Bug Squad

What do butterflies tell us about tropical diversity? Take it from an expert. Tropical ecologist Philip DeVries of the Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Orleans, will discuss the topic at his lecture on Thursday, Feb. 9 at the University of California, Davis.

In a pre-Valentine's Day event, officials at the Bohart Museum of Entomology at the University of California, Davis, are planning a Bug Lovin' theme for their next open house. It will be a lovefest of bugs! The event, free and open to the public, will take place from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Feb.

Those jumping spiders certainly can jump. Last summer we spotted what appeared to be the red-backed jumping spider, Phidippus johnsoni (famiiy Salticidae), stalking native bees and honey bees in our yard.

Almond pollination season in California traditionally begins around Valentine's Day. This year, however, thanks to the unseasonably warm weather, almond trees began blooming in late January in some parts of Central California. Take the city of Benicia.

They're hairy. They're bristly. They're attention-getters. They probably draw more "yecchs!" than most insects. All the more reason to love 'em. Frankly, the tachinids (family Tachinidae, order Diptera) could never be misidentified as honey bees, as some pollinators such as hover flies, are.