Posts Tagged: pumpkin

Hey There, Pumpkin! Prey Tell, Is That a Praying Mantis?

Hey there, pumpkin! Prey tell, is that a praying mantis stalking a bee? Well, if your name is Allan Jones of Davis, Calif., and you capture images of insects throughout the year--especially at the 100-acre UC Davis Arboretum and Public...

A praying mantis "shopping for bees" on a sunflower, became the subject of one of Allan Jones' carved pumpkins. (Photo by Allan Jones)

A praying mantis "shopping for bees" on a sunflower, became the subject of one of Allan Jones' carved pumpkins. (Photo by Allan Jones)

The mantis-and-bee image that Allan Jones captured became a fanciful pumpkin. (Photo by Allan Jones)

The mantis-and-bee image that Allan Jones captured became a fanciful pumpkin. (Photo by Allan Jones)

Images of a luna moth, Actias luna, found a home on one of Allan Jones' pumpkins. (Photo by Allan Jones)

Images of a luna moth, Actias luna, found a home on one of Allan Jones' pumpkins. (Photo by Allan Jones)

Allan Jones depicted the colorful Western tiger swallowtails, Papilio rutulus, on this pumpkin. (Photo by Allan Jones)

Allan Jones depicted the colorful Western tiger swallowtails, Papilio rutulus, on this pumpkin. (Photo by Allan Jones)

Thank the Squash Bee on Thanksgiving

If you're having pumpkin pie or butternut squash this Thanksgiving, thank the squash bee. Squash bees are specialists (not generalists) that pollinate only the cucurbits or squash family, Cucurbitaceae,  which includes pumpkins, squash,...

A squash bee, Peponapis pruinosa, pollinating a squash blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A squash bee, Peponapis pruinosa, pollinating a squash blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a squash bee,Peponapis pruinosa. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a squash bee,Peponapis pruinosa. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Happy National Squash Bee Day!

In case you missed it, today was National Pumpkin Day. But it ought to be National Squash Bee Day, because the squash bee (my favorite species is Peponapis pruinosa) is an important pollinator of squash and pumpkins.  A little bit about the squash...

Squash bee, Peponapis pruinosa, inside a squash blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Squash bee, Peponapis pruinosa, inside a squash blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Thanks Be to the Squash Bee

If you’re having pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pancakes and pumpkin pie today (Thanksgiving), you can thank a squash bee. The photos posted below are genus Peponapis, common name "squash bee." They emerge in mid- to late summer, nest in the ground, and...

Squash bee inside pumpkin blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Squash bee inside pumpkin blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of the tiny squash bee, genus Peponapis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of the tiny squash bee, genus Peponapis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

These are the work of a squash bee: from left, a large gourd, a small pumpkin and a large pumpkin. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

These are the work of a squash bee: from left, a large gourd, a small pumpkin and a large pumpkin. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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