Microbes found in the immature stages of a solitary bee that nests in sand cliffs along Pacific Coast beaches may be helping the bee defend itself from pathogens and protect it from cold stress, according to newly published research led by microbiologist Shawn Christensen of the Rachel Vannette Lab, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.

(See June 3rd presentation on YouTube at:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa2eHuvPLHQ)

California's fruit fly invasion is in crisis mode, says UC Davis distinguished professor James R. Carey, a noted authority on the invasion of tropical fruit flies.

UC Davis doctoral candidate Danielle Rutkowski, who studies with community ecologists Rachel Vannette, associate professor and vice chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, and distinguished professor Rick Karban, will present her exit seminar on "Identity and Functions of Symbiotic Fungi Associated with Social Bees" on

Applied insect ecologist Alejandro Del-Pozo, assistant professor at  Virginia Tech, will speak on “Expanding the Toolbox: Applied Research for Improving Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Specialty Crops” at the next seminar hosted by the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.

Due to an inclement weather forecast, the annual California Honey Festival will reelocate this year from downtown Woodland to the nearby Yolo County Fairgrounds, 1250 East Gum Ave. 

The free and family friendly event, co-sponsored by the University of California, Davis, takes place from 10 to 7 p.m., Saturday, May 4. Parking is also free, a spokesperson said.  The festival traditionally draws a crowd of some 40,000.

What's the latest information about bee biodiversity trends in North America?

Assistant professor Laura "Melissa" Guzman of the University of Southern California (USC) will speak on "Using Occupancy Models to Infer Trends of Bee Biodiversity in North America" at the April 29th seminar hosted by the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.

Adam Wong, an assistant professor at the University of Florida (UF) who researches insect-microbe interactions, from mutualism to pathogenesis, will present the April 22nd seminar hosted by the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology. 

Community ecologist Rachel Vannette, associate professor and vice chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology--and a newly selected Chancellor’s Fellow--will discuss “Bees in the Tahoe Basin: Pollination Ecology and Conservation” at a Thursday, April 25th seminar hosted by the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (UC Davis TERC).

The UC Davis Bee Haven will celebrate its 15th anniversary with an open house from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 6.

The half-acre garden,  a project of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, is located next to the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Research Facility on Bee Biology Road, west of the central campus.

A long-planned UC Davis symposium on “Tule and Cattail: A Tale of the Marsh Economy and Its Role in Human Health and Wellbeing”  aims "to advance the land management aims of local tribal communities and provide a platform to educate about the importance of maintaining wetland biology for climate change, ecological and human health, and vector control,” announced medical entomologist-geneticist Geoffrey Attardo, associate professor, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology. 

Grasshoppers, crickets and katydids! Oh, my!

UC Davis third-year entomology major Solea “Sol” Wantz, who triples as a curator intern at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, a student researcher in the lab of pollination ecologist and professor Neal Williams, and as president of the UC Davis Entomology Club, will present a talk on “Grasshoppers, Crickets and Katydids” at the next Bohart Museum open house, set from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, March 3.

Community ecologist Louie Yang, a UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology professor known as  “a phenomenal  teacher, mentor and an incredibly strong advocate for students” is the recipient of the UC Davis Academic Senate’s 2024 Distinguished Teaching Award, Undergraduate Student Level.

A six-member team, including Elina Lastro Niño, associate professor of UC Cooperative Extension, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, is sharing an online pre-print version of their research on the yield characteristics of a self-compatible almond variety.