Rangelands

Gulf Fritillaries in November? Yes! Gulf Fritillaries (Agraulis vanillae) are still active here in Solano County, on those warm, sunny afternoons that defy the season. They're still hanging around their host plant, Passiflora (passionflower vine), "looking for love" (thank you, Johnny Lee).

If you've been talking to your plants for years, you are not alone. But know this: plants can communicate, too. They eavesdrop, sense danger in the environment, and can distinguish friend from foe.

Congratulations to the five UC Davis entomology doctoral students who excelled in the Entomological Society of America's student competitions, part of the organization's Nov. 16-25 virtual meeting.

Five UC Davis entomology graduate students scored high in the Entomological Society of America's highly competitive student competitions, part of the organization's Nov. 16-25 virtual meeting.

A "Natural History Note" From UC California Naturalist's new lead scientist, Dr. Cameron Barrows. To many people, biodiversity' is almost synonymous with the word nature,' and nature' brings to mind steamy forests and the big creatures that dwell there. Fair enough.

How do you design a symbol that is meaningful to you and that addresses a problem in the world?

It's titled When Words Are Not Enough. A newly installed UC Davis mural created by students enrolled in a remote-instructed class on symbolism and design is more than enoughit's considered gorgeous, awesome and amazing.

Weeds are usually thought of as native plants we don't want in areas such as landscapes, fields, or vegetable gardens either because they reduce economic output or they are considered aesthetically displeasing.

They knew the answer. "A worker honey bee has how many pairs of wax glands on its abdomen?" That would be four, answered the UC Davis Entomology Team did at the Entomological Society of America's Virtual Entomology Games, a college-bowl type of competition formerly known as the Linnaean Games.

The first sighting of emerald ash borer in North America occurred in 2002, when it was discovered attacking ash trees in Ontario, Canada and what U.S. state? If you answered Michigan, as the UC Davis Entomology Team did, you're right.