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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. 

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A tomato hornworm passes through hands at the Bohart Museum of Entomology's Moth Night open house.

Hornworms and Headbands Help Headline Moth Night at UC Davis

July 24, 2026
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 Hornworms and headbands helped headline Moth Night at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, UC Davis.Did the huge hungry hornworms hold headbands?No, they did not. But what an alliteration!Youngsters and adults alike held hornworms, a pest of tomatoes, and the attendees also crafted colorful moth antennae…
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Moth Night at the Bohart Museum of Entomology:Kaitai Lu smiling.

Scientists Meet the Public

July 23, 2026
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Scientists met the public and answered their questions about moths at the Bohart Museum of Entomology's annual open house, held July 18 in the museum's headquarters in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Lane, UC Davis campus.Here are a few of the images that helped tell the story. …
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Backlighting by Entomologist Joel Hernandez at UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden

What a Fun Moth Night!

July 22, 2026
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 The Bohart Museum of Entomology's annual Moth Night, held Saturday, July 18, was "so much fun," said Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator."We enjoy sharing the big diverse world of moths with folks from all over," Yang said. "We also appreciated our moth experts sharing knowledge with…
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Giant silkworm moth showed up at Joel Hernandez' backlighting display in the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden.

Look What Showed Up at Moth Night!

July 21, 2026
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 "No way!"That's what entomologist Joel Hernandez said when a giant silkworm moth fluttered into his backlighting setup on Saturday night, July 18 during the annual Bohart Museum of Entomology Moth Night. For the occasion, Hernandez, a UC Davis alumnus and agricultural inspector in the Yolo County…
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Town Square clock in downtown Vacaville. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Stop Permanent Daylight Saving Time

July 20, 2026
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 Wise words.Circadian biologist Joanna Chiu, newly elected president of the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms (SRBR) and professor and chair of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, today issued a statement on the Sunshine Protection Bill, recently passed by the House of…
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