Bug Squad

The Sting. (c) Kathy Keatley Garvey)
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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A SOLITARY HONEY BEE forages among the Christmas Cheer, also known as Knipofia "Christmas Cheer' or "red-hot poker." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
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Good Dose of Christmas Cheer

December 25, 2009
Definitely a good dose of Christmas Cheer! In the plant world, that would be the Kniphofia Christmas Cheer," also known as "red-hot poker." On a visit last week to the Storer Garden, UC Davis Arboretum, we encountered a lone honey bee foraging among the Christmas Cheer.
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BOXELDER BUG likes to overwinter in homes and garages. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
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Not a Creature Was Stirring?

December 24, 2009
'Twas the night before Christmas When all through the house Not a creature was stirring Not even a mouse... --'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863) No, but maybe a boxelder bug (Boisea trivittatus).
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BEEKEEPING INDUSTRY is grateful to the Rev. Lorenzo Langstroth for inventing the moveable frame honey bee hive. These hives are at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at the University of California, Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
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We Owe L. L. Langstroth

December 23, 2009
When the U.S. Postal Service Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee meets in January 2010, let's hope the group supports the proposal for a Lorenzo Langstroth commemorative stamp. The Rev.
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HONEY BEE cleaning her tongue was one of the images accepted in the international juried show, Insect Salon, affiliated with the Entomological Society of America. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
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Posing Prettily--and Not So Prettily

December 22, 2009
Every year the Entomological Society of America (ESA) invites its members and other interested persons to enter the Insect Salon juried photo competition. It's a highly competitive event, drawing photographs from around the world. The non-profit Peoria (Ill.) Camera Club coordinates it.
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THIS SIGN at the entrance to the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey bee Research Facility is the work of Davis artist Donna Billick. The hole in the skep leads to a bee hive attached to the back of the sign. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
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Guarding the Turf

December 21, 2009
If you look closely at the colorful ceramic sign at the Harry H.Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility on Bee Biology Road, University of California, Davis, you'll see an entrance to a bee hive. Entrance? Right. There's a hole in the skep, which tunnels to a hive in back of the sign.
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