The Young Entomologists

March 3, 2026
By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Marissa Sandoval (left) of the Santiago Ramirez lab and Lexie Martin of the Rachel Vannette lab discussing bees at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, part of the UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day. — Graduate student Marissa Sandoval (left) of the Santiago Ramirez lab and doctoral candidate Lexie Martin of the Rachel Vannette lab discussing bees at the Bohart Museum of Entomology open house, part of the UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day. (Photos by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The young entomologists staffing the display tables at the Bohart Museum of Entomology during the 15th annual UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day couldn't have been more passionate as they talked about the insects they study.

Background: The Bohart Museum was one of the 12 museums and collections showcased at what is known as "Super Science Day." The event, free and family friendly, was founded by the Bohart Museum and the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory.

The faces of these young entomologists--most graduate students or doctoral candidates--tell the story.

An estimated 5000 visitors attended the daylong event at various sites across campus. The lines were long, but that didn't seem to matter at all. The enthusiasm was contagious.

The next Bohart Museum open house is themed "Eight-Legged Encounters" (spiders and other arachnids). It's set from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, March 15 in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Lane, UC Davis campus. It's free and family friendly. Parking is also free.

Doctoral candidate Emma "Em" Jochim discussing spiders. — Doctoral candidate Emma "Em" Jochim of the Jason Bond lab discussing spiders. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Doctoral candidate Carla Cristina (CC) Edwards of the Geoffrey Attardo lab answering questions about mosquitoes. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Sol Wantz, a UC Davis entomology graduate, showing how to pin insects. — Sol Wantz, who holds a bachelor's degree in entomology from UC Davis and plans to enroll in a PhD program, showed the crowd how to pin insects. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Graduate student Haylie Wilcox of the Neal Williams lab answering questions about bumble bees. She was one of the two design winners in the UC Davis Biodiveristy Museum Day logo competition. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Doctoral candidate Ziv Lieberman of the Phil Ward lab answering a question about ants. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)