Bug Squad

These bees are carpenters. These bees are art. Professor Jeffrey Granett, who retired from the UC Davis Department of Entomology in January 2007, now spends must of his time working on his art. He created a hanging piece for "The Bees at The Bee" art show, to be held from 3 to 8 p.m.

Mark your calendars. Saturday, May 8 is the "Bees at The Bee" art show. The art show, featuring the work of bee artists from throughout much of Northern California, is a benefit for honey bee research at the University of California, Davis.

A lecture that UC Davis entomologists and friends of entomology are eagerly looking forward to will take place at noon tomorrow (Wednesday, April 28) in 122 Briggs Hall, Kleiber Drive.

"The tower of jewels" ought to be called "the tower of bees." This spectacular plant attracts bees like a honey-laden hive does hungry bears. The tower of jewels (Echium wildprettii), native to the Canary Islands, is a biennal; it flowers only in the second year and then dies.

It's amazing what a little Photoshopping can do to a bee on blue. We captured an image this week of a pollen-packing honey bee on Phacelia campanularia, also known as California blue bells or desert blue bells. It's a deep inky-blue wildflower that's native to southwestern deserts of California.