Bug Squad

Today is Black Friday, a day that marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. It's reportedly the busiest shopping day of the year. But to us, today is Green Friday, in recognition of a female green praying mantis,Stagmomantis limbata.

Let's put the "thanks" in THANKSgiving by bee-ing thankful for the honey bee, Apis mellifera...

How can you improve cross-pollination in such tree crops as almond, pear, apple and cherry? Senior scientist Arnon Dag of the Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Israel, will discuss his research at the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology seminar at 4:10 p.m.

Monarchs on the move...so many mysteries. Where do Western monarchs go after leaving their overwintering sites along coastal California in February? An observation: They didn't stop in the spring or summer to deposit eggs on any of our four species of milkweed in our Vacaville pollinator garden.

Meet UC Davis doctoral alumnus Murray Isman, who has just received monumental recognition. Isman is listed as No.