Billed as two hours of fun and education about pollinators, the event is set from 5 to 7 p.m. at 1919 F St. It will include talks and demonstrations about honey bees and native bees, interactive art projects, and scores of other activities.
Extension apiculturist Eric Mussen of the UC Davis Department of Entomology will present an exhibit on pheromones. He will encourage attendees to smell the banana-like aroma of the pheromone emitted by a stinging honey bee. Other pheromones will include the attractant and intruder.
Native pollinator specialist Robbin Thorp, emeritus professor of entomology at UC Davis, will discuss native bees, including bumble bees, carpenter bees and leafcutting bees.
The Bohart Museum of Entomology, UC Davis, will showcase bee specimens--from the world's biggest to the smallest, with lots of colorful bees in between.
Also scheduled for display is a mural painting of a honey bee on a button willow, based on a photo taken by communications specialist Kathy Keatley Garvey of the UC Davis Department of Entomology.
Edward Thomas of the Explorit Science Center will encourage the crowd to engage in a "bee dance" on a floor mat.
Others participating will be beekeeper Derek Downey of the Davis Bee Charmers; the Bullfrog Bee Farm, which will provide "a taste of honey" and bee displays; and Julia Lau, Cristina Urrutia and Tiva Lassiter of the Davis Art Center, whose activities range from candle making to bee bundling to beeswax modeling. The Pollinator Partnership also will participate by donating bee bundle materials.
Attendees can take home honey recipe booklets, bee stickers, bookmarks, and children's honey bee booklets.
--Kathy Keatley Garvey
Communications specialist
UC Davis Department of Entomology
(530) 754-6894