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.

The tiny egg of a future honey bee weighs about 0.1 mg. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Now That's Massive Weight Gain!

December 15, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

So you're thinking you're putting on a little weight during the holidays. Not to worry. Put it all in perspective by thinking about the larvae of the honey bee.

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Immune system of the tiny Drosophila plays a big role in host defense. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

We All Have It: Innate Immunity

December 14, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

What do flies have in common with us? For one thing, an innate immune system mechanism to detect and fight off invaders that threaten our health. Four scientists, including two Nobel Laureates, will discuss host defense at a UC Davis symposium on Wednesday, Jan. 25 in the UC Davis Conference Center.

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Two cellar spiders work together to capture a Tachinid fly in their web. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The End Is Near

December 13, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

The parasitic fly (family Tachinidae) never had a chance. It went from floral visitor to spider prey to spider dinner when it made a single solitary mistake: it inadvertently fell into a sticky web.

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A ladybug in the winter. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Winter Wonderland for Insects

December 12, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

You've probably already "put a bug" in Santa's ear, telling him what you want. But have you ever thought of putting a bug on your holiday card? If you're an entomologist, absolutely. If you like insects, probably. If you're not a bug lover, no.

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Close-up of aphids and ants at the Haagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven at UC Davis.This is a Formica moki, a native ant. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The School of Ants

December 9, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

You like ants, right? Of course you do. But probably not as much as Andrea Lucky, the "Queen of Ants." (Or as much as Phil Ward, her major professor at UC Davis or Alex Wild, the Illinois-based biologist and insect photographer who also studied with Ward.

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