UC Master Gardeners of San Joaquin County

The Fall season is a vibrant and inspiring time for the UC Master Gardener Program. As the days grow cooler and gardens shift into their final burst of color and productivity, communities across Northern California come alive with celebrations of the harvest. Across the region, many UC Master Gardener…

Let’s be real—California's rodent issue is extensive. In some areas, it may seem like an infinite sea of rats and mice. Commensal rodents, those that live among and benefit from association with humans, significantly affect public health, environmental sustainability, and urban infrastructure.  …

 Who needs a bug fix? Will some land in the stockings hung by the chimney with care?The Bohart Museum of Entomology at the University of California, Davis, is gearing up for the holiday season with new items in its popular insect-themed gift shop."We just received a shipment of pins," announced Tabatha…

 Plant-parasitic nematodes rarely draw national headlines, but this newly published research should.First, what's a plant-parasitic nematode?As UC Davis nematologist Shahid Siddique, an associate professor with the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology explains: "Plant-parasitic nematodes are…

 Bug enthusiasts will have a "jolly good time" or a "fuzzy-wuzzy good time" selecting holiday gifts that the Bohart Museum of Entomology and the UC Davis Entomology Graduate Student Association (EGSA) are offering."Fuzzy-wuzzy" wasn't a bear. It was probably a wooly bear caterpillar …

I ‘ve often heard it said that it’s the soil that makes these two counties so appropriate for agriculture. Well, there are some pretty terrible soils here, as well as wonderful ones. The USDA has a classification for soils that describes all soils in the world. It’s based mainly on the rock it is formed from…

 Thinking about pollinator-plant interactions?This promises to be interesting...UC Merced assistant professor Marilia Palumbo Gaiarsa will present a seminar, hosted by the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, on "From Foraging to Fiitness: How Individual Behavior Shapes Plant-Pollinator…

 Bee Mimics!Did you know that some moths mimic bees?When the Bohart Museum of Entomology hosts its free and family friendly open house from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 15 on "The Bees and Their Mimics"--the program will be coordinated by UC Davis doctoral candidates Lexie Martin and Abigail Lehner--you…

California is famous for its scenic wilderness and biological diversity. Unfortunately, our state’s unique ecosystems are in danger, and invasive species are among the biggest threats to our environment. Invasive species can cause all kinds of environmental damage, such as harming wildlife, disrupting our…

 Nov. 15 promises to be a terrific "Science Saturday," involving two UC Davis events. And both are free and family friendly.The Bohart Museum of Entomology will host an open house from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 15 on "The Bees and Their Mimics," coordinated by UC Davis doctoral candidates Lexie Martin…

 Gertrude Stein wrote that "A rose is a rose is a rose."In a spin-off, we offer: "A bee is a bee is a bee" and "A fly is a fly is a fly."They are not the same. But they are both pollinators. Books, magazines and newspapers sometimes err in publishing a photo of honey bee that's actually a syrphid…

 Today, on Veterans' Day, let's salute our kin who served in the military. I pay tribute to the family members who fought in all of our nation's wars since the American Revolution.I particularly pay tribute to my maternal great-grandfather, Samuel Davidson Laughlin,  (1843-1910), a Civil War…

 If you and your family love science--who doesn't?--be sure to participate in the free workshop, “Life Begins in Water: A Workshop on Restoring Healthy Wetland Communities,”  on Saturday, Nov. 15 at Capay Open Space Regional Park, Yolo County.UC Davis entomologist Geoffrey Attardo is leading the…

 "Have you ever wondered what pollinators are visiting your garden or what that black-and-yellow striped bug was? In California, we have an incredible diversity of insects, which may be more difficult to tell apart than you realize. At this interactive event, you will learn how to identify bees and…