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.

VETERAN VENTURA beekeeper Bill Weinerth films the bee swarm Thursday, April 23 at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility. He was at the UC Davis facility for an advanced bee insemination course taught by bee breeder-geneticist Susan Cobey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Perfect Planning

April 23, 2009

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Perfect planning. Except it wasnt planned. On the last day of a two-day advanced workshop on "The Technique of Instrumental Insemination, taught by bee breeder-geneticist Susan Cobey at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility. UC Davis, bees from one of the hives began to swarm.

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THREE'S COMPANY--Three soldier beetles search for aphids on a rose bush. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Good Soldiers

April 22, 2009

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

They're good soldiers, those soldier beetles. Members of the family Cantharidae, they are beneficial insects that eat other insects, especially aphids and caterpillars--but just about any soft-bodied insect will do. If no insects are available, you'll see them dining on nectar and pollen.

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Ride 'em, Cowboy!

April 21, 2009

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Lady beetles, aka ladybugs, eat lots of aphids. Did we say lots of aphids? Lots of aphids. They have no portion control. If you watch closely, you'll see them gobble aphids like theater-goers devour buttered popcorn.

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Ol' Blue Eyes

April 20, 2009

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

It wasn't the Battle of the Sexes. It was the Battle of the Males. I spotted two male carpenter bees buzzing loudly over the salvia (sage) in our back yard Saturday morning. Each was lying in wait for a female, but instead found a competitor.

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ROUNDING UP THE TERMITES--Coordinating the termite trail activity last year at the UC Davis Picnic Day at Briggs Hall was graduate student Tara Thiemann. She'll also be coordinating the termite trails again this year. The UC Davis Picnic Day is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, April 18. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

They'll Walk the Line

April 17, 2009

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Who hates termites? Raise your hands. Those dratted termites damage our homes, decks, furniture, fence posts and other wooden materials. But at the 95th annual UC Davis Picnic Day on Saturday, April 18, youll see termites walk the line--ala the Johnny Cash song--between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

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