Bug Squad

Welcome to the Bug Squad blog! The Bug Squad blog was launched Aug. 6, 2008 and is a daily blog (Monday through Friday). It showcases entomologists and the work they do. The blog focuses on scientists in the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, the Bohart Museum of Entomology, Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility, the UC Davis Bee Haven, and assorted campuswide events, including UC Davis Picnic Day, UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day, and Bohart Museum open houses. The blog spotlights insects, including bees, butterflies, dragonflies, and praying mantises, as well as arachnids such as jumping spiders and crab spiders. Author and photographer is Kathy Keatley Garvey, communications specialist, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, and a longtime journalist and community scientist with two degrees from Washington State University. She is a member of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) and the Association for Communication Excellence (ACE). Her blog posts and images have won international awards from ACE and ESA and appeared on journal and magazine covers. She shoots primarily with a Nikon Z-8 mirrorless camera, a Nikon D500 and Nikon 800, with assorted macro lenses. Feedspot lists it as one of the top entomology blogs on the Internet.

A sweat bee, genus Halictus and family Halictidae, collecting pollen from a California golden poppy, the state flower. Both the bee and the flower are natives of California. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

No Sweat....Just Pollen...

May 7, 2024

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Look closely at a patch of California golden poppies and you may see a sweat bee (genus Halictus) collecting gold pollen. The pollen basket is on the hind legs but you'll see "gold" also dusting the head and abdomen. Native bee, commonly known as "halictid bee." Native plant.

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Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator of the Bohart Museum of Entomology, greeting UC Davis Chancellor Gary May. (Photo by Anjie Cook)

Congratulations, Tabatha Yang, Recipient of Chancellor's Outstanding Staff Award

May 6, 2024

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

You usually see Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator of the Bohart Museum of Entomology, UC Davis Department of Entomology, in the insect museum, answering questions, guiding tours, or doing outreach at schools, festivals, fairs, open houses and other special events.

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The California Honey Festival will include bee observation hives. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Forecast of Heavy Rain, Wind Changes Location of California Honey Festival

May 3, 2024

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Despite the weather forecast of heavy rain and wind, honey bees will still be "attending" the California Honey Festival. They'll be safe and dry in the bee observation hives. The free and family friendly event, co-sponsored by the University of California, Davis, takes place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is commonly used for biological research in genetics. (Photo courtesy of Wikpedia)

Clement Chow: Fruit Flies, Rare Diseases and the Accomplishments

May 2, 2024

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Don't miss the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology seminar by Clement Chow on Monday, May 6. It will open your eyes about fruit flies, rare diseases, and the progress underway.

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Bohart Museum graduate student and researcher Socrates Letana tosses paper butterflies to the net holders, as Professor Fran Keller (background) of Folsom Lake College staffs the California butterfly table. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

California Dogface Butterfly Steals the Show

May 1, 2024

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

The California dogface butterfly stole the show at the Bohart Museum of Entomology pop-up tent at Briggs Hall during the 110th annual UC Davis Picnic Day.

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