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.

UC Davis distinguished professor Walter Leal is the recipient of the Academic Senate's three most coveted awards: research, teaching and public service awards. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Good Things Come in Threes

February 22, 2024

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Congratulations to UC Davis distinguished professor Walter Leal, the recipient of the Academic Senate's highly competitive 2024 Distinguished Faculty Research Award. That makes three. Good things come in threes.

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Tomato spotted wilt virus. (Photo courtesy of UC Davis distinguished professor Diane Ullman)

Probing the Molecular Interactions Between Western Flower Thrips and the Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus

February 21, 2024

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Back in October of 2020, we wrote about the newly published research of an international team of scientists involving the genome analysis of the western flower thrips, an invasive global agricultural pest that feeds on plants and spreads viruses.

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A honey bee buzzes over an almond branch on its way to pollinate another blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Researchers Announce Findings on Self-Compatible Almond Variety

February 20, 2024

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

If you're an almond grower, a beekeeper, or someone interested in almond pollination, you'll want to read what a team of six researchers discovered--and maybe share feedback.

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A feral honey bee colony (now gone) in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Presidential Love of Bees: From 'Bee Houses' to 'Bee Trees'

February 19, 2024

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Today, on Presidents' Day, let's buzz back in history to our first President and his love of honey bees. Picture this: George Washington (Feb. 22, 1732-Dec. 14, 1799) is eating hoecakes with honey, and adding honey to his tea, something that historians say he did every day.

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Bohart associate and entomologist, Nazzy Pakpour, PhD, author of "Please Don't Bite Me: Insects that Buzz, Bite and Sting," greets guests at the Bohart Museum. In back are Bohart director Jason Bond (right) conversing with Brennen Dyer, collections manager. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

At the Bohart: Life Is Better With Bugs

February 16, 2024

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

They came. They saw. They held out their hands. Hands? Yes, to hold Madagascar hissing cockroaches and stick insects (walking sticks). The Bohart Museum of Entomology greeted some 1400 visitors during the 13th annual UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day, an event held Feb.

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