Bug Squad

Bumble bee on bull thistle at Bodega Bay
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Two Icons: Old Glory and the Glorious Monarch

May 29th, 2017
Two icons, the American flag and the monarch butterfly, are flying high today. The American flag, or "Old Glory," symbolizes our democracy. The 13 stripes represent the 13 colonies that declared--and won--independence from Great Britain. The 50 stars in the field of blue denote our 50 states.
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Bumble Bees: Pollen Power in the Phacelia

May 24th, 2017
Talk about pollen! The bumble bees, Bombus vandykei (as identified by Robbin Thorp, distinguished emeritus professor of entomology at the University of California, Davis), were buzzing all over the Phacelia last week on the central campus.
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Meet Big Red, the Flameskimmer

May 23rd, 2017
Big Red visited us for four consecutive days. The red flameskimmer dragonfly, Libellula saturata, zigged and zagged into our pollinator garden in Vacaville, Calif. and perched on a bamboo stake for five hours at a time.
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