Bug Squad

We're all going to miss him. The termites, bed bugs and cockroaches--not so much. "Him" is Vernard Lewis, who terminated termites, bugged bed bugs, and controlled cockroaches.

"I'd like a faster maggot." So said a little boy working on his maggot art project last Sunday afternoon, July 9, at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, UC Davis. The occasion: a special open house with special presenters, members of North American Forensic Entomology Association (NAFEA).

Few people have seen California's state insect in the wild, but now thousands will this week--on TV. The California dogface butterfly, Zerene eurydice, and its Auburn habitat will be featured on KVIE Public Television's "Rob on the Road" show at various times throughout the week.

Have you ever received an email, text or postcard from vacationing family or friends with the lead sentence: "Wish you were here?

Ever seen assassination attempts in your garden? They are not pretty if you're the prey. Neither are the successful attempts. Take the Zelus renardii, aka the leafhopper assassin bug. They've been hanging out in our nectarine tree, cosmos, passionflower vine and Cleveland sage.