- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Eager hands cradling an orchid mantis.
Eyes darting toward a hornet's nest.
That set the scene at the UC Davis Bohart Museum of Entomology's three-hour open house, themed "Crafty Insects." Visitors learned about the sneaky or cunning insects like praying mantids, and about the skillful insects such as hornets that construct intricate nests of wood pulp and saliva.
Insects rule.
Entomologist Jeff Smith, who curates the butterfly and moth section of the Bohart, loaned the quilted dragonfly hanging, the work of his mother-in-law, quiltmaker/seamstress Ann Babicky of Schofield, Wis. "She made it personally with us in mind," he said.
UC Davis entomology student and Bohart associate Lohit Garikipati, who rears mantids, loaned some of his favorites, including an orchid mantis, Hymenopus coronatus, a shield mantis, Rhombodera valida, and an Asian dead leaf mantis, Deroplatys truncata.
Garikipati, who serves as secretary of the UC Davis Entomology Club displayed mantids and walking sticks with club president Chloe Shott.
Smith and Bohart associate Greg Kareofelas showed visitors the moth and butterfly collection, while UC Davis student Emma Cluff answered questions about a hornet's nest. Another UC Davis student, Isabelle Gilchrist, staffed the "paint-a-rock" table. (See Bug Squad blog). Tabatha Yang, the Bohart's education and outreach coordinator, coordinated the open house.
The Bohart Museum of Entomology, directed by Lynn Kimsey, UC Davis professor of entomology, is named for noted entomologist Richard M. Bohart.
Located in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building on Crocker Lane, it houses
- nearly eight million insect specimens
- the seventh largest insect collection in North America
- the California Insect Survey, a storehouse of the insect biodiversity
- a live "petting zoo," comprised of Madagascar hissing cockroaches, walking sticks, tarantulas and praying mantids; and
- a year-around gift shop, which is stocked with T-shirts, sweatshirts, books, jewelry, posters, insect-collecting equipment and insect-themed candy
The Bohart Museum's regular hours are from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. It is closed to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and on major holidays. Admission is free.
Public weekend hours for the academic year 2018-2019 are:
- Sunday, Nov. 18, from 1 to 4 p.m.: "Bring It Home: Urban Entomology"
- Saturday, Jan. 12, from 1 to 4 p.m.: "Time's Fun When You're Studying Flies"
- Saturday, Feb. 16, times vary: (campuswide) Biodiversity Museum Day
- Saturday, March 9, 1 to 4 p.m., "Eight-Legged Wonders"
- Saturday, April 14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., (campuswide) UC Davis Picnic Day
More information on the Bohart Museum is available on the website or by contacting (530) 752-0493 or emailing bmuseum@ucdavis.edu.
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
But Mark Hoddle, Extension entomologist and director of the Center for Invasive Species Research at the University of California, Riverside, is.
The Asian citrus psyllid or ACP, a mottled brown insect about the size of an aphid, has emerged as the most important exotic insect pest of citrus in California, and he, along with many others, is targeting it.
Hoddle will speak on “Protecting California Agriculture from Invasive Pests: Biocontrol of Asian Citrus Psyllid in Urban Southern California" when he presents the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology's first seminar of the fall quarter on Wednesday, Sept. 26.
His lecture is from 4:10 to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 26 in 122 Briggs Hall, announced seminar coordinator Geoffrey Attardo, assistant professor and medical entomologist, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.
ACP or Diaphorina citri feeds on phloem juice in new leaf growth, deforming the leaves, but more importantly, Hoddle and fellow researchers point out, it vectors the bacterium (Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus) that causes "the lethal and untreatable citrus disease," huanglongbing (HLB), also called citrus greening disease.
Now researchers are applying an alternative approach, a classical biological control program using two parasitoids from Parkistan. They attack the psyllid nymphs.
As its name implies, the Asian citrus psyllid originated in Asia. It has now spread throughout much of the world, including parts of the Middle East, South and Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. It was first detected in Florida (Palm Beach County) in 1998, and is now found in Louisiana, Georgia, Arizona, South Carolina, Texas and California. It was first detected in California (San Diego County) in August of 2008. It is a major threat to the multibillion dollar citrus industry in the United States.
The UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program has published a Pest Note about the disease and tells how to inspect your citrus trees:
"Homeowners and landscapers can help combat the psyllid by inspecting their citrus trees and reporting new infestations of the Asian citrus psyllid or suspected cases of the disease. The best way to detect the psyllid is by looking at tiny new leaves (feather flush growth) on citrus trees whenever new leaves are forming on the tree. Mature citrus trees typically produce most of their new growth in the spring and fall, but young trees and lemons tend to produce flushes of new growth periodically during warm weather."
"Slowly walk around each tree and inspect the flush growth. Look for signs of psyllid feeding and damage, including twisted leaves, waxy deposits, honeydew, sooty mold, and adult psyllids."
"If you think psyllids are present, use a hand lens to look for small yellow eggs, psyllid nymphs with their waxy tubules, and adults. Immature stages (eggs and nymphs) are limited to tender new leaves and they don't fly, so monitoring efforts are most effective when directed toward these stages on feather flush."
"If you think you have found the insect, immediately contact the CDFA Exotic Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899. CDFA staff will tell you if you are in an area that is new to the psyllid or if it is common in your area."
Hoddle, an Extension specialist, received his bachelor's degree (1988) and master's degree (1991) in zoology from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He holds a doctorate in entomology (1996) from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Since 1997, Hoddle has focused his research on biological control as a tool to reduce the impact of invasive pest species to agriculture, urban and natural areas, with a primary focus on issues affecting California. These programs, he says, often require long periods of overseas research in the home range of the target pest and searching for and studying natural enemies for possible use in biological control.
Hoddle received the Entomological Society of America's "Recognition Award in Entomology" in 2007, after earlier winning the the Pacific Branch of ESA award.
Attardo says that all seminars will take place on Wednesdays at 4:10 in 122 Briggs Hall, located on Kleiber Hall Drive.
Wednesday, Oct. 3
Daniel Karp, assistant professor in the UC Davis Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology: "Harmonizing Biodiversity Conservation with Agricultural Production Across Working Landscapes"
Host: Jay Rosenheim, professor, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology
Wednesday, Oct. 10
Alexander Raikhel, distinguished professor of entomology, UC Riverside: "The Role of Hormone Receptors and MicroRNAs in Mosquito Reproduction and Metabolism"
Host: Geoffrey Attardo
Wednesday, Oct. 17
Arnaud Martin, assistant professor of biology, George Washington University: "Do Butterflies Dream of Genetic Tattoos? Exploring the Genotype-Phenotype Map Using CRISPR"
Host: Geoffrey Attardo
Wednesday, Oct. 24
Naoki Yamanaka, assistant professor, UC Riverside: "A Membrane Transporter Is Required for Cellular Uptake of Ecdysone"
Host: Geoffrey Attardo
Wednesday, Oct. 31
Fred Wolf, assistant professor, UC Merced: (tentative title) "Drunken Drosophila and the Coding of Brain Plasticity"
Host: Joanna Chiu, associate professor and vice chair, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology
Wednesday, Nov. 7
Lark Coffey, assistant professor in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine: "Zika Virus in Macaques, Mice and Mosquitoes: Contrasting Virulence and Transmissibility in Disparate Hosts"
Host: Geoffrey Attardo
Wednesday, Nov. 14
(No seminar; Entomological Society of America's annual meeting takes place from Nov. 11-14 in Vancouver, B.C.)
Wednesday, Nov. 21
(No seminar; Thanksgiving week)
Wednesday, Nov. 28
Robert Page, Provost emeritus of the University of Arizona and emeritus professor and chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology: "Reverse Engineering Social Structure in Honey Bees: a 25-Year Journey"
Host: Steve Nadler, professor and chair, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology
Wednesday, Dec. 5
Cindy Preto, recent graduate (master's degree in entomology from UC Davis, Frank Zalom lab) "Behavior and Biology of the Three-Cornered Alfalfa Hopper in Vineyards."
Host: Frank Zalom, distinguished professor, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology
For more information on the seminars, contact Attardo at gmattardo@ucdavis.edu.
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Directed by Lynn Kimsey, UC Davis professor of entomology, the insect museum is named for noted entomologist Richard M. Bohart.
It rocks not "just because" of the excellent scientists, staff and volunteers--and the fact that it houses
- nearly eight million insect specimens
- the seventh largest insect collection in North America
- the California Insect Survey, a storehouse of the insect biodiversity
- a live "petting zoo," comprised of Madagascar hissing cockroaches, walking sticks, tarantulas and praying mantids; and
- a year-around gift shop, which is stocked with T-shirts, sweatshirts, books, jewelry, posters, insect-collecting equipment and insect-themed candy
No, it's not "just because" of all those attributes, accolades and accomplishments.
It rocks because of...well...rocks.
Last Saturday, as part of its open house, Bohart Museum officials invited the guests to paint rocks.
"Paint a rock with your favorite insect! These rocks can join the #UCDavisRocks that are hidden around campus and downtown. Once found, these rocks can then be re-hidden as a happy surprise for others to discover. Pictures of your #UCDavisRocks can be shared on the UC Davis Rocks Facebook page."
The Bohart Museum officials drew inspiration from Yolo Rocks and Solano Rocks, but a similar organization on campus, UC Davis Rocks, launched a related activity last spring. It is the brainchild of Kim Pearson and Martha Garrison of the College of Letters and Science.
Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator, coordinated the open house. UC Davis student Isabelle Gilchrist, a second-year entomology major, staffed the crafts activity table, offering rocks, paint and suggestions.
The theme of the open house, “Crafty Insects,” spotlighted crafty or sneaky insects (more photos of that in another blog), but a huge part of this open house starred rocks.
Just like Donna Billick, the self-described "rock artist" who sculpted the ceramic-mosaic worker bee, "Miss Bee Haven," in the Department of Entomology and Nematology's Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven on Bee Biology Road, the Bohart artists rocked.
All of them!
(Editor's Note: The Bohart Museum's regular hours are from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. It is closed to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and on major holidays. Admission is free. More information on the Bohart Museum is available on the website or by contacting (530) 752-0493 or emailing bmuseum@ucdavis.edu
/span>/span>- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Two open houses on Saturday, Sept. 22 have differing hours so you can attend both!
- The Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven, a half-acre bee garden operated by the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, will host an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Bee Biology Road, west of the central campus
- The Bohart Museum of Entomology, home of nearly eight million insect specimens, will host an open house, themed "Crafty Insects," from 1 to 4 p.m. at its headquarters in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building on Crocker Lane.
Both are free and family friendly. This weekend is also "move-in" weekend for UC Davis students, so students, their families and friends will be getting acquainted with the campus--and many may visit the bee garden and the insect museum.
Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven
Activities at the garden, located next to the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility, west of the central campus, will include the popular catch-and-release bee activity; a sale of plants and bee condos (for leafcutter bees and mason bees), and a display of pollinator images by Allan Jones of Davis, according to Christine Casey, academic program manager.
A six-foot long mosaic and ceramic sculpture of a worker bee, the work of self-described "rock artist" Donna Billick, anchors the garden. The UC Davis Art/Science Fusion Program, founded and directed by the duo of entomologist/artist Diane Ullman, professor and former chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology, and Billick, coordinated the art in the garden through their classes.
The garden, planted in the fall of 2009 and directed by Extension apiculturist Elina L. Niño. was founded and "came to life" during the term of interim department chair, Professor Lynn Kimsey, director of the Bohart Museum of Entomology, who coordinated the entire project. A Sausalito team--landscape architects Donald Sibbett and Ann F. Baker, interpretative planner Jessica Brainard and exhibit designer Chika Kurotaki--winners of an international competition, designed the garden.
The garden is open to the public--no admission--from dawn to dusk. See more information on the haven website.
Bohart Museum of Entomology
Visitors are invited to display insect-themed crafts they've made and/or are "finds."
“We are hoping to have two parallel exhibits--one where we show crafty insects and then one where we are asking people to bring insect-themed crafts from their home--a plate with a cicada on it, or mug shaped like a wasp or we have a bee-shaped stapler for example,” said Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator. “We'll have a place for them to display their crafts.”
“Crafty insects can be interpreted in two ways,” Yang commented. ‘Crafty' can be makers such as caddis fly larvae, case bearer moths, and potter wasps. The other crafty interpretation is sneaky, so our live orchid mantid, the dead leaf butterfly like Kallima inachus will be on display.” Activities are to include “spot the flower fly versus bee activity” and “spot the assassin fly versus bumblebee activity.”
For the family crafts activity, visitors will be painting rocks (think insects!) that can be hidden on campus or elsewhere or taken home. This activity is based on UC Davis Rocks,the brainchild of Kim Pearson and Martha Garrison of the College of Letters and Science.
Bohart associates Jeff Smith, curator of the butterfly and moth exhibit and naturalist-photographer Greg Kareofelas will be on hand to shows the collection. UC Davis student Lohit Garikipati will display some of his praying mantids, including orchids.
The Bohart Museum, directed by Lynn Kimsey, professor of entomology at UC Davis, houses a global collection of nearly eight million specimens. It is also the home of the seventh largest insect collection in North America, and the California Insect Survey, a storehouse of the insect biodiversity. In addition to the petting zoo, the museum features a year-around gift shop, which is stocked with T-shirts, sweatshirts, books, jewelry, posters, insect-collecting equipment and insect-themed candy.
The Bohart Museum's regular hours are from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. It is closed to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and on major holidays. Admission is free. More information on the Bohart Museum is available on the website or by contacting (530) 752-0493 or emailing bmuseum@ucdavis.edu
/span>- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
An aggressive 'cat did.
We were delighted to find 10 monarch caterpillars (the first of the year!) on our narrowleaf milkweed a couple of weeks ago in our Vacaville pollinator garden--but not so delighted to see what happened to one of them.
We tucked the 10 'cats in two Bohart Museum of Entomology butterfly habitats: six in the larger-sized one, and four in the medium-sized one. We filled each with lots of milkweed so they'd have plenty to eat and plenty of room to grow.
They ate. They ate. And they ate some more. They began to pupate and form those gorgeous jade green chrysalids rimmed with gold.
Just as they always do.
Or did.
All was well and good except for what occurred next in the medium-sized habitat.
One of the 'cats spun its silklike mat, attaching itself to the top of the netted habitat. It was j'ing (or hanging upside down in a J-shape) and beginning to spin rapidly to form a chrysalis. Two of its siblings were already chrysalids.
Now, j'ing is a vulnerable stage in the wild. Parasitoids, such as tachinid flies and Trichogramma wasps, can and do lay their eggs in them. And they're also, in this helpless state, fair game for such predators as birds.
But this was a "safe environment," right? Wrong.
Just as the j'ing caterpillar was spinning, an aggressive (cannibalistic?) caterpillar left its milkweed and climbed up the net and attacked it, killing it. A stream of fluid cascaded down the side of the habitat. Then the combative caterpillar climbed back down and continued eating milkweed. Several days later, it pupated and formed a chrysalis. (See image above.)
Meanwhile, its sibling remains quite dead, never completing the metamorphosis we expected it to do.
Curiosity didn't kill the 'cat.
An aggressive 'cat did.