Can I Bug You?

Ep. 53: Sporefare

UCR 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

Imagine 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

Ep. 51: What the heck is THAT?

How 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

The 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 m

Ep. 49: The most expensive fly in America

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 expl

Ep. 48: A trip to the fair

The 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 fe

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, ev

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

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

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

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 br

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

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 bl

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 ento

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 sp

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, butter

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 ta

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, m

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 o

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 pa