Bug Squad

The emerald ash borer, a wood-boring beetle native to northeastern Asia and now invasive in much of the United States, doesn't just target ash trees. The jewel beetle engages in host shifting.

Oh, the squabble over what is--and what is not--manuka honey. The battle is far from sweet. Manuka honey is produced in New Zealand and Australia, but New Zealand claims the manuka honey trademark. Australia says that's not fair. They want to use it, too.

When UC Davis agricultural entomologist Christian Nansen wanted to develop a free smart phone application to help strawberry growers predict spray coverage to combat pests, he knew just where to go. The UC Davis Computer Science Club. And, now the three-year collaborative project is a reality.

You've heard of "all systems are go." In this case, "all systems are sweet." The UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center will host a Sensory Evaluation of Honey Course, Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 7-9 in the Robert Mondavi Institute (RMI) on the UC Davis campus.

What's the role of genomics in 21st Century beekeeping? The next UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology seminar will focus on just that.