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)

The evolutionary history of honey bees dates back to at least 30 million years ago. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis Bee Symposium: Tom Seeley to Speak on the Darwinian Method of Keeping Bees

February 28, 2018

The evolutionary history of honey bees dates back millions and millions of years. Bees are thought to have appeared at least 130 million years ago, according to British biologist Dave Goulson, author of A Sting in the Tale: My Adventures with Bumblebees.

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This is a big-eyed ant, Pseudomyrmex boopis. Alexander Wild, who received his doctorate in entomology from UC Davis and is now curator of entomology, University of Austin, Texas, captured this image in Armenia, Belize. See more of his images at alexanderwild.com. (Copyrighted by Alex Wild and used with permission)

Behold, the Big-Eyed Ant (And Brendon Boudinot Will Talk About It)

February 27, 2018

It's not just about the sting or those big eyes. Ant specialists and other researchers also hone in on big-eyed ants for their relationships with plants. Those attending a UC Davis seminar this week on big ants will learn all about them, including the phylogenetic morphology. Brendon Boudinot, a Ph.

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An orchid bee in flight. UC Davis researcher Santiago Ramirez will discuss his work at the fourth annual UC Davis Bee Sympoisum on March 3. (Photo by Santiago Ramirez)

Researcher Santiago Ramirez to Discuss Those Amazing Orchid Bees

February 26, 2018

Have you ever marveled at those amazing male orchid bees, which gather perfume compounds to attract females?

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When it comes to gender, most beekeepers are males. In national beekeeping groups women represent less than a third of leadership positions, according to the Bee Culture magazine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Why Aren't There More Women in Beekeeping?

February 23, 2018

Why aren't there more women in beekeeping? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 31 percent of all American farmers are women, contributing $12.

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UC Davis diagnostic parasitologist Lauren Camp wears a papier mache nematode hat, modeled after a hookworm mouth. At left is nematologist Chris Pagan, a graduate student in entomology. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bug Squad: Article

A Spotlight on Nematodes

February 22, 2018

Quick question: What was diagnostic parasitologist Lauren Camp of the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital wearing on her head as she talked about the nematode collection last Saturday at the seventh annual UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day?

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