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.

CAMPUS BUZZWAY at UC Davis is awash in gold and blue: California poppies and lupine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Buzzing at the Campus Buzzway

April 6, 2010

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

The Campus Buzzway, a quarter-acre field of wildflowers planted last fall near the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at the University of California, Davis, is brilliant in gold and blue, the UC Davis colors. The gold: California poppies. The blue (blue/purple): lupine.

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HELPING TO SAVE the honey bees is Gimbal's Fine Candies, which is donating 5 percent of the proceeds from its Honey Lovers' fruit chews to UC Davis research. Accepting the first check, issued March 8, is Extension apiculturist Eric Mussen (left) from Lance Gimbal, CEO of Gimbal's. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Sweet!

April 5, 2010

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Sweet! That one word aptly describes the generous donation by Gimbal's Fine Candies, San Francisco, to aid honey bee research at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at the University of California, Davis.

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BLUE SKY, a field of golden mustard and gleaming white hives--it's a picture-perfect day at the Olivarez Honey Bees' farm in Orland, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Picture-Perfect Day at a Bee Farm

April 2, 2010

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Picture this. It's a picture-perfect day on Thursday, April 1 at Olivarez Honey Bees, Inc. in Orland, Calif. Susan Cobey's queen bee-rearing class at the University of California, Davis, is touring the bee farm with guide Ray Olivarez Jr.

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HONEY BEE foraging on mustard at Olivarez Honey Bees, Inc., Orland, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Cutting the Mustard

April 1, 2010

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

A golden bee on golden mustard. What could represent spring in California more than that? Well, besides the just-ended almond pollination season. Bee breeder-geneticist Susan Cobey, manager of the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr.

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BEE BREEDER-GENETICIST Susan Cobey (left) shows a hive to the students in her queen bee-rearing class. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Rearing Queen Bees

March 31, 2010

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

It wouldn't dare rain on Susan Cobey's queen bee-rearing classes. And it didn't today. Well, a little sprinkle, but that was it. Bee breeder-geneticist Susan Cobey, manager of the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr.

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