Master Gardeners of Ventura County
University of California
Master Gardeners of Ventura County

Bug Blog

Fancy Meeting You Here, Mr. Potato Capsid

One potato, two potato, three potato, four... You never know what will pop up in a pollinator garden. Meet Mr. Potato Capsid, Closterotomus norvegicus, often found on nettle, potato, clover and cannabis. We spotted him (or her) in a...

Potato capsid, Closterotomus norvegicus, feeding on a chrysanthemum blossom. It also feeds on nettle, clover and cannabis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Potato capsid, Closterotomus norvegicus, feeding on a chrysanthemum blossom. It also feeds on nettle, clover and cannabis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Potato capsid, Closterotomus norvegicus, feeding on a chrysanthemum blossom. It also feeds on nettle, clover and cannabis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Friday, July 5, 2024 at 4:46 PM
Focus Area Tags: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources, Yard & Garden

Why Soldier Beetles Deserve the Aphid Belt

It's the Fourth of July and what better time to post images of the aptly name "soldier beetles" than today. These insects (family Cantharidae) resemble the uniforms of the British soldiers of the American Revolution, which is apparently how their name...

It's early morning, and a soldier beetle stirs in a Vacaville garden. A beneficial insect, it eats aphids and other soft-bodied insects. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
It's early morning, and a soldier beetle stirs in a Vacaville garden. A beneficial insect, it eats aphids and other soft-bodied insects. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

It's early morning, and a soldier beetle stirs in a Vacaville garden. A beneficial insect, it eats aphids and other soft-bodied insects. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Are the Red Coats coming? No, but this soldier beetle is alert. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Are the Red Coats coming? No, but this soldier beetle is alert. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Are the Red Coats coming? No, but this soldier beetle is alert. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Thursday, July 4, 2024 at 11:39 AM
Focus Area Tags: Environment, Food, Innovation, Natural Resources, Pest Management, Yard & Garden

UC Davis Entomology and Nematology Retiring Faculty Amass 247 Years of Service

247 years! The seven faculty members honored at the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology's recent retirement luncheon amassed an amazing 247 years of service: UC Davis distinguished professor James Carey, 44 years, faculty member...

UC Davis distinguished professor James R. Carey, 44 years of service (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
UC Davis distinguished professor James R. Carey, 44 years of service (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis distinguished professor James R. Carey, 44 years of service (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis distinguished professor Richard
UC Davis distinguished professor Richard "Rick" Karban, 42 years of service

UC Davis distinguished professor Richard "Rick" Karban, 42 years of service

UC Davis distinguished professor emerita Lynn Kimsey, 35 years of service. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
UC Davis distinguished professor emerita Lynn Kimsey, 35 years of service. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis distinguished professor emerita Lynn Kimsey, 35 years of service. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Robert Kimsey, adjunct professor, 35 years of service (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Robert Kimsey, adjunct professor, 35 years of service (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Robert Kimsey, adjunct professor, 35 years of service (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis distinguished professor Jay Rosenheim, 34 years of service. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
UC Davis distinguished professor Jay Rosenheim, 34 years of service. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis distinguished professor Jay Rosenheim, 34 years of service. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis distinguished professor Diane Ullman, 29 years of service. (Photo by Jael Mackendorf)
UC Davis distinguished professor Diane Ullman, 29 years of service. (Photo by Jael Mackendorf)

UC Davis distinguished professor Diane Ullman, 29 years of service. (Photo by Jael Mackendorf)

Professor emerita Sharon Lawler, 28 years of service. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey at UC Davis Picnic Day)
Professor emerita Sharon Lawler, 28 years of service. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey at UC Davis Picnic Day)

Professor emerita Sharon Lawler, 28 years of service. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey at UC Davis Picnic Day)

Posted on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 at 6:08 PM
Focus Area Tags: Agriculture, Environment, Health, Innovation, Natural Resources, Pest Management

Cinderella and the White Cabbage Butterfly

If Cinderella were a butterfly, she'd probably be a white cabbage butterfly, Pieris rapae. The butterfly--in its larval stage it's a pest of cucurbits--is stunning as an adult.  Just think of a flowing white gown, exquisite pirouettes, and a...

A cabbage white butterfly nectaring on lavender in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A cabbage white butterfly nectaring on lavender in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A cabbage white butterfly nectaring on lavender in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Caught in flight--a cabbage white butterfly, Pieris rapae, leaves a lavender blossom.  Image taken with a Nikon Z8 and 105mm Nikon lens. Settings: shutter speed, 1/3200 of a second; f-stop, 3: and ISO, 800. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Caught in flight--a cabbage white butterfly, Pieris rapae, leaves a lavender blossom. Image taken with a Nikon Z8 and 105mm Nikon lens. Settings: shutter speed, 1/3200 of a second; f-stop, 3: and ISO, 800. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Caught in flight--a cabbage white butterfly, Pieris rapae, leaves a lavender blossom. Image taken with a Nikon Z8 and 105mm Nikon lens. Settings: shutter speed, 1/3200 of a second; f-stop, 3: and ISO, 800. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at 4:36 PM
Focus Area Tags: Environment, Innovation, Natural Resources, Yard & Garden

Why It's Called a 'Boys' Night Out'

Ever seen the male longhorned bees, Melissodes agilis, zipping around your garden, trying to bump all critters, large and small, off of "their" blossoms? They own them, ya' know. These male bees are SO territorial. We've seen them target honey...

A horizontal view of male Melissodes bees sleeping on a lavender stem. Image taken just after dawn in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A horizontal view of male Melissodes bees sleeping on a lavender stem. Image taken just after dawn in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A horizontal view of male Melissodes bees sleeping on a lavender stem. Image taken just after dawn in a Vacaville pollinator garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

What's up, sleepy head? A sleepy male Melissodes agilis bee begins to stir at dawn. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
What's up, sleepy head? A sleepy male Melissodes agilis bee begins to stir at dawn. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

What's up, sleepy head? A sleepy male Melissodes agilis bee begins to stir at dawn. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Monday, July 1, 2024 at 5:09 PM
Focus Area Tags: Environment, Innovation, Natural Resources, Yard & Garden

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