Author: Hamutahl Cohen

Where do bees nest

This week I read about a new bee-related discovery in the New York Times that surprised me: thousands of years ago, during the late Quartenary period, a group of bees made their nests inside of animal bones. For these bees, tiny cavities in bird and mammal skeletons provided protected spaces where they could raise their young. This story perfectly illustrates one of the defining characteristics of bees: they are extraordinarily resourceful!

When we think about bees, we usually think of European honey bees.… Continue reading this article “Where do bees nest”

The worm that is screwing over livestock (New World Screwworm)

The New World screwworm is an insect that feeds on living flesh and it is making headlines this year as federal agencies race to battle it.

What exactly is a screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax)? Despite the name, screwworm is not a worm at all. This insect is a blue-green blow fly native to the Americas. Adult flies themselves are not the problem. The danger begins when females lay eggs in open wounds, cuts, or even mucous membranes of warm-blooded animals.… Continue reading this article “The worm that is screwing over livestock (New World Screwworm)”

Syrphid flies have immense pest control vaue

by Hamutahl Cohen

Recently an avocado grower in Fillmore sent me a photo of a wrinkled maggot-like larvae, followed by a large question mark. It looked just like a syrphid fly, what we commonly call a hoverfly or flower fly. But this fly maggot was a bright, colorful orange, not the green syrphid larvae I am accustomed to seeing. After consulting with my colleagues, I learned that syrphids actually come in a dramatic range of colors and shapes.… Continue reading this article “Syrphid flies have immense pest control vaue”

The very hungry caterpillar in my garden: Disclisioprocta stellata

The bougainvillea is my front yard looks really sad right now. The leaves exhibit scalloped, hole-y edges, something has definitely been munching on them. I suspect they are the appetizer, main course, and dessert for a very hungry bougainvillea looper, Disclisioprocta stellata.

D. stellata is a smooth-looking, yellow-green or brown caterpillar (the perfect colors to help it camouflage and evade predators). It is about an inch long. Loopers, also known as inchworms, belong to the family Geometridae.… Continue reading this article “The very hungry caterpillar in my garden: Disclisioprocta stellata”

New study says that pollinators need more than a token corner of habitat

I wanted to share a new study that came out this week in the journal Science. We generally agree how important bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are, not only for our crops but for the health of ecosystems as a whole. Yet, despite decades of awareness, pollinator numbers continue to decline worldwide. Dr. Gabriella Bishop used a meta-data approach in this study to examine why pollinators are struggling. The study concluded that current conservation targets for habitat area are simply not large enough.… Continue reading this article “New study says that pollinators need more than a token corner of habitat”

Insect spotlight: the marigold fruit fly, Trupanea vicina

I thought it would be fun to periodically highlight some insects that are understudied or lesser-known. Today’s insect spotlight is on the marigold fruit fly, Trupanea vicina. If you grow marigolds in your garden, you might find this fruit fly or it’s larvae in your flowers. One of its most striking features is the bold, patterned wings that is has, I think the venation  almost resembles shattered glass. This is a fly in the tephritid fruit fly family, a large group of flies that often specialize on flowers and seeds.… Continue reading this article “Insect spotlight: the marigold fruit fly, Trupanea vicina”

To Neem or Not to Neem, That Is the Question

by Hamutahl Cohen

You’ve probably seen Neem oil recommended in blogs, gardening forums, and on the shelf at your local gardening store. Neem is derived from the seeds of the Azadirachta indica tree, and is one type of horticultural oil that is used by gardeners looking for alternatives to synthetic insecticides. But is it effective? Is it benign? This post explores the pros and cons behind neem and other horticultural oils.

What Are Horticultural Oils?

Horticultural oils are either plant-based (like neem, canola, or clove oil) or mineral-based (refined petroleum products), and they work mostly by smothering soft-bodied pests like aphids, scale, and whiteflies.… Continue reading this article “To Neem or Not to Neem, That Is the Question”

Bee Hotels: A Closer Look at Unintended Consequences

Bee hotels have become popular additions to gardens, designed to support wild bees by providing them with nesting sites. Solitary bees, unlike honey bees, live in natural and man-made cavities which can be easily provided with nesting habitats. A previously published Garden Professors blog offers valuable insights into creating artificial nesting structures for these bees, emphasizing the importance of proper design and placement. However, if you’re thinking about installing a bee hotel, I’d urge you to reconsider – some studies suggest that bee hotels, if not correctly maintained, can inadvertently harm the very pollinators they’re meant to help.​… Continue reading this article “Bee Hotels: A Closer Look at Unintended Consequences”

Introducing Hamutahl Cohen: from bug-phobic to bug-lover

I wish I could say I grew up with an innate fascination for the insect world—that I was one of those kids who spent hours flipping over rocks to marvel at beetles and ants. But the truth is, growing up in urban Los Angeles, I rarely interacted with nature at all. And insects? I was terrified of them. I was the last person to volunteer for anything involving creepy crawlies.

That all changed in college. I enrolled in an introductory environmental science class, and one guest lecture changed the course of my life.… Continue reading this article “Introducing Hamutahl Cohen: from bug-phobic to bug-lover”