Bug Squad

At last, the Laidlaw almonds are in bloom. That would be the almond trees on the grounds of the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility on Bee Biology Road at the University of California, Davis. And no one appreciates this more than the bees holed up in the 40 hives behind the facility.

When people think of mosquitoes, they probably never think of Aedes japonicus. It's an Asian species "generally found in Japan, Korea, the Ryukyu Archipelago (Okinawa and associated islands), Taiwan, South China, and Hong Kong," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"Almonds are one of the first crops of the season that need bee pollination," tweeted the Almond Board of California yesterday. Valentine's Day traditionally marks the beginning of almond pollination season, but it's an early spring. The almonds are blooming and the bees are buzzing.

Biodiversity--that's what it's at on Sunday, Feb. 12 at the University of California, Davis. That's when four museums or centers that engage in education and research involving insects, vertebrates or plants will host open houses. And folks will be amazed, officials promise.

A sure sign that winter is nearly over: when the flowering quince bursts into bloom, attracting a flotilla of foraging honey bees. Actually, the bees began "inspecting" the flowering quince in the bud stage. "Hurry, open up!" the bees seemed to urge. "We have to start feeding our colonies.