Bug Squad

Red ornaments on a Christmas tree? No, ladybugs (aka ladybird beetles or lady beetles) on Artemisia. Ladybugs are overwintering on our Artemisia (genus belonging to the daisy family, Asteracease). When the rains come, the drops bubble up on the plants and the ladybugs alike.

There's joy on the horizon for beekeepers battling that pesky Varroa mite. They may soon have a "fool-proof" method to silence the parasite, considered the honey bee's worst enemy.

Researchers have a thousand questions about thousand cankers disease (TCD), the newly discovered disease that kills black walnut trees. Chemical ecologist and forest entomologist of Steve Seybold of the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Davis, Calif.

Three University of California entomology professors were among the 10 newly elected Fellows of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) honored at the organization's 58th annual meeting, held Dec. 12-15 in San Diego. Their selection speaks highly of the caliber of UC professors.

Whether it's spotted-wing Drosophila, codling moth or light brown apple moth--or myriads of other invasives--integrated pest management (IPM) specialist Frank Zalom knows his pests and how to manage them.