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.

Hunting for Prey

July 27, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Be careful when you're harvesting an artichoke. You might find a European paper wasp (Polistes dominula) hunting for a little protein, such as ants, flies and tiny bees to carry back to its nest.

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Two leafcutting bees (Megachile spp.) at their bee condo. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Ten Tenants

July 26, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Ten tenants. That's how many tenants are occupying our wooden bee block, aka "bee condo." It's "home, sweet home" for leafcutting bees (Megachile spp.).

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Short fat fly (genus Gymnosoma) on coreopsis at Fort Bragg. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Now That's a Fly!

July 25, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Oh, to go through life being called a "short fat fly." Such is the case with a specific tachinid fly (family Tachinidae, genus Gymnosoma), which we spotted on a coreopsis (aka tickseed) growing along a Fort Bragg cliff. It's an odd-looking fly. Its abdomen resembles a ladybug or lady beetle.

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Black-faced bumble bee "posing" on grey musk sage. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Tracking a Black-Faced Bumble Bee

July 22, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Every once in a while you see it. And it's a real treat--especially when it's a bee garden that's synonomous with treat. We tracked the black-faced bumble bee (Bombus californicus) in the Hagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven, a half-acre bee friendly demonstration garden at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr.

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Flame skimmer perched on a bamboo stake. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

How to Tame Your Dragonfly

July 21, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

For at least three days, he visited our yard. He swooped over our fish pond and swimming pool and returned each time to perch on a tomato stake in the vegetable garden. We nicknamed him "Big Red." Big Red? Actually, a flame skimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata), native to western North America.

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