Bug Squad Logo

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. 

Primary Image
Monarch butterfly takes flight over a native milkweed plant.

Dear Monarch, Where Have You Been?

July 3, 2026
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 Welcome, Ms. Monarch!Finally, the first monarch butterfly of the year fluttered into our pollinator garden on Thursday morning, July 2 and began laying eggs on our native milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis."Where have you been?" we wanted to ask her.She did not respond, but monarchs have been here more…
View Article
Primary Image
Blacklighting at the Bohart Museum of Entomology.

Moth Night at the Bohart

July 2, 2026
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 Mark your calendars for a fun and educational evening!The Bohart Museum of Entomology will celebrate National Moth Week by hosting its annual Moth Night open house on Saturday, July 18. The event, free and family friendly, will be held from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Bohart Museum, Room 1124 of the…
View Article
Primary Image
Tattered Gulf Fritillary on Passiflora. Its last flight.

Wings Up? Not This Time

July 1, 2026
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 The Gulf Fritillary is surprisingly resilient-- except when it's not.Yesterday we spotted a crippled, tattered and faded Gulf Frit, Agraulis vanillae, lying almost motionless on its host plant, the passionflower vine, Passiflora.It was apparently a victim of a predator. Maybe a bird? A praying mantis?…
View Article
Primary Image
Male Valley carpenter bee, Xylocopa sonorina, robbing nectar from penstemon at UC Davis Bee Haven.

A Bee-utiful 'Thief'

June 30, 2026
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 "Stop, thief!""Robbing the nectar" or "nectar robbing" occurs when a bee, such as a carpenter bee, circumvents the usual plant-pollinator relationship and "cheats" by drilling a hole in the corolla tube to "steal" the nectar,  thus avoiding pollination or contact with the anthers.The bee grabs the…
View Article
Primary Image
Eric Grissell, Steve Clement and Sandy Purcell at 2019 UC Davis Entomology Reunion.

Steve Clement: From 4-H to UC Davis to USDA-ARS Research

June 29, 2026
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 It was the Ventura County 4-H program that led the late Stephen “Steve” Clement to study entomology and to enroll at UC Davis.Clement, an internationally recognized entomologist, UC Davis triple-alumnus,  Vietnam War hero, and a 30-year USDA-ARS research entomologist last based at Washington State…
View Article