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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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Cabbage white butterfly, Pieris rapae, nectaring on catmint. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Beer for a Butterfly

December 27, 2012
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
A beer for a butterfly. What a deal. Whoever collects the first live cabbage white butterfly of 2013 in the three-county area of Yolo, Solano and Sacramento, can win a pitcher of beer, compliments of Art Shapiro, distinguished professor of evolution and ecology at UC Davis.
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Bruce Hammock: from distinguished professor to renowned scientist to skilled athlete to actor.

Is That You, Bruce?

December 26, 2012
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
You'll never guess what Bruce Hammock did on Dec. 18. First, a bit about Bruce Dupree Hammock.
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Golden bee (Italian subspecies of Apis mellifera) nectaring on lavender. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The 13 Bugs of Christmas

December 25, 2012
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
It's Christmas Day and time to revisit "The 13 Bugs of Christmas." Back in 2010, Extension apiculturist Eric Mussen of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and yours truly came up with a song about "The 13 Bugs of Christmas.
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Harlequin bug wandering around on passion flower vine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

What's Stirring on Christmas Eve

December 24, 2012
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse... --Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863) In our house, nothing is stirring, thanks be to the cat. Xena the Warrior Princess does not like anything stirring. Even the dog annoys here.
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