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Bug Squad

Bug Squad blog image depicts a honey bee sting in action.

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. 

This is a photo of Pterostichus lama, which UC Berkeley scientist Kipling "Kip" Will describes as "the largest carabid beetle in California and as big as any in North America." It was taken by one of his students, Ainsley Seago.

Largest Carabid Beetle in California

March 10, 2009
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Tomorrow's a good day to learn about carabid beetles. Kipling "Kip" Will, associate professor of insect systematics, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management at UC Berkeley, will discuss his research at a noon seminar, Wednesday, March 11 in 122 Briggs Hall, UC Davis.
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A HONEY OF A BEE, packed with pollen, heads for the nectarine blossoms. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Better than Cotton Candy

March 9, 2009
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
The skies brightened last weekend and the rain-weary honey bees returned to the nectarine blossoms in our yard They were in the pink again! Capturing images of the bees gathering nectar and pollen is more fun than eating cotton candy at a county fair. Springlike day. Radiant pink flowers.
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POLLEN LOAD--A pollen-packing bee at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility visits an almond blossom. This photo was taken March 5. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Pistol Packin' Mamas

March 6, 2009
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Pistol packin mamas have nothing on honey bees. Have you ever seen the pollen load that a honey bee carries? What's pollen? It's the fine, powder-like material produced by the anthers of flowering plants, or the grains that contain the male reproductive cells of a seed plant.
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SUSAN COBEY shows a frame to the students in her 2008 class, "The Art of Queen Rearing." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

BYOV--And That Means?

March 5, 2009
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
The honey bee population is declining throughout the world, but not the interest in the art of queen rearing. The annual class taught by bee breeder-geneticist Susan Cobey, manager of the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr.
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Blue merle mini-Australian shepherds have one: a tongue. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Tongue-Tied

March 4, 2009
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Blue merle mini-Australian shepherds have one. So do honey bees. What? A tongue. For a puppy, the tongue can symbolize pure happiness. For a worker honey bee: a solid work ethic.
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