Bug Squad

Beekeepers and almond growers are concerned--and rightfully so--about the some 80,000 bee colonies that died this year in the San Joaquin Valley almond orchards. In monetary terms, that's a loss of about $180,000. But the loss isn't just financial. It could have long-term effects.

What's that on the Coreopsis? Could it be--a bee? Yes, that's the metallic green sweat bee, also called an ultra green sweat bee, Agapostemon texanus. This one (below) is a female. Males and females are easily distinguishable.

Honey bee population declining? You wouldn't know it if you were to visit the two rapini patches in front of the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility on Bee Biology Road, University of California, Davis.

What an un-bee-lievably generous gift! Debra Jamison, state regent of the California State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. loves bees. So when it came time to select a fundraising project, she knew what she wanted to do.

A unique effort to raise funds to collect insects in the biodiversity hotspot of Belizewhich would result in specimens for the Bohart Museum of Entomology at the University of California, Davis, among other goals-- is galloping into the home stretch.