Bug Squad

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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.

Two sunflower bees battle it out: a male Svastra (larger bee) delivers a quick kick to a smaller male Melissodes. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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Karate Kick!

July 8, 2015

Boys will be boys! Especially on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia). It's a favorite of Melissodes and Svastra sunflower bees. The males get downright defensive and aggressive when it comes to protecting their turf and seeking the females of their species.

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Mead makers have the honey bee to thank for the key ingredient: honey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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Meet Your (Mead) Maker

July 7, 2015

There's a "me" in mead. And now you have a chance not only to meet your (mead) maker but learn how to make a small batch of mead. The UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center wants you to know that.

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Male sunflower bees, Melissodes robustior, as identified by Robbin Thorp, distinguished emeritus professor of entomology at UC Davis, slumber away on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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Snuggle Bugs

July 6, 2015

Just call them "snuggle bugs." Or "snuggle bees." After spending the day chasing the girls and defending their patch of Mexican sunflowers or Tithonia, a cluster of Melissodes robustior males settled down for the night. Their bed last night: a Tithonia leaf curl. Before that, some lavender stems.

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"Red" is for the red flameskimmer, Libellula saturata. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey).

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Hurray for the Red, White and Blue!

July 3, 2015

Hurray for the red, white and blue! One more day until we celebrate the birth of our country, Independence Day, and the patriotic colors will be out in force. Insects, also, can be red, white and blue. Take the red flameskimmer dragonfly (Libellula saturata).

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Sunflower bees, Svastra obliqua expurgata, flying to a nesting area in downtown Davis, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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You Can Take That to the Bank!

July 2, 2015

They're good bees. You can take that to the bank! The excitement began when Martin Guerena, an integrated pest management (IPM) specialist with the City of Davis, encountered a native bee nesting site Wednesday in front of the U.S. Bank, corner of 3rd and F streets, Davis.

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