Jan. 24, 2013
Danielle Wishon, an undergraduate student majoring in entomology, will be showing her bedbug colony at 2 p.m. at the Bohart Museum, located at 1124 Academic Surge on Crocker Lane. Wishon is rearing a colony, now approaching 100 bed bugs, in a research lab in Briggs Hall.
The Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto area ranks 45thin the most bedbug infested U.S. cities, according to a recent report by Orkin. Chicago ranks first, followed by Detroit, Los Angeles, Denver, Cincinnati, Columbus (Ohio), Washington D.C., Cleveland/Akron/Canton, Dallas/Fort Worth, and New York City.
"Aside from the fact that I find them visually adorable, I am interested in the current public panic over their current increase in population around the United States," said Wishon, who took control of the colony in October 2012. "The idea that several little animals will crawl up to you while you sleep and feed on your blood really disturbs most people, despite the fact that they do not transmit any disease."
The event is free and open to the public.
Wishon, who studies with forensic entomologist Robert Kimsey and works in the Bohart Museum with director Lynn Kimsey, professor of entomology at UC Davis, is a past president of the UC Davis Entomology Club and recipient of the department’s 2011 Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award.
The book tells the untold story of the California dogface butterfly (Zerene eurydice), Keller said. Bauer’s illustrations depict the life cycle of this butterfly and the children who helped designate it as the California state insect.
“A glossary in the back highlights key terms,” Keller said. “And there is a set of photographs of the California dogface and another yellow butterfly to help you determine if you have ever really seen the California state insect.”
And you and your child can follow the small caterpillar at the bottom of certain pages as it slowly changes from a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly.”
The net proceeds from the sale of this book go directly to the education, outreach and research programs of the Bohart Museum. The book can also be ordered online at http://www.bohartmuseum.com/the-story-of-the-dogface-butterfly.html
--Kathy Keatley Garvey
Communications specialist
UC Davis Department of Entomology
(530) 754-6894