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.

Honey bee sipping honey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey, I Hardly Know Ya

February 23, 2015

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Ever been to a Farmer's Market and picked up a jar of honey advertised as "organic?" Is it organic? And if you're a beekeeper, has a consumer ever asked you if your honey is organic? How do you know?

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From Marla Spivak to Amy Toth

February 20, 2015

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

May is a few months away, but already there's strong interest in the line-up of speakers at the UC Davis Bee Symposium, set Saturday, May 9 in the UC Davis Conference Center. The theme? "Keeping Bees Healthy." An excellent topic.

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Two bees heading for the same almond blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Feel the Buzz!

February 19, 2015

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

The word is "bees" and "almonds" are their world. Right this very minute there are about 1.7 million colonies of bees pollinating California almonds. Since it takes two colonies to pollinate one acre, and California doesn't have that many bees, beekeepers throughout the nation trucked in some 1.

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A queen and her colony. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bee Health: That's What It's All About

February 18, 2015

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

"Bee health" is on the minds of beekeepers, scientists, farmers, growers, gardeners, environmentalists and generally, everyone who cares about bees. Which should be everyone.

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Extension apiculturist (emeritus) Eric Mussen with his engraved clock from the Almond Board of California. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Eight Decades of Bees 'n Skeeters

February 17, 2015

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Quick! What do you think of when someone mentions "honey bees and mosquitoes" in the same sentence? Honey bees are the pollinators, the beneficial insects. Infected mosquitoes transmit killer diseases such as malaria and dengue; they are our most dangerous insect enemies on the planet.

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