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)

A female carpenter bee, Xylocopa sonorina, also known as the Valley carpenter bee, forages on showy milkweed, Asclepias speciosa. This is one of the bees that the Rachel Vannette lab studied. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Innovative Research by RSPIB Scholar: Surprising Find About Carpenter Bees

November 17, 2022

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

When Professors Jay Rosenheim, Joanna Chiu and Louie Yang of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology launched the Research Scholars Program in Insect Biology (RSPIB) to give undergraduates closely mentored research experiences in biology, the innovative projects have simply been outstan...

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The UC Davis Entomology Games Team of doctoral candidates: Madison Hendrick, Jill Oberski, Erin "Taylor" Kelly and Zach Griebenow. (Photo by Geoffrey Attardo, UC Davis faculty)

Congrats, UC Davis Bug Team!

November 16, 2022

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

"In 1973 Dr. David Gibby of the Washington State University Extension Center started a program to meet the demand for urban horticulture and gardening advice, which has since expanded to all 50 states and 8 Canadian provinces.

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Bohart Museum laboratory assistant and artist Brittany Kohler worked on the "Birdwing Butterfly" display in late October. In back are Jeff Smith, curator of the Lepidoptera collection at the Bohart, who spread all the wings; and collections manager Brennen Dyer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Art at the Bohart: The Work of Francisco and Brittany

November 15, 2022

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Art is part of the Bohart. Talented artists continually create stunning work at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, directed by Lynn Kimsey, UC Davis distinguished professor of entomology (who herself worked as a scientific illustrator under her maiden name, Lynn Siri).

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This image of a golden dung fly, titled "Checking You Out," scored the ESA Medal in the 2022 International Insect Salon. It was among images showcased at the ESA meeting in British Columbia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Photo of a Golden Dung Fly Wins the ESA Medal in International Insect Salon

November 14, 2022

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Who takes images of flies? Raise your hand! No, not the hand with the flyswatter. Well, almost anything is fair game for my camera. That includes golden dung flies.

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This framed photo of an image, once belonging to the late Extension apiculturist Eric Mussen, shows an ancient rock painting from Zimbabwe. A beekeeper is using a smoker.

In Celebration of the Bees

November 11, 2022

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

When Extension apiculturist emeritus Eric Mussen (1945-2022) was cleaning out his office in Briggs Hall, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, in the fall of 2021, he gifted me with a framed image of an ancient rock painting from Toghwana Dam, Zimbabwe, southeast Africa.

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