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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. 

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Butterfly collections, like the Morpho displays, are a popular attraction at the Bohart Museum of Entomology. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Applications Due March 21 for UC Davis Bio Boot Camp

March 18, 2022
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
If there are youngsters in your life who love insects, birds, and all things nature, tell them about the UC Davis Bio Boot Camps. The deadline to submit an application is 11 p.m., Monday, March 21. To apply, students must write a letter about why they want to attend Bio Boot Camp.
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A newly emerged Western tiger swallowtail, Papilio rutulus, an image taken in 2021. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

What's in a Name? Western Tiger Swallowtail

March 16, 2022
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
It's not "officially" spring until we see--and photograph--the spectacular Western tiger swallowtail, Papilio rutulus. That's what I posted April 2, 2021 on Bug Squad after seeing one land March 30 on a white lilac bush in a Vacaville park.
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A jumping spider on a yellow rose peers at the photographer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

How Many Spiders Have You Saved Today?

March 14, 2022
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet Eating her curds eating and whey Along came a spider who sat down beside her And frightened Miss Muffet away (English nursery rhyme recorded in 1805) What, Miss Muffet ran away?
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