Would you like to be an egg, a larva, a pupa or a fly?

That was the question that awaited entomology enthusiasts who descended on Briggs Hall during the 108th annual UC Davis Picnic Day on Saturday, April 23.

It was a cardboard cutout...well, actually a wood cutout--that drew them to the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology display.

Jordan King, a UC Davis student majoring in mechanical engineering, and Noel Bresson, an art and history major, stepped right up. Jordan became a larva, and Noel, a fly.

Everyone around smiled. 

It's good to be a fly and a larva. 

The UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology's exhibits at Briggs Hall during the annual UC Davis Picnic Day wouldn't be complete without the Fly Fishers of Davis.

To the delight of wide-eyed youngsters, the anglers demonstrate the intricate art of fly tying, and then gift the finished product to them.

Veteran fly fisherman Paul Berliner, participating in the 108th annual UC Davis Picnic Day, held Saturday, April 23, asked Ella Eich, 6, of Davis if she'd like to have a fly tied for her. 

She wasn't sure at first.

"I didn't think she was going to do it until she saw the color pink," he related. "That did it!"

Ella watched him create it, and beamed when he handed it to her. It's now her treasure.

The Fly Fishers of Davis (FFD) is comprised of some 100 members and it's based in Davis. "Our charter is to promote the art of fly-fishing and to protect our natural resources and fisheries through community education and conservation," according to the website.  FFD is an affiliate of the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF), an international non-profit organization and its Northern California Council (NCCFFF).  Our meetings and membership are open to the public, and we provide equal opportunity membership without discrimination on sex, race, origin, age or religious orientation."

Last year, due to the cancellation of the UC Davis Picnic Day, many organizations went virtual with presentations. The Fly Fishers created a video (click here), narrated by Berliner that won a second-place award in the Blue and Gold category, spotlighting health, recreation and athletics.)

The Fly Fisher meetings,  open to the public, are held the last Tuesday of each month, with a social at 7 and the general meeting at 7:30. (See website for details).  All members receive the club's monthly newsletter, “The Fisherman's Line.”  See the Newsletters for the current edition and back editions. Yearly dues for adults and families are $30 per year.  Yearly dues for students are $15 per year.

Outings take them to such venues as Pyramid Lake, Lake Berryessa, McCloud River, Lake Davis and Trinity River and more.

And then there's the annual UC Davis Picnic Day where the anglers demonstrate the art of fly tying and answer a myriad of questions.

Let's go fishing! 

Maggots of many colors. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Or at least, it's a conversation piece!

Maggot Art is a big draw!

Scores of youngsters and adults--most with great glee but some with a little trepidation--participated in the Department of Entomology and Nematology's annual Maggot Art event, this time switched from the Briggs Hall courtyard to the Green Hall courtyard. 

Hudson Carr, 4, of Los Angeles--with Mom Angie Velazquez assisting, and Dad Justin Carr taking photographs-- eagerly picked up a maggot with forceps, dipped it into green water-based, non-toxic paint and watched it crawl around on his white paper. Then he picked up another, dipped it into yellow paint, and guided it on the paper. A few more colors and a few more maggots...and...Voila! Maggot Art!

His mother, a UC Davis alumnus (she majored in psychology and sociology and participated in the California Aggie Marching Band-uh!, now known as the UC Davis Marching Band), says Hudson has always like bugs. His smile confirmed it. Then the family was off to the Bohart Museum of Entomology to see more insects.

Meanwhile, entomology graduate student Elizabeth Slagboon of the Ian Grettenberg lab, and undergraduate student Summer Calvache, an animal biology major, offered assistance and encouragement to the Maggot Art artists. 

Maggot Art has been a traditional part of the UC Davis Picnic Day since the early 2000s.

Rebecca O'Flaherty, a former graduate student of forensic entomologist Robert Kimsey, coined the educational teaching curriculum,  "Maggot Art," back in 2001 when she was studying at the University of Hawaii. She was rearing blowflies for her forensic research and wanted an activity to draw the interest of elementary school students.  She also wanted to generate interest and respect for forensic entomology. 

Her Maggot Art quickly drew national interest. The CSI television show featured one of her works, “Ancient Offering,”  which hung on the permanent set in Gil Grissom's office. O'Flaherty also exhibited her work at art shows, including a two-month exhibition at the Capital Athletic Club, Sacramento, in 2007.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art or Guggenheim Museum may not be ready to showcase the UC Davis Maggot Art, but the artists--and the maggots--are the stars of social media, family videos and refrigerator art. 

Did you see "Dr. Bob" in Briggs Hall during the UC Davis Picnic Day last Saturday?

Forensic entomologist Robert "Bob" Kimsey of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology held forth in 122 Briggs, explaining forensic entomology to curious visitors and not-so-curious visitors. He and his graduate student/forensic entomologist Alex Dedmon fielded scores of questions.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard across the hall, all ages engaged in maggot art. They dipped a maggot in non-toxic, water-based paint, and let it crawl around on a piece of white paper. Voila! Suitable for framing!

Kimsey, master advisor in the Animal Biology program and an adjunct professor in the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, was recently named the faculty recipient of the 2019 Walker Advising Awards, sponsored by the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Elvira Galvin Hack, staff advisor in the Animal Biology program, won the staff advisor award.   They will be honored at a May 2 ceremony, along with peer advisor Mirella Lopez of Animal Science, announced Susan Ebeler, associate dean for Undergraduate Academic Programs, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CA&ES). The annual awards honor excellence and innovation in academic advising.

Kimsey received both his bachelor's degree and doctorate in entomology from UC Davis. His wife, Lynn Kimsey, a UC Davis professor of entomology, directs the Bohart Museum of Entomology on campus.