Bug Squad

When the monarchs return to southern California and central Mexico to overwinter, the residents rejoice. When the bumble bees emerge from their nests in the spring, we, too, rejoice. They are like the swallows of Capistrano and the monarchs of Pacific Grove.

This "B" gets an "A" for good grooming. We recently watched a honey bee land on the edge of a planter. "Hmm," we thought. "Why is she landing there? She should be foraging on the flowers in the pollinator garden." We soon found out.

Back in 2013 we purchased a stunning yellow rose, "Sparkle and Shine," at the UC Davis Rose Weekend. Well, it was a natural thing to do--a honey bee was on it! Honey bees aren't all that attracted to commercial roses, but this one was. Honey bees are still attracted to it.

It's about connecting. It's about learning where parents work and what they do. It's about fun. That's what will happen on Thursday, April 28 during the annual "Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work" day at the University of California, Davis.

"All human beings are born curious, but the wrong conditions can jeopardize that curiosity," says second-year Ph.D. student Ralph Washington, Jr. of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.