Posts Tagged: Beetles
Noted Entomologist Jeremy McNeil (1944-2024) Treasured His Insect-Themed T-Shirts
Scientists worldwide are mourning the death of internationally celebrated entomologist Jeremy Nichol McNeil (1944-2024), a British-Canadian distinguished professor, researcher and author who died July 18 in Toronto, Ontario at age 79. Born in Tonbridge, England, but a resident of...
This screen shot of a tweet by UC Davis distinguished professor Walter Leal shows Jeremy Nichol McNeil wearing a UC Davis T-shirt, "The Beetles."
Why Soldier Beetles Deserve the Aphid Belt
It's the Fourth of July and what better time to post images of the aptly name "soldier beetles" than today. These insects (family Cantharidae) resemble the uniforms of the British soldiers of the American Revolution, which is apparently how their name originated. They're also called "leatherwings"...
It's early morning, and a soldier beetle stirs in a Vacaville garden. A beneficial insect, it eats aphids and other soft-bodied insects. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Are the Red Coats coming? No, but this soldier beetle is alert. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Happy Mother's Day!
In the human world, we recognize Mother's Day as a special day to celebrate all mothers. It's a day that Anna Jarvis of Grafton, West Va., established on May 10, 1909 with a worship service at St. Andrew's Methodist Church, Grafton. Lady beetles, aka ladybugs, are mothers, too....
A lady beetle, aka ladybug, with newly deposited eggs. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
In its larval stage, the lady beetle somewhat resembles an alligator. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The Good Luck at UC Davis Picnic Day
Remember when San Francisco 49'ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk credited his spectacular 51-yard catch in the 2024 NFC championship game with the Detroit Lions to a ladybug (note that entomologists correctly call it a "lady beetle") landing on his shoe before the game? Well, those attending...
A lady beetle, aka ladybug, devouring on aphid on the UC Davis campus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A cellar spider snares a lady beetle in a Vacaville pollinator garden. The red droplet is reflex bleeding, the beetle is emitting an alkaloid toxin to protect it from predators. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Lady Beetles, Unite!
That lady beetle, aka ladybug, that landed on the shoe of San Francisco 49”ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk just before the NFL championship game, apparently didn't show up at the Super Bowl. The 49'ers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, but what a great battle it was. Do lady...
Three lady beetles, aka ladybugs, form a Leaning Tower of Pisa on the UC Davis campus. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)