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

Posts Tagged: Beetles

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

Happy Mother's Day!

In the human world, we recognize Mother's Day as a special day to celebrate all mothers. It's a day that Anna Jarvis of Grafton, West Va., established on May 10, 1909 with a worship service at St. Andrew's Methodist Church, Grafton. Lady...

A lady beetle, aka ladybug, with newly deposited eggs. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A lady beetle, aka ladybug, with newly deposited eggs. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A lady beetle, aka ladybug, with newly deposited eggs. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

In its larval stage, the lady beetle somewhat resembles an alligator. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
In its larval stage, the lady beetle somewhat resembles an alligator. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

In its larval stage, the lady beetle somewhat resembles an alligator. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Friday, May 10, 2024 at 8:01 PM
Focus Area Tags: Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources, Pest Management, Yard & Garden

The Good Luck at UC Davis Picnic Day

Remember when San Francisco 49'ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk credited his spectacular 51-yard catch in the 2024 NFC championship game with the Detroit Lions to a ladybug (note that entomologists correctly call it a "lady beetle") landing on his...

A lady beetle, aka ladybug, devouring on aphid on the UC Davis campus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A lady beetle, aka ladybug, devouring on aphid on the UC Davis campus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A lady beetle, aka ladybug, devouring on aphid on the UC Davis campus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A cellar spider snares a lady beetle in a Vacaville pollinator garden. The red droplet is reflex bleeding, the beetle is emitting an alkaloid toxin to protect it from predators. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A cellar spider snares a lady beetle in a Vacaville pollinator garden. The red droplet is reflex bleeding, the beetle is emitting an alkaloid toxin to protect it from predators. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A cellar spider snares a lady beetle in a Vacaville pollinator garden. The red droplet is reflex bleeding, the beetle is emitting an alkaloid toxin to protect it from predators. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Monday, April 15, 2024 at 8:00 AM
Focus Area Tags: Agriculture, Innovation, Natural Resources, Pest Management, Yard & Garden

Lady Beetles, Unite!

That lady beetle, aka ladybug, that landed on the shoe of San Francisco 49”ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk just before the NFL championship game, apparently didn't show up at the Super Bowl.  The 49'ers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, but...

Three lady beetles, aka ladybugs, form a Leaning Tower of Pisa on the UC Davis campus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Three lady beetles, aka ladybugs, form a Leaning Tower of Pisa on the UC Davis campus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Three lady beetles, aka ladybugs, form a Leaning Tower of Pisa on the UC Davis campus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Posted on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at 7:06 PM
Focus Area Tags: Agriculture, Environment, Innovation, Natural Resources, Pest Management

The Beatles vs. The Beetles: This T-Shirt Never Fails to Draw Smiles

Remember the celebrated image of George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and John Lennon crossing Abbey Road in single file outside their studios in London?   It's the cover of their final album, "Abbey Road," released...

A close up of the UC Davis Entomology Graduate Student Association's all-time best-selling T-shirt,
A close up of the UC Davis Entomology Graduate Student Association's all-time best-selling T-shirt, "The Beetles." Each image bears the family name: Phengogidae, Curculionidae, Cerambycidae and Scarabaeidae.

A close up of the UC Davis Entomology Graduate Student Association's all-time best-selling T-shirt, "The Beetles." Each image bears the family name: Phengogidae, Curculionidae, Cerambycidae and Scarabaeidae.

Posted on Monday, December 4, 2023 at 3:27 PM
Focus Area Tags: Agriculture, Economic Development, Environment, Innovation, Natural Resources

Read more

 
E-mail
 

 

 

Webmaster Email: jtyler@ucanr.edu