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Bug Squad

Bug Squad blog image depicts a honey bee sting in action.

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. 

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The Bohart Museum of Entomology
insect presentation fascinates these youngsters at the Vacaville Public Library. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Booking Insects at Vacaville Public Library: Bring 'em On!

July 11, 2023
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
It's so quiet at times that you can almost hear a bee buzz or a walking stick walk or a Madagascar hissing cockroach hiss. The audience, ranging from toddlers to teens to senior citizens, are inside the the Vacaville Public Library.
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Screen shot from UC Davis Distinguished Professor James R. Carey's teachings.

Tips on How to Write a Research Paper or Term Paper

July 7, 2023
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
If you're a student in a UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology class taught by UC Davis Distinguished Professor James R. Carey, you'll learn from the pro how to write a research paper or term paper, a requirement in his classes.
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A honey bee packing red pollen as she visits another rock purslane blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Packing the Red Pollen

July 6, 2023
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Ever seen a honey bee packing red pollen? Rock purslane (Calandrinia grandiflora) is one flower that yields red pollen. It's a drought-tolerant perennial, a succulent. But the most striking part is its color: a neon pink that could stop traffic.
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