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.

Tiny Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars on their host plant, Dutchman's Pipe, at Vallejo's Loma Vista Farm. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Seen Any Pipevine Swallowtails Lately?

May 25, 2021

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Seen any Pipevine Swallowtails lately? The UC Davis Ecological Garden is teeming with eggs, larvae, pupa and adults. The butterflies there seem particularly fond of nectaring on Jupiter's beard, Centranthus ruber.

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In this image, taken in October 2018, consultant and mentor Vernard Lewis (left), confers with Andrew Sutherland, UC integrated pest management advisor for Bay Area counties, about the Villa Termiti at the UC Berkeley Field Station. Sutherland, who holds a doctorate in entomology from UC Davis, was recently awarded state funding to remodel the Villa for future training of pest management professionals in the state. (UC ANR Photo by Pam Kan-Rice)

Bravo to Vernard Lewis and Margaret Collins: Two Legendary Entomologists

May 24, 2021

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Congratulations to emeritus Cooperative Extension specialist Vernard Lewis of UC Berkeley, selected to deliver the Founders' Memorial Lecture at the 2021 annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America (ESA), set Oct. 31-Nov. 3 at the Colorado Convention Center, Denver.

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This is the California fuchsia, Epilobium canum, from the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden. UC Davis community ecologist Rachel Vannette isolated a new species of bacteria from this plant. (Photo by Rachel Vannette)

UC Davis Community Ecologist Involved in Tribute to Two Female Botanists

May 21, 2021

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Botanists Beverly Rathcke (1945-2011) and Jeanne Baret would have been proud. In their lifetimes, they didn't receive nearly enough credit for their work, but now they are memorialized in the names of newly described species of bacteria from the genus Acinetobacter that are specialized to flowers.

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A honey bee exits a rock purslane, Calandrinia grandiflora. Today is World Bee Day. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Every Day Should Be World Bee Day

May 20, 2021

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

It's World Bee Day, as declared by the United Nations. "The fourth observance of World Bee Day will be celebrated--in the midst of a still ongoing pandemic--with a virtual event organized by the FAO on 20 May 2021 under the theme Bee engaged Build Back Better for Bees.

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A honey bee foraging on Salvia "Hot Lips." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis Plant Sale May 20-24: Just Add Pollinators

May 19, 2021

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

If you want to draw pollinators to your yard, think of the plants for sale at the teaching nursery maintained by the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden. A public clearance sale will take place Thursday, May 20 through Monday, May 24, with members saving 30 percent and the public, 20 percent.

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