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.

STUDYING INSECTS--University of California, Davis entomologist Penny Gullan, a native of Australia, and noted British entomologist Douglas Williams collaborate on insect scale taxonomy. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Down Under and on Deadline

February 17, 2009

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

They're Down Under and on deadline. Entomology professors Penny Gullan and Peter Cranston of the University of California, Davis, are finishing the fourth edition of their popular textbook, The Insects: An Outline of Entomology. They're not in Davis, though.

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TEXAS CICADA--This Texas cicada measures two-and-a-half inches long and is about an inch wide. This may be a Diceroprocta bibbyi. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Big 'Un

February 16, 2009

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

When my mother died in 2002, she left a little box in her estate labeled "Texas bug." A native Texan, she grew up on a West Texas ranch where she loved to ride horses. She may have collected the bug on one of her horseback rides. Or someone may have collected it for her. No matter. She kept it.

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UC DAVIS ENTOMOLOGISTS IN 1970 posed for this photo. In front (from left) are Dick Bushing, Frank Summers, Bob Schuster, Al Grigarick, Bob Washino, Harry Lange and Harry Laidlaw.
In back (from left) are Charles Judson, Robbin Thorp, Vern Burton, Elmer Carlson, Oscar Bacon, Frank Strong, Don McLean, Ward Stanger and Ed Loomis.
(Photo courtesy of Oscar Bacon)

Treasured Photo

February 13, 2009

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

There's a lot of history in this photograph. If you connected with the UC Davis Department of Entomology in 1970, you'll recognize some of the names, if not the faces. Sixteen distinguished faculty members posed for this photo.

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HUNGRY--This is a beetle, Lytta sublaevis (Meloidae) chowing down on fresh herbs. (Photo by Michael Caterino)

Not John, Paul, George and Ringo

February 12, 2009

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

"The Beetles." When you hear those two words, you think of four Liverpool musicians named John, Paul, George and Ringo. Not so at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Say "beetles" and that means insects. Lots of insects.

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PURE GOLD--A honey bee in a nectarine blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bee-ing Grateful

February 11, 2009

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

There are so many caring, kindhearted and generous people out there concerned about the plight of the honey bee.

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