Bug Squad

It's going to be a honey of a festival. Truly. And Amina Harris would love it if you're interested in participating in this event or volunteering.

What are the odds? Native pollinator specialist Robbin Thorp, distinguished emeritus professor of entomology at UC Davis, greeted a visitor on Feb. 14 in his office in the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility. This visitor didn't talk, though. She buzzed.

It's a story that no one is letting him forget. Noted medical entomologist Robert "Bob" Washino, emeritus professor of entomology and a veteran academic administrator at UC Davis, was hanging out in his back yard in Davis last spring when an aedine mosquito bit him.

They saw bugs. They saw bones. They saw honey bees. They saw hawks. Those were just a few of the offering at the sixth annual UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day, held Saturday, Feb. 18. More than 3000 visitors checked out the offerings. The free family-friendly, science-based event, held from 9 a.m.

It's not a good time to be a California almond grower or a beekeeper. And it's definitely not a good time to be a honey bee.