Bug Squad

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what are a series of photos taken at an open house showcasing spiders and other arachnids worth? Photos, that is, of children's candid expressions? Priceless.

Those who know that spiders have eight legs know exactly what's being showcased at the UC Davis Bohart Museum of Entomology open house, "Eight-Legged Encounters," on Saturday, June 25. Spiders and other arachnids. And you're invited.

"For some people, spiders can be at the same time fascinating and frightening. The helpful friend who caught that fly buzzing around your kitchen, and the pest that scared you in the shower.

Ever seen a crab spider hanging out on a flower? Yes? Ever seen a crab spider hanging out with two male longhorned bees that are sleeping overnight on a flower? No? Such was the case last night when a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, drew two Melissodes agilis and one crab spider.

So here's this Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae, nectaring on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. It's National Pollinator Week. All's right with the world. The butterfly had visited a passionflower vine, Passiflora, its host plant. Now for a little fuel. The nectar is enticing.