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.

From New Guinea to UC Davis

April 27, 2010

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

A lecture that UC Davis entomologists and friends of entomology are eagerly looking forward to will take place at noon tomorrow (Wednesday, April 28) in 122 Briggs Hall, Kleiber Drive.

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HONEY BEE zeroes in on a ruby-red blossom. (Copyrighted Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The Tower of Bees

April 26, 2010

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

"The tower of jewels" ought to be called "the tower of bees." This spectacular plant attracts bees like a honey-laden hive does hungry bears. The tower of jewels (Echium wildprettii), native to the Canary Islands, is a biennal; it flowers only in the second year and then dies.

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Poster Child

April 23, 2010

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

It's amazing what a little Photoshopping can do to a bee on blue. We captured an image this week of a pollen-packing honey bee on Phacelia campanularia, also known as California blue bells or desert blue bells. It's a deep inky-blue wildflower that's native to southwestern deserts of California.

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Art Friendly, Bee Friendly, People Friendly

April 22, 2010

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

The half-acre garden, the Hagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven planted last fall at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at the University of California, Davis, is not only bee friendly but it will be art friendly.

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Pollen Power

April 21, 2010

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Talk about pollen power. When honey bees forage among the birds eyes, they're a delight to see. They dive into the yellow-throated lavender flowers and emerge covered with a blue-gray pollen.

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