Species are hard to define, as they don’t fit neatly into the categories that science wants to put them into. But increasingly, people are naming new species without enough evidence to suggest they are indeed a separate taxon. Graihagh Jackson investigates why so-called taxonomic vandalism is on the rise and what we can do about it.
The UC Davis Bohart Museum of Entomology will emphasize “fire and insects” when it hosts an open house, “Extreme Insects: Fire and Ice,” on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 19. The public event, running from 1 to 4 p.m. in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building, Crocker Lane, is free and family-friendly.
https://www.davisenterprise.com/community/bohart-open-house-features-fire-and-insects/
“The goldspotted oak borer is a flathead beetle that has killed tens of thousands of oak trees in Southern California” said Irvine Ranch Conservancy project manager and ecologist, Nathan Gregory. “Oak woodlands are one of our most important habitats on the Landmarks, so the loss of trees and the cover they provide will have significant impacts on the wildlife. The loss of this native tree can also increase the risk of fire, affecting the surrounding community.”
