Posts Tagged: National Pollinator Week
What's on the Day's Agenda for This Longhorned Bee?
Hey, the sun's up! It's time to rise and shine! Maybe I'll shine before I rise...or maybe I'll... Anyway, I just woke up, and I'm starting to stir. I'm ready to conquer the day. I shall Sip nectar Seek girlfriend Guard the flower patch by...
After spending the night sleeping on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, a male longhorned bee, Melissodes agilis, starts to stir. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Day 6 of National Pollinator Week: Meet the Drone Fly
It's Day 6 of National Pollinator Week. Meet the drone fly (Eristalis tenax), often mistaken for a honey bee. The late Robbin Thorp, UC Davis distinguished emeritus professor of entomology, used to jokingly call it "The H Bee," pointing to...
This drone fly (Eristalis tenax) is often mistaken for a honey bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Day 4 of National Pollinator Week: Beetles
When you think of pollinators, you think of bees, right? And well you should: honey bees are the global workhorses of the pollination community and pollinate about one-third of the food we eat, including fruits and vegetables and some nuts,...
The blister beetle is both a pollinator and a pest. It is a pest of alfalfa and is toxic to livestock, especially horses. This one is foraging on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifola) in Vacaville. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Side view of a blister beetle foraging on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifola) in Vacaville. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The blister beetle peers over a petal of a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifola) in Vacaville. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Day 3 of National Pollinator Week: Watch for the Tigers!
It's Day 3 of National Pollinator Week. Fortunately, a tiger came to visit us--no, not the predatory jungle animal, Panthera tigris, but a newly emerged Western tiger swallowtail, Papilio rutulus. This native butterfly is quite colorful, with...
A newly emerged Western tiger swallowtail forages on a Mexican sunflower in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Faster than a speeding bullet? It seems like it. A male longhorned bee, Melissodes agilis, heads straight for the Western tiger swallowtail. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Alarmed that it's a target, the Western tiger swallowtail rises. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
In a flash, the Western tiger swallowtail rapidly leaves its perch. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The Western tiger swallowtail is up, up and away from the male territorial bee, the Melissodes agilis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Are You Ready for National Pollinator Week?
Nothing says National Pollinator Week more than a honey bee coated in pollen. Make mine yellow. Yellow pollen. There's plenty of time to prepare. National Pollinator Week is June 21-27. You can register your activities--make that "socially...
Peek-a-bee! A honey bee, blanketed with pollen, forages on a blanket flower, Gaillardia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Up, up and away! A pollen-packing honey bee leaves the blanket flower, Gaillardia, taking the pollen with her. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)