Bug Squad

The Bug Squad blog, by Kathy Keatley Garvey of the University of California, Davis, is a daily (Monday-Friday) blog launched Aug. 6, 2008. It is about the wonderful world of insects and the entomologists who study them. Blog posts are archived at https://my.ucanr.edu/blogs/bugsquad/index.cfm. The story behind "The Sting" is here: https://my.ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7735.

A striking garden spider, as seen through a fisheye lens. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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Jason Bond: A Deep Appreciation for Arachnids

June 23, 2022

"For some people, spiders can be at the same time fascinating and frightening. The helpful friend who caught that fly buzzing around your kitchen, and the pest that scared you in the shower.

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Let sleeping bees lie? A tiny crab spider joins two male longhorned bees sleeping overnight on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. The bees are Melissodes agilis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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You'll Want to See the Spiders Saturday at the Bohart Museum of Open House

June 22, 2022

Ever seen a crab spider hanging out on a flower? Yes? Ever seen a crab spider hanging out with two male longhorned bees that are sleeping overnight on a flower? No? Such was the case last night when a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, drew two Melissodes agilis and one crab spider.

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A male long-horned bee, a Melissodes agilis, targets a Gulf Fritillary on a Mexican sunflower. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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The Target: A Gulf Fritillary

June 21, 2022

So here's this Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae, nectaring on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola. It's National Pollinator Week. All's right with the world. The butterfly had visited a passionflower vine, Passiflora, its host plant. Now for a little fuel. The nectar is enticing.

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After spending the night sleeping on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, a male longhorned bee, Melissodes agilis, starts to stir. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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What's on the Day's Agenda for This Longhorned Bee?

June 20, 2022

Hey, the sun's up! It's time to rise and shine! Maybe I'll shine before I rise...or maybe I'll... Anyway, I just woke up, and I'm starting to stir. I'm ready to conquer the day. I shall Sip nectar Seek girlfriend Guard the flower patch by dive-bombing and chasing off all critters. Repeat.

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This is a male trapdoor spider in the genus Promyrmekiaphila. Youths are invited to name the species.

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Name That Spider Species

June 17, 2022

If you're a student 18 or under, here's your chance to name a spider species. You'll win the distinction of being selected the winner, and you'll be acknowledged in a scientific paper.

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