The Department of Entomology and Nematology (ENT) shared some of the spotlight at the recent conference of the international Association for Communication Excellence (ACE), a professional organization that supports and showcases science communication in agriculture, natural resources, and life and human sciences.

UC Davis distinguished professor Richard "Rick" Karban, retiring in June after a 42-year career with the Department of Entomology and Nematology, is an international authority on plant communication, a noted author and an exemplary mentor, Professor Neal Williams told the crowd attending the department's June 11th retirement luncheon at the UC Davis Alumni Center.

Microbes found in the immature stages of a solitary bee that nests in sand cliffs along Pacific Coast beaches may be helping the bee defend itself from pathogens and protect it from cold stress, according to newly published research led by microbiologist Shawn Christensen of the Rachel Vannette Lab, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.

UC Davis Distinguished Professor Diane Ullman, a 29-year member of the Department of Entomology and Nematology faculty, drew accolades and applause at the department's retirement event on June 11 at the UC Davis Alumni Center.

"Everything she does is world class," urban landscape entomologist and assistant professor Emily Meineke told the crowd.

"A giant in our department" and "a scholar in every sense of the word."

That's how UC Davis distinguished professor emeritus Frank Zalom characterized  retiring faculty member James R. Carey at the Department of Entomology and Nematology's retirement event on June 11 at the UC Davis Alumni Center.

(See June 3rd presentation on YouTube at:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa2eHuvPLHQ)

California's fruit fly invasion is in crisis mode, says UC Davis distinguished professor James R. Carey, a noted authority on the invasion of tropical fruit flies.

UC Davis distinguished professor Bruce Hammock, described as “an incredible mentor and legendary scientist,” is a newly announced recipient of the 2024 Graduate Studies Distinguished Graduate and Postdoctoral Mentoring Award. 

UC Davis doctoral candidate Danielle Rutkowski, who studies with community ecologists Rachel Vannette, associate professor and vice chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, and distinguished professor Rick Karban, will present her exit seminar on "Identity and Functions of Symbiotic Fungi Associated with Social Bees" on

Mosquitoes are often annoying and sometimes can be deadly.

Medical entomologist-geneticist Geoffrey Attardo, associate professor, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, will discuss the risks of mosquito-borne diseases in California at a free seminar sponsored by the Center for Land-Based Learning (CLBL) on “Natural Mosquito Control” on Wednesday, May 15.

Clement Chow, associate professor in the Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, will discuss "Flying to the Clinic: Drug Repurposing Screen for Rare Diseases" at a seminar hosted by the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology on Monday, May 6.

He will speak at 4:10 p.m. in 122 Briggs and via Zoom. The Zoom link: 
https://ucdavis.zoom.us/j/9 5882849672