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HONEY BEE heads for lavender. "It's especially important to provide nectar and pollens at the end of the season-- late summer and fall," says Extension Apiculturist Eric Mussen of UC Davis. "That's when resources tend to become scarce." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bug Squad: Article

Bee Well

August 25, 2009
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
What's causing colony collapse disorder (CCD)? Are we any closer to determining the cause? CCD, the mysterious malady characterized by bees abandoning the hive, leaving behind the brood and food storage, continues to be of great concern--and rightfully so.
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HOVER FLY, from the family Syrphidae swoops down on a dandelion claimed by a sweat bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bug Squad: Article

Squatters' Rights

August 24, 2009
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Squatters' rights. A dandelion poking through the rocks near Nick's Cove on Tomales Bay, in Marshall, Sonoma County, seemed an unlikely host for squatters' rights. It first drew a tiny bee, barely a quarter-inch long.
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HONEY BEE heads toward an almond blossom. Saturday, Aug. 22 is National Honey Bee Awareness Day. Without honey bees, we would not have almonds. Two hives per acre are needed to pollinate California's 700,000 acres. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bug Squad: Article

All Hail the Honey Bee

August 21, 2009
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
All hail the honey bee. Tomorrow (Saturday, Aug. 22) is the first-ever National Honey Bee Awareness Day, as proclaimed by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. It's "hive time" this insect has its own day.
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HONEY BEE wings in motion. The bee can fly a distance of two to two-and-a-half miles. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bug Squad: Article

Inside the World of Bees

August 20, 2009
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Gleanings from the Western Apicultural Society's 31st annual conference, being held in Healdsburg this week under the direction of president Eric Mussen, Extension apiculturist and member of the UC Davis Department of Entomology faculty: Honey bees can fly a distance of about two to two-and-a-half m...
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HONEY BEES are nectaring outside the Western Apicultural Society conference in Healdsburg. The key subject at the conference: bee health. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bug Squad: Article

Helping the Honey Bees

August 19, 2009
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
The Western Apicultural Society (WAS) conference, taking place this week in the Dry Creek Inn, Healdsburg, is drawing a lot of interest. Extension Apiculturist Eric Mussen, member of the UC Davis Department of Entomology, is finishing his yearlong term as president of WAS.
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FIERY SKIPPER (Hylephila phyleus) nectaring catmint. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Fighter Jet

August 18, 2009
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Look for the fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus) in your garden. It's likely sharing your catmint, lavender and sage with honey bees and other pollinators. It's the only one holding a "fighter-jet" position.
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WITH TONGUE EXTENDED, Anthophora urbana heads for lavender. It's known as a rapid forager. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Tiny Bee

August 17, 2009
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
It's smaller than a honey bee. And faster and louder. Anthophora urbana, a solitary, ground-nesting bee, frequents our garden to nectar the catmint, lavender and sage. Sometimes the forager's buzz is so loud that it's startling.
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THIS IMAGE of the Western Tiger Swallowtail is by naturalist/photographer Greg Kareofelas, who took this in east Davis last week. Butterfly experts hadn't seen this butterfly in the Davis area for 15 years until this year.

Tiger by the Tail

August 14, 2009
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Talk about a tiger by the tail. That would be the Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus). It's returned to the Davis area after a 15-year hiatus.
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SIGN in front of the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at UC Davis honors the legendary geneticist. The ceramic sculpture at the site (sign and walls) is the work of Davis artist Donna Billick and entomologist-artist Diane Ullman. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Bees Have It

August 13, 2009
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
The bees have it. That would be honey bees and native bees. The UC Davis Department of Entomology has just launched its new bee biology Web site.
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EXTENSION APICULTURIST Eric Mussen (left) of the UC Davis Department of Entomology faculty shares information with Pennsylvania State Uniersity entomologist Dennis van Engelsdorp at the 2007 meeting of the Entomological Society of America. UC Davis and Penn State receive research funds in a project launched by Haagen-Dazs. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Buzz About CCD

August 12, 2009
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Entomologists, geneticists and virologists are still searching for the cause of colony collapse disorder (CCD). Yes, they're still searching, and no, there' s no known cause yet. CCD is a mysterious phenomonen characterized by adult bees abandoning the hive.
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