À propos de ce podcast
A twice-monthly deep dive into the sometimes creepy but mostly fascinating world of insects with one of the world's foremost experts on the topic, UC Riverside entomologist Dr. Doug Yanega.
Épisodes
Les 20 épisodes les plus récents sur 54
- Ep. 54: Flying gonads? · 30 minThe males of most insect species aren't thought to contribute much to their nests or colonies beyond DNA. Our guest today, UCR entomologist Meghan Moore, confounds that thinking…
- Ep. 53: Sporefare · 31 minUCR mycologist Jason Stajich tells us what is and isn't really possible when trying to use fungi to control insect pests.
- Ep. 52: Home sweet homing · 31 minImagine being a toddler, stepping out the door for the first time, walking 3 miles for some food and finding your way home again without a cell phone, GPS, or any kind of map…
- Ep. 51: What the heck is THAT? · 29 minHow likely is it that, on any given day, you see a random insect and it actually has a name? Why do insects need names anyway? Drop on by, we'll explain.
- Ep. 50: Morning cup o' beetle · 30 minThe coffee berry borer is a tiny beetle that represents a big and growing threat to most adults’ beloved morning beverage. It appears to be infesting new islands in the major…
- Ep. 49: The most expensive fly in America · 31 minNew World screwworm: a successful eradication program rid the U.S. of this devastating pest 60 years ago, but it's back. 19 cases detected in Texas as of 6/24/26. To explain what…
- Ep. 48: A trip to the fair · 27 minThe postal service has finally delivered this audio postcard recorded on site at the 2026 Riverside Insect Fair! Ever wondered what there is to do or see at an all-day festival…
- Ep. 47: UCR entomology: 111 years young! · 30 minFor the UCR Department of Entomology's 111th anniversary, we are joined by four professors who tell us why this department is still thriving after more than a century, even as…
- Ep. 46: W-2 (much paperwork) · 29 minAs we struggle with piles of paperwork on Tax Day, we’re taking a little time to reflect that it was not humans that invented paperwork, but wasps. Jim Carpenter, curator at the…
- Ep. 45: The great eye-biting fly epidemic that wasn't · 31 minNews outlets in Los Angeles have been reporting on an epidemic of eye-biting flies in the San Gabriel Valley this year. And there is a human-feeding fly infestation, but reports…
- Ep. 44: Take your medicine · 30 minEven though there are estimated to be 40 million insect species, nearly every example of insects used in medicine is either misguided or just… wrong. Listen in and learn about…
- Ep. 43: Welcome to the wasp hotel · 35 minWalking through an oak woodland, you might encounter trees with strange fruit. Some are small, fuzzy, or red "Hershey Kiss" shapes while others look like large, papery brown…
- Ep. 42: The gifts of love · 29 minForget roses and chocolates. Some insects bring pebbles wrapped in silk and hope for the best. This Valentine’s Day episode of Can I Bug You? dives into some of the most…
- Ep. 41: Roachbots · 30 minDefense contractors are developing "cutting-edge" technologies like "spy cockroaches" to reinvent warfare. But roachbots aren't a new idea. They had a moment in a 1997…
- Ep. 40 - Insects are wildlife, too · 31 minIn our first episode of 2026, we explore the important role that genetics play in conserving insect species about to blink out of existence. With special guests, UCR…
- Ep. 39: The end is nigh? · 30 minSo many insect species are on the brink. What will it take to get them on the federally endangered species list for legal protections, alongside so many creatures with spines?…
- Ep. 38: The wide world of webs · 30 minSpiders get all the credit for spinning webs, but they’re hardly the only arthropods weaving silk. In this episode, we untangle stories of web-making mites, moths, butterflies…
- Ep. 37: Minecraft: the secret lives of leafminers · 31 minLeafminers tunnel between the outer layers of leaves, leaving silvery trails and agricultural chaos in their wake. Guest entomologist Alejandra Rocha joins the show to talk…
- Ep. 36: Tails of ice and fire · 30 minAs the western U.S. bakes under record heat, some insects are showing us how to thrive where most life wilts. From fire-chasing beetles to poison-munching caterpillars, meet the…
- Ep. 35: Alien vs. predator · 31 minIt's Halloween in August. In this episode we focus on the difference between parasites, parasitoids, and outright predators, and give plenty of possibly creepy examples of each…
