Bug Squad

Bumble bee on bull thistle at Bodega Bay
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A praying mantis perches on a cosmos. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
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Prayers Answered

September 12th, 2014
Praying mantids are, oh, so patient. They perch on a flower, their spiked forelegs seemingly locked in a praying position, and wait to ambush unsuspecting prey. A green praying mantis recently did just that on our cosmos.
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The pink bollworm, a global pest of cotton, has evolved resistance to genetically modified cotton in India, but not in Arizona where farmers have planted refuges of conventional cotton to reduce selection for resistance. (Photo by Alex Yelich, University of Arizona)
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Helping to Meet Global Challenges Through Evolutionary Biology

September 11th, 2014
Two categories of evolutionary challenges result from escalating human impacts on the planet. The first arises from cancers, pathogens and pests that evolve too quickly, and the second from the inability of many valued species to adapt quickly enough.
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This Anise Swallowtail is missing part of its wing. A predator missed. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
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Something Was Wrong

September 10th, 2014
Something was wrong. The Anise Swallowtail (Papillo zelicaon) that fluttered into our bee garden last weekend and began nectaring on zinnia wasn't quite herself. Her yellow and black coloring and the striking blue spot on the rear left wing looked fine.
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Praying mantis eats a honey bee while a freeloader fly, family Milichilidae, does, too. Another freeloader edges closer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
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Brother, Can You Spare a Meal?

September 9th, 2014
A freeloader. A moocher. A sponger. That's the freeloader fly. A praying mantis is polishing off the remains of a honey bee. Suddenly a black dot with wings edges closer and closer and grabs a bit of the prey. So tiny. So persistent. So relentless. That's the freeloader fly.
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This wasp mimic is actually a fly, genus Ceriana. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
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Quit Mimicking Me!

September 8th, 2014
Last weekend a little critter made its first-ever appearance in our family bee garden. It was neither a grand entrance nor a grand insect. "A fly!" I thought, as I looked at its knoblike bristle or arista on the end of each antenna.
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