Rangelands

Nematodes are where it's at! Two UC Davis nematology doctoral students were invited to give research presentations at the international Society of Nematologists' conference in Park City, Utah and they excelled.

We remember the reaction of Robbin Thorp (1933-2019), UC Davis distinguished emeritus professor of entomology and an international authority on bumble bees, when he spotted a lone Western bumble bee, Bombus occidentalis, on Aug. 15, 2012 in the Mt. Shasta area.

So there you are, admiring your Coreopsis and suddenly you notice spots and holes--spots on the backs of two western spotted cucumber beetles, and holes cut in the petals. Ah, there's two of them. The beetles, about a fourth of an inch long, are fun to photograph, but they're not your buddies.

It promises to be a program to remember. Nine members of the UC Davis Animal Behavior Graduate Group (ABGG) who are active in The Ethogram will present a special outreach program, "Animal Behavior for Young Explorers," from 2:30 to 4 p.m., Monday, Aug. 19 in the Blanchard Room of the Mary L.

Photographers call the first hour after dawn and the last hour before dusk "The Golden Hour." That's when the sunlight is softer and warmer. It's also called "The Magic Hour.

Welcome to the Organic Materials Management Blog! This is a place for sharing science and policy information on finding valuable uses for organic wastes in California. This site will include news on research findings and the development of innovative practices.

Is there a doctor in the house? Is there a doctor in the courtyard? Is there a doctor in the honey bee costume? Yes! That was the scene at the Vacaville Museum Guild's Annual Children's Party, held Thursday morning, Aug. 8 in the museum courtyard on Buck Avenue.

Today (Aug. 8) is International Cat Day, the feline kind. It was created in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare as a day to "raise awareness for cats an learn about ways to help and protect them.

Monarch butterflies seem to be as scarce as hen's teeth around here. And since hens have no teeth, that's pretty scarce. And then it happened. A late in-star monarch caterpillar appeared on our milkweed in our Vacaville pollinator-predator garden on the very last day of July.

Can you name California's state insect? Did you know that California has a state insect? It does. Is it the honey bee? No. Is it the lady beetle (ladybug)? No. Bumble bee? No. It's the California dogface butterfly (Zerene eurydice), an insect found only in California.