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Ep. 47: UCR entomology: 111 years young!
For 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 similar departments…
Ep. 46: W-2 (much paperwork)
As 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 American Museum of…
Ep. 45: The great eye-biting fly epidemic that wasn't
News 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 incorrectly…
Ep. 44: Take your medicine
Even 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 some of the insect…
Ep. 43: Welcome to the wasp hotel
Walking 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 spheres. These aren't…
Ep. 42: The gifts of love
Forget 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 surprising courtship rituals…
Ep. 41: Roachbots
Defense 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 blockbuster, The Fifth Element.…
Ep. 40 - Insects are wildlife, too
In 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 entomologists Hollis Woodard and…
Ep. 39: The end is nigh?
So 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? UCR entomologists…
Ep. 38: The wide world of webs
Spiders 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, and even…
Ep. 37: Minecraft: the secret lives of leafminers
Leafminers 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 ancient insect graffiti,…
Ep. 36: Tails of ice and fire
As 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 bugs built for…
Ep. 35: Alien vs. predator
It'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. Cover image of…
Ep. 34: Hostile takeover, insect style
Parasites vs. parasitoids: Seems like just a suffix but actually, the difference is deadly. UCR entomologist John Heraty joins the show to discuss some of the stranger parasitoids he studies.
Ep. 33: The jaws of life (and death)
What do dragonfly nymphs, death’s-head moths, and Alien’s Xenomorph have in common? In this episode we explore the real-life insect mouthparts that are stranger, and sometimes scarier, than science…
Ep. 32: Everybody in the pool! Or not.
Do you know who - or what - might be swimming alongside you this summer? Listen in and find out!
Ep. 31: Lawn and order: pollinator unit
Gardens specially designed for pollinators are more important than ever as insects face an apocalypse. UCR entomology professor Erin Wilson Rankin offers tips for starting a pollinator paradise of…
Ep. 30: D.E.I. in ENT
In entomology, your credentials matter less than your careful observations. Even Napoleon's aide-de-camp stopped in the middle of a battle to collect beetles for observation. Want to be a leading…
Ep. 29: Still unknown after all these years
Think discovering a new species is rare? Think again. UCR entomologist and show co-host Doug Yanega reveals why naming a new insect might be easier than spotting a squirrel — and how deserts,…
Ep. 28: Inspector Maggot
What can a fly tell us about a crime scene? In this episode, UC Riverside entomologist Alec Gerry explains how insects can help investigators reconstruct what really happened when a person or an…
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Bug You? has published 47 episodes since February 2024, covering topics in Life Sciences, Science.
Can I Bug You? is currently active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 30m.
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