Bug Squad

Oh, the common names that insects bear...murder hornets, killer bees, cow killers, biting lice, assassin flies...

"Entomology 2023" is underway! The annual meeting, hosted by the Entomological Society of America (ESA), is taking place Nov. 5-8 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md. The theme: "Insects and Influence: Advancing Entomology's Impact on People and Policy.

Human: "It's the end of Daylight Savings Time!" Praying Mantis: "The end of Daylight Savings Time? Does that mean I have to stop scaring the livin' daylights out of a bee?

Is tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, a "bad" plant? Should Californians pull it from their gardens? No, say many scientists, including Hugh Dingle, professor emeritus of entomology, behavior and evolution at UC Davis. Professor Dingle is an internationally known expert on animal migration.

Did you celebrate National Cat Day on Oct. 29? We haven't had a cat since our 16-year-old tuxedo, Xena the Warrior Princess crossed the Rainbow Bridge in March of 2016. She sported a butterflylike marking on her left leg. Monarch butterflies fascinated her.