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.

Eric Mussen will be a key speaker at the Western Apicultural Society conference in Hawaii. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Aloha, Bees!

September 9, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

When beekepers from all over the Western states converge on the Western Apicultural Society (WAS) meeting in Hawaii next week, they won't be there to bask in the sun.

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Darker bee and a light-colored bee foraging on sedum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Color Them All Bee-utiful

September 8, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Often you'll hear kindergarten students asking one another: "What's your favorite color?" Beekeepers do that, too--in a joking sort of way.

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Metallic green chelicerae glowing on the daring jumping spider. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Jumpin' Jehosaphat

September 7, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Jumpin' Jehosaphat! Those jumping spiders can jump--several lengths of their body, in fact. There seem to be more spiders in our yard this summer than usual--crab spiders, black widows, web weavers and jumping spiders. Well, that makes sense--we have more bees.

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Leafcutter bee forages on a gold coin flower, unaware that a jumping spider lurks. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Danger Lurks

September 6, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

One left hungry. One didn't. We watched a leafcutter bee (genus Megachile) foraging on a gold coin flower (Asteriscus maritimus 'Gold Coin') yesterday when suddenly danger lurked. A jumping spider peered over the petals, its legs (aka "claws") extended in anticipation, the mark of a good hunter.

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Close-up Gulf Fritillary on sedum. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Showtime for the Gulf Fritillary

September 5, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

It's showtime! The Gulf Fritillary butterfly is one of the showiest butterflies in California, says butterfly guru Art Shapiro, professor of evolution and ecology at UC Davis. Indeed it is. The bright orange-red butterfly with a wingspan that can reach four inches visited our back yard yesterday.

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