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By: Beth Bemis
Spring is in full bloom and Explorit Science Center is blooming with rice! Explorit's current exhibition is "Rice: From the Roots Up." Rice is a well known crop in the Sacramento Valley; as much as 95% of all California rice is grown here. California rice thrives in the temperate climate of warm, sunny days and cool evenings.
Since the majority of California rice is grown in fields of standing water, mosquitoes also thrive during the rice growing season. In order to prevent mosquitoes from overrunning the Valley, mosquito abatement techniques are used, such as stocking mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, in the fields, and other areas of standing water.
Full grown female mosquitofish are usually under 64 mm (2.5 inches) in length; males are typically under 38 mm (1.5 inches). They can live in water temperatures anywhere between 33deg. and 104deg. F, although they don't do well with drastic changes. However, since temperatures in the Central Valley generally change gradually, mosquitofish tend to do well in Davis.
Mosquitofish are ovoviviparous, which means that the female is fertilized internally and the baby fish are born as free-swimming, independent juveniles. Their broods may be anywhere from 10 to over 300 young. Juvenile fish reach maturity in four to six weeks, and begin breeding shortly thereafter. Mosquitofish will reproduce to the maximum population levels that a habitat may sustain in a very short time.
If you're interested in these amazing little fish, you can see them in Explorit's rice paddies. They've been helping keep the mosquito population down since "Rice: From the Roots Up" opened in April. "Rice" will continue through June 8, and the mosquitofish will stay at Explorit as long as there is standing water in which they can live. After all, their services as pest control for mosquitoes are invaluable to all of the people and animals in the area.
Explorit Science Center is located at 3141 5th Street in East Davis. Public hours are Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday through Friday from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $3; members, teachers, and children under 4 are free. For more information, call Explorit at 756-0191.
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The Vintage Masters Wine Tasting and Auction will be tomorrow, May 3, from 6-9 p.m. at the Hotel Woodland. This fabulous event is in its 13th year as a fundraiser for Explorit Science Center. You will find an elegant evening filled with jazz music, gourmet hors d'oeuvres, and delicious wines, as well as a silent auction and a called auction.
Tickets will be available at the door for $35 for a single ticket, or $50 for a pair. Explorit members receive a discount. There will also be a complimentary shuttle leaving from Explorit Science Center to the Hotel Woodland and returning after the event; reservations are needed and can be made by calling Explorit at 756-0191.
If you would like more information about the 13th Annual Vintage Masters Wine Tasting and Auction, please call Explorit at 756-0191. Come spend an evening sipping and tasting the best wine and foods of this region!
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Last Saturday and this Saturday, Brownies of the Tierra del Oro Girl Scouts join Explorit to earn their "Math Magic" patches. Girls and leaders from as far away as Colusa, El Dorado, Placer, and Yuba counties, as well as Sacramento and Yolo counties, participate in cooperative, hands-on activities in which they are challenged to solve problems and make discoveries while learning about the relevance of math to their daily lives.
Explorit has been conducting programs in math and science with the Tierra del Oro Girl Scout Council since 1993. A special "Math Magic" patch has been designed for the Brownies. Two more scout programs will be held later in may for older girls. If you are interested in volunteering for these Saturday morning programs, please contact Explorit at 756-0191.