Bug Blog

UC Davis-Affiliated Experts Discuss Dragonflies on 'Critter Chat'

Meet the Grappeltail dragonfly, the club-tailed dragonfly. It belongs to the genus Octogomphus, which has one species, O. specularis.  The dragonfly derives its common name from the club-like widening at the end of its...

Grappeltail dragonfly, the club-tailed dragonfly.It belongs to the genus Octogomphus, which has one species, O. specularis. The dragonfly derives its "clubtail" name from the club-like widening at the end of its abdomen. (Photo by Greg Kareofelas)

Grappeltail dragonfly, the club-tailed dragonfly.It belongs to the genus Octogomphus, which has one species, O. specularis. The dragonfly derives its "clubtail" name from the club-like widening at the end of its abdomen. (Photo by Greg Kareofelas)

MSU Soil Scientist to Discuss Nematodes as "Bioindicators of Soil Health and Climate Resiliency'

Nematodes, says soil scientist Christine Sprunger of Michigan State University, East Lansing, are "bioindicators of soil health and climate resiliency." And that's the title--"Nematodes as Bioindicators of Soil Health and Climate...

Soil scientist Christine Sprunger (left) and lab manager of the W. K. Kellogg Biological Station (KBS), Michigan State University, collecting soil samples. (Photo courtesy of KBS)

Soil scientist Christine Sprunger (left) and lab manager of the W. K. Kellogg Biological Station (KBS), Michigan State University, collecting soil samples. (Photo courtesy of KBS)

2025 UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day Set Saturday, Feb. 8

Mark your calendar! The 14th annual UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day is set for Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. announced coordinator and co-founder Tabatha Yang, the public education and outreach coordinator for the Bohart Museum of...

UC Davis professor Jason Bond, director of the Bohart Museum, shows butterfly specimens to Woodland residents Olive Smith, 8, and her mother Sarah Smith. Bond is the Evert and Marion Schlinger Endowed Chair, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, and associate dean, UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

UC Davis professor Jason Bond, director of the Bohart Museum, shows butterfly specimens to Woodland residents Olive Smith, 8, and her mother Sarah Smith. Bond is the Evert and Marion Schlinger Endowed Chair, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, and associate dean, UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The nematology display, headed by associate professor Shahid Siddique, was a popular attraction at the 13th annual Biodiversity Museum Day, held Feb. 20, 2024. From left are doctoral student Nick Latina and doctoral candidates Pallavi Shakya an Alison Blundell. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The nematology display, headed by associate professor Shahid Siddique, was a popular attraction at the 13th annual Biodiversity Museum Day, held Feb. 20, 2024. From left are doctoral student Nick Latina and doctoral candidates Pallavi Shakya an Alison Blundell. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

From Butterfly Research to High-Sugar Diet Research

What does butterfly metamorphosis have to do with high-sugar diet research? Well, you never know where research will take you. UC Davis distinguished professor Bruce Hammock, who holds a joint appointment with the Department of Entomology and...

UC Davis distinguished professor Bruce Hammock (seated) with Jun-Yan Liu, professor at Chongqing Medical University, China, and a former research scientist (7.5 years) in the Hammock lab.

UC Davis distinguished professor Bruce Hammock (seated) with Jun-Yan Liu, professor at Chongqing Medical University, China, and a former research scientist (7.5 years) in the Hammock lab.

This 2010 image of Jun-Yan Liu shows him as a postdoctoral fellow working in the Bruce Hammock lab. He is now a professor at Chongqing Medical University, China. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This 2010 image of Jun-Yan Liu shows him as a postdoctoral fellow working in the Bruce Hammock lab. He is now a professor at Chongqing Medical University, China. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This archived image (2018) shows UC Davis distinguished professor Bruce Hammock (seated) with Hammock lab researcher Sung Hee Hwang (center) and former Hammock lab researcher Guodong Zhang, now on the UC Davis Department of Nutrition faculty. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This archived image (2018) shows UC Davis distinguished professor Bruce Hammock (seated) with Hammock lab researcher Sung Hee Hwang (center) and former Hammock lab researcher Guodong Zhang, now on the UC Davis Department of Nutrition faculty. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

It's Friday Fly Day!

It's Friday Fly Day and what an appropriate day to honor a syrphid fly. This syrphid, caught in flight, was seeking nectar from a Gaura, a genus of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae, native to North America. Syrphid flies, also...

A syrphid fly heads for a Gaura in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A syrphid fly heads for a Gaura in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The syrphid fly (above image) resembles this wasp. Here a yellowjacket and a honey bee share a rose in a UC Davis garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The syrphid fly (above image) resembles this wasp. Here a yellowjacket and a honey bee share a rose in a UC Davis garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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