Bug Squad

Tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb. 2) marks the 125th annual Groundhog Day celebration in Punxsutawney, Pa., and you know what that means. That's when a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his burrow and predicts the weather. If he sees his shadow, six more weeks of winter.

Nothing but net? No, no net. We have a winner in the 40th annual Cabbage White Butterfly Competition, sponsored by butterfly expert Art Shapiro, professor of evolution and ecology at the University of California, Davis.

Nature's suspension bridge--that's what the spider builds. With the unseasonable warm weather and crafty spiders at work, can spring be far behind? Spiders are already building their webs on fruit trees yet to bud and bloom.

Last summer we watched European wool carder bees (Anthidium manicatum) dart in and out of the catmint and salvia in our bee friendly garden. The males are very territorial, so they'd chase away honey bees, bumble bees, hover flies and other insects from THEIR flowers. Yes, they claimed them.

The light brown apple moth: how does it affect California's strawberry crop?