Agriculture

LAKE ALFRED, Fla.Americans' love affair with sugar can be a deadly attraction that sometimes leads to major health problems, including obesity and type 2 diabetes. Finding natural, non-caloric sugar substitutes is desirable but challenging.

Nissa Coit, who completed her master's degree in the laboratory of Extension apiculturist Elina Nio, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, will present her exit seminar on "Effects of Ethyl Oleate Pheromone on Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)" at the department's next seminar.

If you've eaten a fig, you've probably also eaten a fig wasp. These little insects pollinate figs, but some figs are self-pollinated.

Though it is disappearing, California's official state grass has the ability to live for 100 years or more. New research demonstrates that sheep and cattle can help it achieve that longevity.

Do you have a question about wasps or want to learn more about them? Be sure to attend the free and family friendly Bohart Museum of Entomology open house on "Weird and Wonderful Wasps" from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 25 in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Lane, UC Davis campus.

UC Riverside scientists are on the hunt for a chemical that disrupts evil weevils' mating and could prevent them from destroying California's supply of avocados. UCR entomologist Mark Hoddle in Mexico, hunting avocado weevils.

Weird and Wonderful Wasps, including the Asian giant hornet, aka murder hornet, will highlight the Bohart Museum of Entomology open house, set from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 25 in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Lane, UC Davis campus. The event is free and family friendly.

The UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology's series of 11 seminars for the fall season will begin Wednesday, Sept. 21 with a presentation on Diabrotica (cornroot worms).

Pollinators are essential to many of California's agricultural crops and to the vast biodiversity of California's natural ecosystems. Unfortunately, due to a variety of factors including habitat destruction, pesticides, disease, and climate change pollinators are in decline.

Assistant professor Nicholas "Nick" Miller of the Department of Biology, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, will present the first-of-the-fall seminars hosted by the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, on Wednesday, Sept.