Bug Squad

A daily (M-F) blog launched Aug. 6, 2008 and about the wonderful world of insects and those who study them. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
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Civil War scene, colorbearer shot. This work, "The Siege of Vicksburg--Assault on Fort Hill," is by Swedish-born American illustrator Thure de Thulstrup (1848-1930), whom his contemporary critics considered "the foremost military artist in America." (Image courtesy of Wikipedia)

Memorial Day and Memories

May 25, 2026
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 Today, on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, we pay tribute to America's fallen soldiers, and those who served in the military."The Civil War was America's bloodiest conflict.  The unprecedented violence of battles such as Shiloh, Antietam, Stones River, and Gettysburg shocked citizens and international…
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Orange sulfur butterfly, Colias eurytheme. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Sixty Years Later, His Scientific Dream Comes True

May 22, 2026
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 More than 60 years ago, a teenage butterfly researcher in Philadelphia conceived of a genomics research project involving the genus Colias, the sulfur butterfly.  It never came to fruition because DNA genomics had not yet been invented. Fast forward to today. The research project that the…
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Argentine ant crawling on honey-coated spoon. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

What He Discovered After Large-Scale Argentine Ant Removals

May 21, 2026
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 The invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile), a significant pest in both agricultural and urban settings, is known for its supercolonies that render substantial harm to flora and fauna, including native arthropods, vertebrates and plants.Enter Professor David Holway of the UC San Diego Department of…
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Western bumble bee, Bombus occidentalis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Celebrating World Bee Day!

May 20, 2026
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 Today, May 20, is World Bee Day, and time to "raise awareness on the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy, and on the many challenges they face today," according to the World Bee Day organizers. "We have been celebrating this day since 2018, thanks to…
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Queen bee in a hive

So Many Queens at the California Honey Festival

May 19, 2026
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 So many queens at the California Honey Festival, which ended its two-day run on Sunday, May 17.The event, held in Woodland on the Yolo County Fairgrounds, wouldn't be a festival without our participating UC Davis scientists and educators. Amina Harris, retired director of the UC Davis Honey and…
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