Bug Squad

A beer for a butterfly. What a deal. Whoever collects the first live cabbage white butterfly of 2013 in the three-county area of Yolo, Solano and Sacramento, can win a pitcher of beer, compliments of Art Shapiro, distinguished professor of evolution and ecology at UC Davis.

You'll never guess what Bruce Hammock did on Dec. 18. First, a bit about Bruce Dupree Hammock.

It's Christmas Day and time to revisit "The 13 Bugs of Christmas." Back in 2010, Extension apiculturist Eric Mussen of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and yours truly came up with a song about "The 13 Bugs of Christmas.

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse... --Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863) In our house, nothing is stirring, thanks be to the cat. Xena the Warrior Princess does not like anything stirring. Even the dog annoys here.

"Americans spend millions of dollars on sprays and pest control devices or services to kill insects. Yet much of this is unnecessary.