Here's a good reason why you should not clean the fixtures around your porch lights--if you need a reason. The lights attract all kinds of nocturnal flying insects. It's like the proverbial draw of a moth to a flame. Spiders weave their webs on the light fixtures to trap their prey.
If there's ever a time to start "buggin' someone,' that would be at the Entomological Society of America's 62nd annual meeting, set Nov. 16-19 in the Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Ore. There will be plenty of people to bug.
Ready to make some human-insect connections? Cultural entomologist Emmet Brady, host of the Insect News Network, a Davis-based program on radio station KDRT 95.7 FM, is planning something special on Friday, Nov. 14 in Nevada City and you're all invited.
Lately we've been fascinated by the migrating Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) heading to coastal California and central Mexico for their overwintering sites. For years we've marveled at the migrating whales passing Point Reyes as we stood glued to our binoculars.
