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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. Feedspot lists it as one of the top entomology blogs on the Internet. 

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Diane Ullman is right at home as a scientist and an artist. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Call from TED, Enough Said!

May 8, 2012
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
When TED extends an invite, that's a high honor. Scientists-artists Diane Ullman and Donna Billick, co-founders and co-directors of the UC Davis Art/Science Fusion Program, have been invited to speak at the second annual TEDx program hosted at the University of California, Davis.
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Entomologist/Bohart associate Jeff Smith will be there to answer questions. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

What's Mother's Day Without Moths?

May 7, 2012
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
What's Mother's Day without moths? And caterpillars? Moth specimens and a fun caterpillar craft activity will highlight a pre-Mother's Day open house from 1 to 4 p.m.
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Male metallic green sweat bee, Agapostemon texanus, nectaring on a seaside daisy, Erigeron glaucus Wayne Roderick. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Learning About Native Bees

May 4, 2012
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
So you want to learn about native bees... Just drop by the Davis Public Library next Thursday night.
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Honey bee foraging on a rose. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Everything's Coming Up Roses--and a Few Bees

May 3, 2012
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Honey bees aren't that much into roses. Wild roses, yes. Cultivated roses, not so much. Given a choice, they'll take the lavenders, mints and salvia (sage) over the roses any time.
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A monarch butterfly foraging on a Mexican sunflower in the Haagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven, UC Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Migratory Immunity in Monarchs

May 2, 2012
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Monarch butterflies, says Sonia Altizer, are "globally distributed and best known for undertaking a spectacular annual migration in parts of North America.
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