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.

Whack! Tabatha Yang, the Bohart Museum's education and outreach coordinator, takes aim at a mosquito pinata. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Blood Bugs at the Bohart

October 28, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Wear your favorite insect costume. Show off your insect tattoo. When the Bohart Museum of Entomology at UC Davis hosts its pre-Halloween open house from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 30, it promises to be a "blood-suckin' good time." And it's free and open to the public.

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UC Davis graduate student Emily Bzdyk came dressed as a butterfly. She creates insect jewelry sold at the Bohart. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bugs at the Bohart

October 27, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

When the Bohart Museum Society throws a Halloween party, you can bet bugs will be there. In costume.

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The cover of Bee Basics: An Introduction to Our Native Bees.

Your Basic Bee Book

October 26, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Not all bees are honey bees. Not all floral visitors are bees. That's why we're glad to see the publication of Bee Basics: An Introduction to Our Native Bees. It will introduce folks to such native bees as leafcutter bees, sweat bees and bumble bees.

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Norm Gary is both a professional bee wrangler and a musician. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

One Last Time

October 25, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

The bees have it, The Beez Kneez, that is. The Beez Kneez, a Sacramento-based band led by Norm Gary, emeritus professor of entomology at UC Davis, will reunite for one last performance on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at the Straw Hat Pizza, 2929 Mather Field Road, Rancho Cordova.

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Equine Control Officer Laurie Christison of the Center for Equine Health captured this cell-phone image of a female velvet ant.

'A Strange Little Bug'

October 24, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Picture this. Staff at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine's Center for Equine Health encountered "a strange little bug" that they'd never seen before outside their office Friday on Old Davis Road.

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