Bug Squad

A daily (M-F) blog launched Aug. 6, 2008 and about the wonderful world of insects and those who study them. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
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THIS WILL be the scene next month in California when honey bees begin pollinating the almond blossoms. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

It's Almost Almond-Pollinaton Time

January 25, 2011
Hear the buzz in the California almond orchards? It's almost pollination time. The season usually begins around Feb. 1. This year California has some 750,000 acres of almonds, and each acre requires two bee colonies to pollinate. That's 1.
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HONEY BEE EXPERT Eric Mussen shows bees to guests at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at the University of California, Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Protecting the Pollinators

January 24, 2011
Honey bee expert Eric Mussen of UC Davis offers some good advice in a piece that he and commercial beekeeper Gene Brandi of Los Banos wrote in the current edition of CAPCA Advisor, published by the California Assoiciaton of Pest Control Advisors.
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THESE HONEY BEES are faring well at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at the University of California, Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Like Living Only on Twinkies

January 20, 2011
Kim Flottum, editor of Bee Culture magazine, makes seven good points in his piece on honey bee health published in the Jan. 18th edition of The Daily Green.
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