Bug Squad

While folks from Alaska to Colorado to New York to Maine are shivering in freezing temperatures, here in sunny California--well, at least parts of the Golden State are sunny--bumble bees are foraging on winter blooms. Bumble bees? On the first day of the year? Yes.

How would you describe the year 2017? Survival of the fittest? In the insect world, it's more like "survival of the flittest.

Surprise! Surprise! You never know what you'll see when you're strolling through the 100-acre UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, a treasure to students, faculty, staff and visitors.

Ready? Set? Go? The search party is almost ready to start. If you're lucky, you'll net the prize before Art Shapiro does.

You've seen them. You've seen them hop. They're aptly named. Leafhoppers are tiny insects (family Cicadellidae) that suck nutrients from plants.