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

Bug Girl talks with Ayanava Majumdar, Auburn University, Alabama. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

'I Am Bug Girl'

November 25, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Gotta love that Bug Girl. Oh, sure, there are lots of bug girls and bug boys out there--bug women, bug men and real insects, too--but there's only one Bug Girl. She's the one who writes that witty/informative/tell-it-like-it-is-not-what-you-want-it-to-be bug blog called...drum roll...Bug Girl.

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Gulf fritillary nectaring a passionflower vine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Grateful for the Gulf Frits!

November 24, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

It's Thanksgiving, and time to be grateful. In the bug world, we're all grateful for the people who study insects, monitor them, and share information to impart scientific data and help save declining species.

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Metallic green sweat bee (Agapostemon texanus) on coneflower. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Tiny Saviors in Our Backyard

November 23, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

If you're interested in native bees, you'll want to read the newly published University of California research article, "Tiny Saviors in Our Backyard.

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UC Davis team of Matan Shelomi, Mohammad-Amir Aghaee, Meredith Cenzer and Andrew Merwin competed in the semi-finals. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

What's That Again?

November 22, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Quick! Answer this question: Until recently, praying mantids were thought to be deaf. We now know that 65 percent of all mantid species can hear.

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This flame skimmer was one of the entries accepted into the 2011 Insect Salon. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Insect Salon: Fantastic Captures

November 21, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

If you're into macro photography of insects, you'll want to check out the amazing photos that won awards, or were accepted into the international Insect Salon competition, affiliated with the Entomological Society of America (ESA) and the Peoria Camera Club, Illinois.

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