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.

Bee breeder-geneticist Susan Cobey of UC Davis and Washington State University shows how to hold a queen--by the thorax. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Don't Impale the Queen!

April 5, 2012

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

A would-be beekeeper "inherited" an empty bee box, a reconditioned bee box, in his backyard. "How do I become a beekeeper?" he asked. A very good question, and one that the UC Davis Department of Entomology answers a lot.

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The winning Davis Linnaean Team is comprised of (from left) Kelly Hamby, Matan Shelomi, Kelly Liebman and Jenny Carlson. With them is mascot, Max. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

They Know Their Insects

April 4, 2012

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

They know their insects. They know what a "land lobster" is. They know diseases caused by trypanosomes. They can name the six orders of arthropods represented in the circus troupe from the movie, "A Bug's Life.

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A red-shouldered stink bug peers at the camera.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Kill It Or Let It Live?

April 3, 2012

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

So, you've just stepped on a bug. Do you kill it and put it out of its "misery" or do you let it live? That was basically the question that UC Davis entomologist/doctoral candidate Matan Shelomi answered on Quora.

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Derek Downey checks the cluster on a newly hived colony. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Charmed

April 2, 2012

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

The third time was definitely the charm. After rain postponed the grand opening of the Davis Bee Collective's Bee Sanctuary not once, but twice--the third time, Sunday, April 1--proved to be the charm.

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A thriving honey bee colony. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Neonics Creating Quite a Buzz

March 30, 2012

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

The neonicotinoid pesticides are creating quite a buzz in the bee world. Research published this week in the Science journal zeroed in on the effects of the neonics on honey bees and bumble bees.

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