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 lone yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, foraging on an ice plant blossom at Bodega Bay. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bumble Bees at Bodega Bay: Seeing Double

May 16, 2022

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

What's better than seeing a yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, foraging on an neon pink ice plant at Bodega Bay? Seeing two bumble bees on the same flower. That's what we observed on a recent trip to Doran Regional Park, Bodega Bay, Sonoma County. It was bumble bee heaven.

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This is Medicago littoralis. Plants in the Medicago family are commonly known as medick or burclover. (Photo by Jean Tosti, photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

Corlett Wood's Virtual UC Davis Seminar: 'The Conflict Beneath Your Feet'

May 13, 2022

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

When evolutionary biologist Corlett Wood attended her first evolutionary meeting in 2010 in Portland, Ore., she reported that "I had found my people." Today she's an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania and has found her calling.

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UC Davis distinguished professsor Art Shapiro monitoring his Gates Canyon, Vacaville site. He's been monitoring the butterfly populations of Central California for 50 years. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis Butterfly Guru and 'Weeping Rocks'

May 12, 2022

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

In case you missed editor Jocelyn Anderson's piece in the UC Davis Magazine, don't miss this upcoming documentary: "Weeping Rocks" will showcase the 50-year research of butterfly guru Art Shapiro, a UC Davis distinguished professor with the Department of Evolution and Ecology, College of Biological...

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A crowd descends on the California Honey Festival, held last Saturday in downtown Woodland. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

One More Look at California Honey Festival

May 11, 2022

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

One more look at the annual California Honey Festival, held Saturday, May 7 in downtown Woodland... They came to taste the honey, learn about the importance of honey bees, check out the bee observation hives, and to engage with beekeepers and merchants.

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Tabatha Yang, the Bohart Museum of Entomology's education and outreach coordinator, "talks bugs" with visitors at the California Honey Festival. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey Bees Weren't the Only Insects at California Honey Festival

May 10, 2022

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Honey bees weren't the only insects at the 2022 California Honey Festival, held Saturday, May 7 in downtown Woodland. Walking sticks, aka stick insects, grabbed some of the attention, too.

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