Can I Bug You?

New 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 exactly the insect is, how it infects living mammal tissue, and what is being done about it, we're joined by UC Riverside veterinary entomologist Dr. Amy Murillo, who leads a monitoring and education program funded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

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 elsewhere have disappeared. More info about anniversary celebration activities open to the public: https://entomology.ucr.edu/entomologys-111th-celebration

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 identified the species. Our guest from the SGV Vector Control District joins us to set the record straight on what's attacking us, and what can be done about it.

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 fruits. Dr. Matt Buffington of the U.S. Agricultural Research Service - formerly at UCR - joins us to explain these strange structures that act like hotels with room service for tiny wasps.

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. If they didn't work out then, why would they work now? Listen in to find out if the current crop of roachbot hopefuls are likely to succeed.

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 Zachary MacDonald and Hollis Woodard break down what's involved.

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, modern crop threats, and the surprisingly artistic evidence of Earth’s oldest infestation.

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 bombardier beetle by Reiner Richter.

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 fiction.

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 any size.

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, microhabitats, and UV lights make all the difference. Come for the science. Stay for the midnight bug trapping in the mountains.

Not all villains wear capes—some have wings and a taste for cows. We talk to a fly expert who’s taking the bite out of barnyard pests.

The massive California fruit fly infestation of 2023 has been effectively shut down. UCR entomologist Bodil Cass joins the podcast to tell us how they did it, why it was such a problem in the first place, and how each of us can help prevent it from coming back.