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)
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This is the Montana leaf beetle, Chrysomela aeneicollis, that Professor Nathan Rank of Sonoma State University studies. It is feeding on Salix orestera, a species of willow known by the common name Sierra willow, or gray-leafed Sierra willow. This image was July 2, 2009 at Bull Lake in the Bishop Creek drainage of California. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia)

Tracking a Montane Leaf Beetle

October 29, 2025
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 If you're concerned about the global decline of insects--and you should be--you won't want to miss the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology seminar by Professor Nathan Rank of the Department of Entomology and Nematology.He will speak on "Local Adaptation and Population Persistence in a…
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The blue orchard bee, also known as BOB.

Sharing Research About BOB

October 28, 2025
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 They shared research about BOB and the Houdini fly.Who's BOB? The Blue Orchard Bee, also called a mason bee. What's the Houdini fly? A kleptoparasitic fly that's an enemy of the bee. Yes, it was named for Harry Houdini, the "escapologist" who declared he could escape from about just about…
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Halloween Pumpkins, Entomology Style

Entomologists Did These!

October 27, 2025
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 Don't expect traditionally carved pumpkins at the annual pre-Halloween celebrations at the Bohart Museum of Entomology at the University of California, Davis.Think insects.The annual event, hosted by the Bohart Museum Society, usually feature pumpkins carved by members of the UC Davis Entomology Club…
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Varroa mite on drone bee pupa. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis Seminar Speaker to Share Honey Bee Research

October 24, 2025
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 Breaking News: Due to unforeseeable circumstances, this seminar has been cancelledIf you're a bee scientist, bee researcher or just someone curious about bees, insect research, or the field of synthetic biology, you won't want to miss the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology seminar on…
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Asian citrus psyllid (Wikipedia photo)

Walter Leal: Special Award for Citrus Pest Research

October 23, 2025
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 UC Davis Distinguished Professor Walter Leal recently received an award from the citrus research organization, FUNDECITRUS,  São Paulo, Brazil, in recognition of his “outstanding contribution to citriculture,” emphasizing his work on the Asian citrus psyllid and a Lepidopteran pest named…
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