Rangelands

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A monarch butterfly sips nectar from a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia) in front of a bird, decorative art. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Butterfly and the Bird

October 1, 2019
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
A monarch butterfly fluttered into our pollinator garden in Vacaville yesterday and sipped nectar from a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia) as a bird looked on. Well, sort of looked on. The bird was decorative art. The monarch was real. Now if that bird had been real, the monarch may have been a meal.
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The last of this season's elderberries were hanging on the plants during the Elderberry Field Day Sept. 17.

California elderberries have rich benefits for farms and diets

October 1, 2019
By Jeannette Warnert
Native California elderberries can be found at the intersection of sustainable farming, super nutrition and economic viability. Naturally drought tolerant, flavorful and packed with nutrients, they are capturing the interest of farmers, health-conscious consumers and scientists.
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Adult Caenorhabditis elegans. Wikipedia describes it as "a free-living, transparent nematode, about 1mm in length, that lives in temperature soil environments." (Courtesy of Wikipedia)

Plant Nematologist Nathan Schroeder: 'Endless Worms Most Beautiful'

September 30, 2019
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
If you're interested in nematodes--also called "roundworms"--then you'll want to be around when plant nematologist Nathan Schroeder, associate professor of crop sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, presents a seminar on Wednesday, Oct.
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Christian Nansen, guest editor for special edition of journal Remote Sensing. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Entomology & Nematology News: Article

Christian Nansen: Call for Articles on Remote Sensing

September 30, 2019
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
UC Davis agricultural entomologist Christian Nansen, the newly selected guest editor of a special issue of the journal Remote Sensing, has issued a call for contributions.
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post pruning
HOrT COCO-UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa: Article

When to Remove Garden Monterey Pines

September 30, 2019
Advice from the Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program for Contra Costa County When to Remove Garden Monterey Pines Client's Request:I live in El Sobrante near the San Pablo Reservoir. On August 8th PG&E had a tree crew come to prune trees away from the power lines.
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Two monarchs arrived today at a pollinator garden in Vacaville to sip nectar from a patch of Mexican sunflowers (Tithonia). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Monarch Kind of Day

September 27, 2019
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Today was a Monarch Kind of Day...in Vacaville. When Art Shapiro, UC Davis distinguished professor of evolution and ecology, searched for butterfly species today at one of his field sites--Gates Canyon in Vacaville--he spotted not one, but two monarchs.
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Attendees at the CAMBP class on Oct. 19 will learn about "Advanced Anatomy and Physiology of the Honey Bee." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Entomology & Nematology News: Article

Registration Open for UC Davis Class on Bee Anatomy, Physiology

September 27, 2019
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
The UC Davis-based California Master Beekeeper Program is sponsoring a daylong course on "Advanced Anatomy and Physiology of the Honey Bee" on Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Harry H. Laidlaw Honey Bee Research Facility on Bee Biology Road. The course, set from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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The parts of a honey bee include the head, thorax and abdomen. A class on "Advanced Anatomy and Physiology of the Honey Bee" takes place Oct. 19 at UC Davis, and is offered by the UC Davis-based California Master Beekeeper Program. This image was taken in Vacaville of a bee heading toward a tower of jewels, Echium wildpretii.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Learn About Honey Bee Anatomy at UC Davis Class

September 25, 2019
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Consider the honey bee. Like all insects, it has a head, thorax and abdomen. But are you familiar with the rest of its anatomy? Here's an opportunity to learn about "Advanced Anatomy and Physiology of the Honey Bee" in a class offered Saturday, Oct.
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Elvira Galvan Hack (center) with Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Ralph Hexter, and her daughter, Sierra Hack. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Elvira Galvan Hack: 'Invaluable Student Advisor'

September 25, 2019
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
The crowd at the UC Davis Citations for Excellence ceremony broke into loud applause when emcee Darolyn Striley praised Elvira Galvan Hack, UC Davis staff academic advisor for students majoring in animal biology, as invaluable.
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