Oct. 28, 2009
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| Lynn Kimsey, director of the Bohart Museum of Entomology, is the "queen bee." (Photos by Kathy Keatley Garvey) |
DAVIS—The Bohart Museum of Entomology, home to seven million insect specimens, looked “bee-utiful” at its annual open house when it unveiled three new displays.
Honey bees, gall wasps and blow flies took center stage.
Lynn Kimsey, museum director and professor and chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology, wore a bee antenna headpiece, a sash lettered with “Queen Bee” and bee mittens.
“We’ve been holding open house for some 15 to 20 years for our members,” Kimsey said. “This year we unveiled the three new displays: Pollination Nation; Forensic Entomology: Insects and the Law; and The Valley Oak Galls.
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| Irene Engilis of Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology examining specimens. |
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| Undergraduate student Eric San Gregorio checking out Pollinator Nation. |
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| Forensic entomologist Bob Kimsey greeting visitors. |
Pollination Nation display points out that “approximately three quarters f all flowering plants rely on animals, mostly insects, for pollination. Wild insect pollinators include bumble bees, flies, solitary bees, butterflies, ants, beetles and wasps.”
“Farmers rely heavily upon the managed colonies of the European honey bee (Apis mellifera) to pollinate crops,” according to the display. “Not only do honey bees help produce our food but they also provide us honey and wax. Recently honey bee colonies have been dying off and their numbers are declining. Disease and mites may be the root of the problem, but insecticides and habitat loss also pose serious threats.”
Researchers at UC Davis are trying to understand and solve the problems of declining pollinators, both native and domesticated, by studying their taxonomy, ecology, life history traits, diseases and behaviors, Kimsey said.
The forensic entomology or “CSI” display focuses on the insects that can help solve crimes. The display is the work of forensic entomologist Robert Kimsey, who works closely with law enforcement and the courts. They count on him for his expertise.
The Valley Oak display focuses on insects found in the Valley oak (Quercus lobata), one of California's 25 native oaks. Among the more unusual insects found on the Valley oak: gall wasps. Galls appear to "jump" when the wasp larvae inside the galls move.
The Bohart Museum staff receives numerous calls every year about these, Kimsey said.
The Bohart Museum, located in 1124 Academic Surge, was founded in 1946 by the late Richard M. Bohart, former chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology. He was also Kimsey’s major professor while she was completing her doctorate.
Dedicated to teaching, research and service, the insect museum houses the seventh largest insect collection in North America.
The museum also includes live insects such as Madagascar hissing cockroaches, walking sticks and walking leaves. “That’s our petting zoo,” Kimsey said.
More information about the Bohart, visiting hours, and guided tours is available from public outreach coordinator Tabatha Yang at (530) 752-0493 or tabyang@ucdavis.edu.
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--Kathy Keatley Garvey
Communications specialist
UC Davis Department of Entomology
(530) 754-6894
