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.

QUEEN BEE at the Bohart Museum open house was Lynn Kimsey, director of the Bohart and professor and vice chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Pollination Nation

November 10, 2009

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Pollination Nation. That's the title of a new display at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis. It's quite timely and appropriate because of the beleaguered bees.

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THIS HONEY BEE, on a lavender blossom, appears to "wave." She's actually ready for take-off. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

"R" is for Research

November 9, 2009

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

"R" is for research at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Faciity at the University of California, Davis. What's it all about? The Laidlaw facility is a nexus for diverse bee research and scientists from throughout the world.

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HONEY BEE heads for catmint, a favorite of insect pollinators. The plant (genus Nepeta) is a member of the mint family or Lamiaceae. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The A's, Bees and C's....

November 6, 2009

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

In an aging queen bee, does age affect the quality of her offspring? Why do some bees leave the hive and never return?

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A HONEY BEE and a sweat bee share the same flower, a rock purslane. The sweat bee is probably Halictus tripartitus, according to native pollinator specialist Robbin Thorp, emeritus professor at UC Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Two Bees, Two Sizes

November 5, 2009

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

When a sweat bee and a honey bee share the same flower, the size difference is quite distinct. We took this photo of a honey bee on a rock purslane (Calandrinia grandiflora) blossom.

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GOLDEN ONE--A honey bee, a social insect, nectars lavender. From Nov. 5-11, Häagen-Dazs will donate $1 per Tweet (up to $500 a day) Nov. 5-11 for honey bee research at UC Davis through social networking on www.twitcause.com. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Helping Honey Bee Research

November 4, 2009

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Bees buzz. People "Tweet." Well, many people do. It's generous of the Hagen-Dazs brand to donate $1 per Tweet (up to $500 per day) from Nov. 5 through Nov. 11 to support honey bee research at the University of California, Davis.

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