Bug Squad

Thanksgiving isn't about selecting the largest turkey in the store, engaging in road rage or aisle anger, or preparing for the Black Friday sales. Thanksgiving is all about sharing--sharing gratitude, love and a meal.

The lady beetle, aka ladybug, scurried up the lion's tail plant, Leonotis leonurus. Up one stem and down another, she went. Apparently, she didn't find what she was looking for--aphids or other small bodied-insects--and took flight. If you haven't planted this in your pollinator garden, you should.

If you've been talking to your plants for years, you are not alone. But know this: plants can communicate, too. They eavesdrop, sense danger in the environment, and can distinguish friend from foe.

Congratulations to the five UC Davis entomology doctoral students who excelled in the Entomological Society of America's student competitions, part of the organization's Nov. 16-25 virtual meeting.

How do you design a symbol that is meaningful to you and that addresses a problem in the world?