Bug Squad

Everything's coming up bees! A number of eminent bee scientists will be speaking soon at UC Davis. They include David Tarby, Gene Robinson and Dennis vanEngelsdorp. David Tarpy, Wednesday, Feb.

It's not spring yet, but don't tell that to the pollinators at the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park. We traveled to the state park on Monday, Jan. 25 to see if we could find a bumble bee foraging on the jade blossoms. Or more specifically, the black-tailed bumble bee, Bombus melanopygus.

It's getting to look a lot like...February. When you see honey bees foraging on the early blooming oxalis, that's a sure sign that February is approaching. And that means it's time for some mead, music and a bee-influenced dinner.

You can't really say that "monarch butterflies are back in the news again," because they've never really left. Thankfully! The more we know about monarch butterflies, the better we can understand them and help conserve them.

They answered all the questions correctly except one. And that one, they agreed, they should have known.