource these poor dried out beasts are looking for. Keep your compost contained if you can. Remember that even big rats can gain access into a quarter-sized hole. Don't forget their sizeable teeth – small holes can become bigger with a bit of gnawing. Clear out thick brush if you suspect your shrubs are serving as a rat housing project.
After you have dealt with the sanitation factor, your home will cease to be attractive to your whiskered friends. In the event that you continue to hear the pitter-patter of diminutive feet and see those unmistakable droppings, you can be assured that your guests do not know when to leave. In this case, it may be necessary to trap the buggers. Your best bet, according to the Master Gardeners and many, many experienced homeowners that I happened to speak with, is the snap trap. That old-fashioned goodie does work. Just remember to make that last meal worth the risk for Mr. or Ms. Rat.
Also, one tidbit from a good friend – don't reuse the traps right away. The rats are sometimes smart enough to smell the one that we'll call “Not-So-Lucky.”
For more information on rodents I've included the links to the Master Gardener website:
For information on rats:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74106.html
For information on mice:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/QT/housemousecard.html
Last, but not least, fun reading on the wily rat:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/jailbreak-rat/
- Author: Lee Oliphant
- Editor: Noni Todd
Edible Landscaping
By Lee Oliphant Master Gardener
Want to grow something edible in the coming seasons without increasing your landscape water requirements? There is an edible crop you can grow right in your perennial beds that you can count on to produce, sweet, delectable produce without straining your water conservation efforts.
Planting alliums like bulb or globe onions (Allium cepa) and garlic (A. sativum) in the fall will allow them to grow through the winter and spring when soil is normally moist. They should mature by June and July when water supplies may be limited.
Growing globe onions and garlic requires nothing more than good, rich soil. If your soil is clay or sand, enrich it with compost for nutrients and improved drainage. Plant seeds directly in the soil from October to December and sets (small immature onions) in January or February. Plant them pointy end up just below the soil surface, leaving 3 to 4 inches between sets.
Onions need a specific number of daylight hours to set bulbs; the requirement varies depending on the variety. Fortunately, we live in an area of California that grows both long-day and short-day onions. Choosing which varieties to grow may depend on whether you prefer sweet onions for salads and sandwiches or strong onions for cooking.
Garlic is planted and cared for in a manner similar to onions. A few feet of planting will provide an ample supply for most families. Plant bulbs between mid-October and mid-February. Purchase garlic bulbs from a nursery and plant each clove blunt end down with the top about one inch below the surface. Harvest both garlic and onions when leaves turn brown.
These easy to grow bulbs fit nicely into any garden bed. Once you're confident in growing traditional onions and garlic among your flowers, you may want to extend your planting to include bunching onions, scallions, shallots, and leeks; all part of the big, happy family of alliums.
Save the Date!!! Saturday September 6, 2014, 10:00 to 2:00, is the UCCE Master Gardeners 8th Annual Tomato Extravaganza. Tomato and basil tasting, guest speakers and lots of fun in the garden! See you there!!!
- Author: Andrea Peck
- Editor: Noni Todd
Light Brown Apple Moth
By Andrea Peck
The news is full of bug sightings. Perhaps they are taking a summer vacation or perhaps we're getting better at trapping them. I've spotted my own – but I'll talk about that next week. Mine are bigger, furrier and accessorized with tails. The memories are still too painful and fresh. No, this week we will have to resign ourselves to a few small but devastating wranglers that seem to be on a roll here in San Luis Obispo County. I'm not going to talk about the single Asian citrus psyllid which was discovered cooling its heels in Cayucos recently (look to last week's post for information on that pest). This week I set my sights on a certain party of three light brown apple moths (Epiphyas postvittana) who were found and busted in Arroyo Grande.
The light brown apple moth (LBAM) is a humble creature that is native to Australia. Despite its unimpressive appearance, this beast feeds on a wide range of plant species. During its caterpillar stage, it eats everything. Maybe it's myopic. Maybe it's just confused. These are possibilities. But, remember, this bugger is from Australia, where the men are brawny and the bugs are opportunists. It's like the goat that started chewing on my green dress when I visited the zoo as a child. You might question its proclivities, but the reactive among us don't ask why, we just run.
The LBAM is a stealth rapscallion that varies in appearance and is difficult to identify. In fact, the only sure way to know that you have an LBAM is by inspecting its reproductive organs. In Australia the moth is considered a major pest of apples, oranges, pears and grapes. The term ‘apple moth' is deceptive, however. They prey on apples, but are polyphagous, meaning they dine on a wide variety of crops, plants and ornamentals. The LBAM prefers cooler climates with low rainfall and high humidity. Hot environments lower their survival rates and quell breeding. The LBAM is part of the leafroller family (Tortricidae). This family is distinguished by its ability to roll a leaf, sleeping-bag style, around its larvae, secure it with webbing, and then eat the leaf without leaving its cozy confines.
White or light green eggs are laid by adult moths and are typically found in masses of 20 to 50, but up to 170 eggs in a mass have been found. Eggs appear shingle-like or similar to the scales of a fish.
The caterpillar is medium green in color with whitish appearing hairs. The head is a yellow-brown. It is this stage of growth that the LBAM is most damaging.
Baciillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Bt) is one method of control. Others include: spinosad (Entrust and Success), spinetoram (Radiant), methoxyfenozide (Intrepid), tebufenozide (Confirm). Some organophosphates, pyrethroids and carbamates are reported to control LBAM. Pheromone mating disruption may be successful with chronic problems. Where some damage can be tolerated, biological control, such as parasitoids may lower populations.
Currently there is a 9-mile quarantine area surrounding the homing location of the detected moths in Arroyo Grande. Management efforts continue extensively throughout the state.
