Posts Tagged: environment

Svastra: the Sunflower Bee

It's nicknamed "the sunflower bee" for good reason. It forages on sunflowers. We recently spotted a longhorned bee,  Svastra obliqua, also called "the sunflower bee," on Gaillardia, aka blanket flower, a member of the sunflower...

Svastra obliqua, "the sunflower bee," foraging on a blanketflower, Gaillardia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Svastra obliqua, "the sunflower bee," foraging on a blanketflower, Gaillardia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Silk Textile Displays Grab Attention at Bohart Museum's Moth Night

"Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is produced by certain insect larvae to...

Bohart Museum associate Michael Pitcairn, retired from the California Department of Food and Agriculture, answers questions about silkworm moths and textiles. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bohart Museum associate Michael Pitcairn, retired from the California Department of Food and Agriculture, answers questions about silkworm moths and textiles. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This chaddar is made of rri silk (silkworm moth, Samia ricini) and handwoven in Assam, India. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This chaddar is made of rri silk (silkworm moth, Samia ricini) and handwoven in Assam, India. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This is tussah silk fabric in a pattern called "Honeycomb." Donor Richard Pleiger purchased this fabric from a Los Angeles company for $32.95 per yard. There are several species of tussah silk moths (family Saturniidae) in China, India, Japan, Africa and North America.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This is tussah silk fabric in a pattern called "Honeycomb." Donor Richard Pleiger purchased this fabric from a Los Angeles company for $32.95 per yard. There are several species of tussah silk moths (family Saturniidae) in China, India, Japan, Africa and North America.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

National Moth Week Ended But...

National Moth Week ended July 27 but you can go moth-ing any time. Meanwhile, here's another look at the Bohart Museum of Entomology's 2024 Moth Night, which drew widespread interest. No one knows exactly how many moth events took place across the...

Moth-er scientist Volkmar Heinrich, UC Davis associate professor of biomedical engineering, displayed his images of moths. This is the adult form of the tobacco worm, Carolina sphinx, Manduca sexta.

Moth-er scientist Volkmar Heinrich, UC Davis associate professor of biomedical engineering, displayed his images of moths. This is the adult form of the tobacco worm, Carolina sphinx, Manduca sexta.

Moth-er Volkmar Heinrich, UC Davis associate professor of biomedical engineering, answers questions about moths at the Bohart Museum Moth Night. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Moth-er Volkmar Heinrich, UC Davis associate professor of biomedical engineering, answers questions about moths at the Bohart Museum Moth Night. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Father and son moth-ers, UC Davis doctoral candidate Peter Coggan (left) and Pete Coggan of Minnesota, answer questions about moths and light pollution. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Father and son moth-ers, UC Davis doctoral candidate Peter Coggan (left) and Pete Coggan of Minnesota, answer questions about moths and light pollution. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis graduate student (forensics) Riley Hoffman and fellow Bohart volunteer Barbara Heinsch lead a family arts and crafts activity. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis graduate student (forensics) Riley Hoffman and fellow Bohart volunteer Barbara Heinsch lead a family arts and crafts activity. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis student and Bohart Museum volunteer Kaitai Liu shows a walking stick to Connor Williams, 10, of Livermore, Alameda County. The Bohart Museum open houses draw visitors from all over the region. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis student and Bohart Museum volunteer Kaitai Liu shows a walking stick to Connor Williams, 10, of Livermore, Alameda County. The Bohart Museum open houses draw visitors from all over the region. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Free Ant Workshop - Come Marching In

In Person Ant IPM Workshops 

Program for both workshops

Meet a Male Mantis in a Patch of Blanket Flowers

So there he is, a praying mantis in a patch of blanket flowers, Gaillardia, in a Vacaville garden. He's a male Mantis religiosa, as slim as a string bean, and scanning his environment. We're accustomed to seeing see the native...

The male Mantis religiosa, investigates his surroundings. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The male Mantis religiosa, investigates his surroundings. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Oh, I think I'll go this way. The male praying mantis changes directions. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Oh, I think I'll go this way. The male praying mantis changes directions. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The male mantis does an Olympic-style stretch. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The male mantis does an Olympic-style stretch. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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