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.

BIOLOGIST Angela Smilanich of the University of Nevada, Reno, will speak at UC Davis on Wednesday noon, Jan. 26 on "Self-Medication vs. Self-Toxicity in Generalist and Specialist Herbivores.”

Insect-Plant Interactions

January 21, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

As a child, Angela Smilanich never harbored a fascination or obsession for insects. That came later.

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THESE HONEY BEES are faring well at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at the University of California, Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Like Living Only on Twinkies

January 20, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Kim Flottum, editor of Bee Culture magazine, makes seven good points in his piece on honey bee health published in the Jan. 18th edition of The Daily Green.

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TWO CABBAGE WHITE butterflies foraging. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Butterflies at the Bohart

January 19, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Butterflies will set the theme for the Bohart Museum of Entomologys open house on Sunday, Jan. 23 from 1 to 4 p.m.

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UC DAVIS Department of Entomology faculty member Larry Godfrey (right) answers questions about bugs. Behind him are Meredith Cenzer and Matan Shelomi. (Photo of Good Day Sacramento TV screen by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

BYOB Doesn't Mean What You Think

January 18, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

BYOB doesn't mean what you think it does. Ask any entomology student and it means "Bring Your Own Bug." And that's exactly what the UC Davis Linnaean Team did this morning during an interview with the TV anchors of Good Day Sacramento.

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INFESTED BEE FRAME shows a small hive beetle and wax moth larvae. This is a frozen frame. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

You Had to 'Bee' There

January 17, 2011

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

The industrious honey bee buzzed around a lot during the Linnaean Games at the Entomological Society of Americas recent meeting in San Diego. Not the honey bee itselfquestions about the honey bee.

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