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 painted lady, Vanessa cardui, nectars on five-spot, Nemophilia maculate, Wednesday afternoon, in the Biological Orchard and Gardens (BOG), UC Davis campus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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Painted Ladies: What a Delight to See!

March 20, 2019

In between the rains today, we saw them. So beautiful! Painted ladies, Vanessa cardui, nectaring in patches of colorful wildflowers in the Biological Orchard and Gardens (BOG), located behind the Mann Laboratory on University of California, Davis campus.

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A painted lady, Vanessa cardui, photographed on lantana in Vacaville in 2015. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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Painted Ladies on the Move

March 19, 2019

The painted ladies are on the move. Have you seen these migratory butterflies, Vanessa cardui, passing through California on their way to the Pacific Northwest? Me? No! Zero. Zilch. Zip.

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It's finals week! Coco McFluffin, a Chaco golden knee tarantula, will be one of the de-stressors at the Meet-n-Greet Bug Show from noon to 1 p.m., Tuesday, March 19 in the UC Davis LGBTQUIA Resource Center. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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Meet-n-Greet the Bugs!

March 18, 2019

It's finals week at the University of California, Davis, and what a great opportunity to take time to de-stress...

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UC Davis researchers Jun Yang (right) and Sung Hee Hwang (center) with Bruce Hammock. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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Bruce Hammock: From ResearchIng Insect Science to Researching Autism and Schizophrenia

March 18, 2019

Bruce Hammock, distinguished professor at the University of California, Davis, who holds a joint appointment with the Department of Entomology and Nematology and the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, is fond of saying that "Science is full of surprises.

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The female metallic green sweat bee, Agapostemon texanus, nectaring on a purple coneflower. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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When Irish Eyes Are Smiling...There Must Be a Green Insect Nearby

March 15, 2019

When Irish eyes are smiling, it could be... St. Patrick's Day is approaching or A green insect is nearby If you've ever seen the female metallic green sweat bee, Agapostemon texanus, or the sand wasp, Bembix americana, you can't help but think about the "Wearing of the Green.

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