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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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A birds-eye-view of a wintering agave. Can you spot the lady beetles, aka ladybugs? (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Up, Close and Personal with Beetles

January 18, 2023
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Seen any lady beetles, aka ladybugs, in your yard this year? Now that the sun's out and the worst California storms are over, check your yard for lady beetles. We saw several of them on our agave this morning.
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Stingless bees in Costa Rica dining on chicken bait. (Photo by Quinn McFrederick of UC Riverside)

Not All Bees Are Vegetarians: Some Eat Meat

January 13, 2023
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
For years we've been taught that wasps are carnivores while bees (which evolved from wasps), are vegetarians. Don't bees forage only for pollen and nectar (as well as water and propolis)? Not always so.
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